Ohio Governor DeWine Expresses Regret Over Sports Betting Legalization, Cites Integrity Concerns
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is now advocating for stricter regulations on sports betting, a marked shift from his position during the law’s initial legalization in 2023. driven by concerns over threats to athletes and the potential compromise of sporting integrity, DeWine is actively pursuing voluntary agreements with leagues and sportsbooks to limit the types of wagers offered.
The governor’s change of heart stemmed from escalating issues following the implementation of Ohio’s sports betting law. almost promptly, DeWine’s office began receiving reports of harassment and threats directed towards members of the University of Dayton basketball team from individuals involved in sports gambling. This prompted a conversation with NCAA President Charlie Baker, leading to a request – and subsequent action by the Ohio Casino Control Commission – to remove collegiate prop bets from legal wagering options.
More recently, the case involving Guardians pitcher Trevor Williams, who received threatening messages related to prop bets, further solidified DeWine’s concerns.He approached Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, proposing similar restrictions. While DeWine initially favored a complete ban on “micro-prop” bets, he ultimately supported a compromise reached through national negotiations between the leagues, players’ unions, and sportsbooks.
DeWine acknowledges the difficulty of enacting sweeping changes through state legislation.He notes a lack of support for a full repeal of Ohio’s sports betting law, stating, “There’s not the votes for that. I can count.” However, he intends to continue advocating for broader restrictions across all sports.
The governor’s efforts have been aided by his existing relationships with key figures,including Baker and Manfred – facilitated in the latter case by his family’s long-time ownership of the Asheville Tourists baseball team.Matt Schuler, executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, praised DeWine’s ability to broker agreements, stating the recent deal with baseball demonstrated that collaboration was possible despite initial skepticism.
Despite the financial contributions made by gaming companies – totaling approximately $130,000 to Ohio legislators in the past three years, with a portion directed to leadership – and prior support for protecting prop bets from some lawmakers like House Finance Chairman Brian Stewart, DeWine believes the risks associated with these wagers outweigh the benefits. He views the current situation as a threat to the fundamental integrity of sports,stating,”These sports are playing with dynamite here and the integrity of the sports is at stake.”
DeWine, facing term limits next year, intends to continue leveraging his position to encourage other sports leagues to adopt similar restrictions, even if a complete reversal of Ohio’s current law proves unattainable.
