Ohio Sports Betting Under Threat from State Legislature

Ohio sports betting faces a threat as state legislators introduce sweeping legislation that could eliminate online wagering across the Buckeye State. The proposed House Bill 971 arrives as a result of concerns about gambling’s societal impact, despite sports betting Ohio operations generating more than $1 billion in revenue and nearly $210 million in tax profits last year. Online sportsbooks currently dominate the market, accounting for 98.5% of total wagers placed in May. The legislation seeks to ban not only online platforms but also college sports betting, parlays, player props, and live betting markets. This proposed regulatory shift threatens to dismantle an industry that has contributed nearly $90 million to state coffers in the first five months of 2026 alone.

House Bill 971 Threatens to Ban Online Sports Betting Ohio

Republican Representatives Johnathan Newman and Beth Lear introduced the legislation, formally known as the Save Ohio Sports Act, on July 1 with backing from eight additional Republican representatives. The bill restricts sports betting Ohio operations to retail shops exclusively, eliminating the online platforms that currently generate the vast majority of state gambling revenue.

HB 971 imposes strict betting limitations on consumers. Bettors face a $100 cap on individual wagers and can place only eight bets within any 24-hour period. Additionally, customers cannot use credit cards or borrowed money to fund their accounts. These restrictions aim to curb what sponsors characterize as problematic gambling behavior.

The legislation targets advertising practices as well. Gambling brands would face prohibitions on displaying advertisements within collegiate sport venues. Broader advertising limits and promotional restrictions form part of what legislators describe as consumer protection measures.

Newman stated that monetizing addiction to fund public education represents the wrong direction for Ohio. Lear characterized gambling as the leading addiction that leads to suicide, accusing online gambling companies of engaging in an aggressive pay-to-play game with the Ohio Legislature.

Retail sports betting has generated approximately $1 million of the year-to-date tax revenue, highlighting the financial dominance of online platforms the bill seeks to eliminate.

Why Are Lawmakers Pushing for These Restrictions?

Three Republican lawmakers frame the restrictions as essential guardrails to protect Ohio citizens from what they characterize as an addiction crisis. Dr. Chris Tuell, Clinical Director of Addiction Services at Lindner Center of Hope, explained that gambling carries the highest suicide rate among addictive behaviors. He added that financial problems, not infidelity, rank as the leading cause of divorce.

Representative Click questioned whether tax revenue justifies risking lives, mental health, and families. The consumer protection measures limit wager amounts and frequency while barring credit card usage for betting. Similarly, advertising restrictions prevent sportsbooks from offering financial incentives to attract new customers.

Aaron Baer, President of the Center for Christian Virtue, compared promotional tactics to drug dealers offering free samples to hook customers. Tony Coder, CEO of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, emphasized that restricting sports betting Ohio operations to casinos rather than phones could prevent suicides that occur during isolated moments at night.

Lawmakers expressed concerns about sports integrity as well. Newman questioned whether fans want to watch games wondering if referees face threats from gambling interests. Governor DeWine previously prohibited prop bets for collegiate sports through executive order but stopped short of extending the ban to professional contests.

What Would Be the Financial Impact on Ohio?

Representative Newman quantified the personal cost, stating that Ohio residents lost $1 billion in personal wealth to gambling last year. Nationally, Americans face projected losses of $1 trillion by 2030. These figures represent money removed from household budgets rather than revenue circulating through the state economy.

Ohio casinos operate under a 33 percent tax rate on Gross Casino Revenue. The state disburses this revenue across multiple allocations: 51 percent flows to the County Fund, 34 percent to the Student Fund, 5 percent to the Host City Fund, 3 percent each to the Ohio State Racing Commission and the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and 2 percent each to the Law Enforcement Training Fund and the Problem Gambling and Addictions Fund.

Ohio ranks as the fourth-largest sports betting market in the United States. Representative McClain acknowledged mixed initial responses from colleagues regarding the proposed restrictions but confirmed support exists for the legislation. He noted that while Governor DeWine has not endorsed the bill, the governor has supported elements of the proposals previously.