Ohio Legislators Pushing To End Online Sports Betting
Summary
A group of Ohio lawmakers unveiled the “Save Ohio Sports Act”, proposing sweeping limits that would effectively end online sports betting in the state. Reps. Gary Click, Johnathan Newman and Riordan McClain announced measures including a ban on online wagering, restrictions on bet types, strict stake and frequency caps, prohibitions on credit‑card funding and advertising curbs. There is no bill text yet; the proposals came at a press conference and would likely face fiscal pushback because the market has generated substantial tax revenue.
Key Points
- Reps. Gary Click, Johnathan Newman and Riordan McClain introduced the “Save Ohio Sports Act” aiming to overhaul Ohio’s sports betting law.
- Proposed measures include banning online betting and banning prop, in‑game and college bets.
- The plan would cap individual wagers at $100 and limit bettors to eight bets within 24 hours.
- Proposals would prohibit credit‑card funding, free/risk‑free bet offers and sports ads during broadcasts.
- Ohio sportsbooks paid more than $500m in taxes over the market’s first three years — a major fiscal consideration that could stall reforms.
Content summary
The lawmakers spoke at a press conference on 8 April 2026, framing the changes as necessary to tackle gambling addiction made worse by constant mobile access. Governor Mike DeWine has publicly expressed regret over legalising sports betting and has supported limits such as banning prop bets. Ohio launched its regulated market in 2023 with strict ad rules and a tax rate that was increased to 20% in 2023; a proposed further hike was rejected. No bill language has been released yet, and past efforts in other states have faltered after fiscal notes revealed significant lost revenue.
Context and relevance
This matters to bettors, operators and policymakers: removing or severely restricting online wagering would change where and how people place bets, impact operator business models and reduce state tax receipts. The move echoes a wider trend of tougher rules on advertising and payment methods in gambling, and highlights how political and public‑health concerns can rapidly reshape industry rules.
Why should I read this?
Quick and direct: if you bet in Ohio, work in the industry or track regulatory shifts, this could hit you hard. We’ve saved you the time — read it to know whether your access, offers or tax expectations are about to change.