A bunch of Ohio Republican lawmakers has launched sweeping laws that might remove on-line sports activities betting within the state and considerably restructure Ohio’s regulated playing market.
House Bill 971, often known as the “Save Ohio Sports Act,” was launched within the Ohio House of Representatives by Reps. Johnathan Newman and Beth Lear. The proposal represents some of the aggressive makes an attempt but to reverse parts of the state’s just lately expanded sports activities wagering system.
If enacted, the invoice would limit authorized sports activities betting to in-person wagering solely at licensed retail on line casino areas, successfully ending cell and on-line sportsbooks throughout Ohio.
Online Betting Would Be Eliminated Under Proposal
The most vital provision of HB 971 is the removing of statewide on-line sports activities betting entry. Under the proposal, cell sportsbooks can be geofenced to bodily on line casino properties, forcing bettors to place wagers solely in individual.
Retail betting would stay authorized, however on-line platforms at present dominating the market can be shut down.
Lawmakers behind the invoice argue that the present system has expanded too rapidly and carries social dangers.
“Monetizing addiction to fund public education is the wrong direction for Ohio,” stated Rep. Jonathan Newman, as reported by SBC Americas, citing The Ohio House of Representatives. “Who wins when predatory gambling preys on the vulnerable? It’s not our schools; that’s for sure! It’s the trillion-dollar big gambling companies who win. How is this good for Ohio?”
Broad Restrictions on Bet Types and Market Access
Beyond banning on-line wagering, the laws introduces wide-ranging restrictions on the sorts of bets allowed in Ohio.
The invoice would remove all in-game and stay betting markets, participant prop bets, parlay wagers and all faculty sports activities betting. Only single-game wagers would stay authorized beneath the proposal, marking a considerable discount in obtainable betting choices in contrast to the present market construction.
The invoice additionally limits betting exercise on the particular person degree, limiting clients to a most of $100 per wager and not more than eight bets inside a 24-hour interval.
HB 971 additionally introduces new promoting guidelines designed to restrict the visibility of playing promotions. Sportsbooks can be prohibited from putting commercials inside collegiate sporting venues or broadcasting advertisements throughout stay sporting occasions.
The proposal additionally features a ban on bank card funding for sports activities betting accounts. Bettors can be required to use various funding strategies reminiscent of financial institution transfers or winnings.
Lawmakers say these restrictions are meant to scale back publicity to playing advertising and strengthen client safeguards, significantly for youthful audiences.
Supporters of the invoice argue that gambling-related hurt has elevated alongside the growth of on-line wagering. Some lawmakers have linked sports activities betting to dependancy issues and broader social hurt.
Rep. Beth Lear stated the invoice goals to scale back these dangers and shield susceptible teams, significantly younger folks uncovered to playing promoting.
“Gambling is the No. 1 addiction that leads to suicide,” Lear stated. “Online gambling companies are in an aggressive pay-to-play game with the Ohio Legislature, hoping to expand their profits on the backs of Ohioans with the ‘carrot’ of providing extra tax money for the government. This legislation makes it clear: our kids, their physical and mental well-being, are not for sale.”
Economic Impact of Existing Sports Betting Market
Ohio’s present sports activities betting system, launched in 2023, has generated vital income for the state. Online wagering accounts for the overwhelming majority of exercise, representing greater than 98% of whole betting deal with in current reporting durations.
Sports betting taxes have introduced in tons of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} since legalization, together with greater than $200 million in operator income taxes in 2025 alone. Retail wagering, by comparability, has contributed solely a small fraction of whole tax receipts.
If handed, Ohio would change into the primary US state to absolutely repeal on-line sports activities betting for the reason that federal PASPA reversal opened the door to state-level legalization.
HB 971 has been launched however has not but been assigned to a House committee for debate or modification. The invoice should nonetheless move each legislative chambers earlier than reaching the governor’s desk.
Governor Mike DeWine has beforehand expressed skepticism about sports activities betting legalization, at one level calling it his “biggest regret,” suggesting potential political openness to tighter restrictions.
For now, the proposal units the stage for a significant coverage debate over the way forward for playing regulation in Ohio, with lawmakers cut up between issues over public well being and the monetary advantages generated by the present system.
