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State of Play’s TL;DR
- Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton said she’s open to considering online casino expansion if elected.
- She said protections for minors and strict rules against predatory advertising would need to be prioritized in the legislation.
Ohio’s 2026 governor’s race now has a clear online gambling policy marker. Democratic candidate Amy Acton said she sees online casinos as a possible revenue source for the state, while also calling for a “strong regulatory environment,” youth protections, and limits on predatory advertising.
Acton’s comments came in an interview with Statehouse News Bureau and add a gambling-policy dimension to a race that could matter for any future Ohio online casino debate.
Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy also addressed gambling more broadly, saying any changes should be made “in a responsible way that protects Ohioans.”
Acton says online casino revenue could help fund state priorities
Acton said online gambling could help pay for proposals aimed at lowering costs of living and funding public services.
“Certainly, I see it as a source of revenue that can help fund the proposals that we need to help bring down the cost of living in this state and provide for the services we need to fund.”
But she paired that opening with a public health warning. Acton, a doctor and former state health director, said any expansion should come with tighter guardrails.
“That said, I am a doctor and a public health professional, and I want to make sure we have the right regulatory environment around it. I want to make sure we stop the sort of predatory advertising we’re seeing, and I want to make sure our young people are protected.”
What this means for Ohio’s gambling debate
For now, this is a campaign position, not a legislative proposal. Still, it is notable because it frames online casinos in the familiar statehouse balancing act: new revenue versus consumer protection.
Ramaswamy, meanwhile, offered a broader statement rather than a detailed gambling framework, saying, “what I’m committed to is whatever we do, it is going to be done in a responsible way that protects Ohioans.”
That leaves Ohio bettors and industry watchers with an early political signal, but not yet a roadmap. If gambling expansion becomes a larger campaign issue, the next key details to watch will be whether either candidate backs a specific bill, tax structure, or player-protection framework.
Based on reporting by Karen Kasler for Statehouse News Bureau.
