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Two bills introduced last week at the Ohio Statehouse could dramatically reshape sports betting in the state. If they advance, the legislation would strip away many of the features that made wagering popular in Ohio, starting with mobile betting.
Three House Republicans — Reps. Riordan McClain, Gary Click, and Johnathan Newman unveiled the proposals on Wednesday, April 8, during a news conference outside the Statehouse. Calling the package the “Save Ohio Sports Act,” the lawmakers said the bills would not eliminate betting, but the resulting market would look vastly different from the one bettors use today.
Eliminating online wagering and multi-game parlays
Under the first bill, state residents would lose access to several widely used bet types. Proposition bets — wagers on specific in-game moments — would be banned. So would parlays, which allow bettors to chain multiple picks together for larger potential payouts. Wagers on college sports and live in-game betting would also be prohibited.
The second bill targets the infrastructure of online betting. All mobile and internet wagering would be banned, requiring anyone who wants to bet legally to visit one of Ohio’s four licensed land-based casinos.
Each wager would be capped at $100, and bettors would be limited to eight per day. Under this setup, users could no longer fund accounts with credit cards. Additionally, sportsbooks would be barred from running advertisements during live game broadcasts or inside sports venues.
The promotional sign-up deals that operators routinely offer new customers would also be eliminated. As of Wednesday, neither bill had been assigned to a committee.
Rising personal debt and the fight against addiction
The lawmakers did not mince words about the motivation behind the push. Newman told reporters that Americans are on pace to collectively lose $1 trillion in personal wealth to gambling before 2030. In Ohio last year, he said, residents lost approximately $1 billion.
During the news conference, Click held up his cellphone to illustrate his point, arguing that combining gambling with a device people are “already glued to” creates a uniquely dangerous mix, especially for those vulnerable to addiction.
McClain framed his concern around the integrity of the fan experience. “I want to be sure that the outcome is determined on the field of play,” he said, “not by the gambling markets.”
Sponsors pointed to scandals that have unfolded in Ohio over the past year as evidence. Among them were two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who were indicted on federal charges in late 2025.
They were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to fix sporting contests. Court documents allege Clase signaled to bettors which pitch he planned to throw, allowing them to profit from “microbets” through legal sportsbook platforms. Sportsbooks’ internal systems flagged the unusual activity.
Gov. Mike DeWine had already called for a ban on prop bets before those charges were filed. After the indictments, he intensified his stance.
DeWine signed the original sports betting law in 2021 but has frequently expressed regret. He told The Associated Press last November that he would sign a repeal if lawmakers sent one to his desk, though he expressed doubt such a bill would pass.
Threatening a billion-dollar revenue stream for Ohio
The scale of the potential disruption is significant. Ohio’s sports betting market generated more than $1 billion in revenue in 2025, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, with the vast majority coming from online betting. Retail sportsbooks — the only locations the bills would leave in place — accounted for less than 2% of the state’s total betting handle in February 2026.
The tax impact could be equally stark. Ohio collected roughly $209 million in sports betting tax revenue last year, which funds education and problem gambling programs. A major rollback of online wagering would likely cause a steep decline in those totals.
Industry advocates are expected to argue that banning apps will not eliminate the urge to wager, but will instead drive bettors to offshore, unregulated websites that lack consumer protections.
Lawmakers remain divided on the economic tradeoffs
The proposal faces internal hurdles. Some Republicans, including Rep. Brian Stewart of Asheville, opposed earlier attempts to limit prop bets.
Democrats have offered measured responses. Rep. Dontavius Jarrells of Columbus said he wants a “real talk” about problem gambling, but urged leaders to consider the economic benefits and find a balance that avoids unnecessary harm.
The debate mirrors a national trend. More than 30 states now allow sports betting, and many have seen increases in gambling helpline calls since the arrival of mobile apps. In Ohio, advocates claim moving bets back into physical casinos would create “natural breaks” and easier access to help for those in need.
Battle over gambling reform in the House and Senate
As reported by The Columbus Dispatch, the Save Ohio Sports Act seeks to transition betting into a controlled, in-person setting. Supporters believe this reduces impulsive choices and protects the integrity of the games, while opponents worry about the loss of tax revenue and restricted options for responsible players.
The coming weeks will determine if the bills have enough support to advance through the House and Senate. For Ohio sports fans used to betting from home, the rules may be on the verge of a major shift.
