In December 2021, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) signed the state's sports betting legislation into law. The Republican says he regrets the choice after almost four years of reflection.
In the Buckeye State, House Bill 29 permitted both retail and mobile sportsbooks. The statute made it possible for the state's racinos and casinos to collaborate with sportsbooks to offer both online and in-person wagers. Additionally, the law permitted clubs and restaurants to provide in-person sports betting terminals via the Ohio Lottery.
Ohio's sports betting market has grown to be among the biggest in the country since it opened for business in January 2023. Over $23.3 billion has been legally wagered on sports, with oddsmakers keeping over $2.5 billion of the wagers. DeWine regrets supporting sports gambling, despite the fact that the burgeoning gaming business has brought in over half a billion dollars in tax revenue.
DeWine's Concerns
In a recent interview with the Associated Press on the MLB sports betting incident involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers, DeWine disclosed that he had misjudged the amount of money sportsbooks would have to spend on marketing in order to make sports gambling popular.
“We’ve always had gambling, but the power of these companies and the deep, deep, deep pockets they have to advertise and do everything they can to get someone to place that bet is really different once you have legalization,” DeWine said.
"Ohio absolutely shouldn’t have done [sports betting],” DeWine declared.
When DeWine officially opened it nearly four years ago, the major sportsbook operators jumped at the chance since Ohio has eight professional sports teams, a collegiate sports-obsessed population, and the seventh-largest population. FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook are currently the market leaders after the sportsbooks invested millions of dollars to gain market dominance.
Reforms in Sports Betting
DeWine and Charlie Baker, the head of the NCAA, have been leading the effort to remove player props from sportsbooks on a professional and college level.
The outcome of a single player's performance usually determines the player props. Because a single compromised player can significantly impact a game's outcome, many claim that props threaten the integrity of sports.
Pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase of the Guardians are charged of using specific pitches to placate dishonest bettors in return for cash payments. NBA player Terry Rozier is accused of fabricating ailments and manipulating games, once more for the advantage of outside forces.
DeWine urged the Ohio Casino Control Commission to outlaw player props used in collegiate athletics last year. Although player props are still used in professional sports, the state gambling regulating body complied.
Earlier this month, the MLB and licensed sportsbooks decided to remove some player props in response to the Guardians controversy.
“I commend Commissioner Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball, and its partners for taking this action to address the problem of micro-prop bets. By limiting the ability to place large wagers on micro-prop bets, Major League Baseball is taking affirmative steps to protect the integrity of the game and reduce the incentives to participate in improper betting schemes,” said DeWine. “I urge other sports leagues to follow Major League Baseball’s example with similar action.”
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