On Wednesday, Mike DeWine expressed that endorsing legislation to legalize sports betting in Ohio was his most significant error during his tenure as governor, highlighting concerns over addiction, aggressive advertising, and the preservation of professional sports integrity.
“People often query me about my mistakes, and my foremost response is endorsing the sports gaming bill,” DeWine stated in a discussion with the editorial team at cleveland.com.
Ohio approved sports gambling in December 2021, with statewide betting commencing in January 2023. Wagering activities escalated rapidly, with Ohio residents placing $7.7 billion in bets in 2023 and an estimated $8.9 billion in 2024, stats attributed to rampant advertising by gambling establishments, as noted by DeWine.
“It’s a major issue especially among young males aged up to 45. The problem is escalating,” DeWine remarked. “Numerous individuals are now addicted and are spending money they lack.”
The governor informed that the state has allocated millions to assist residents dealing with sports betting issues and admitted to underestimating the influence of advertising and the simplicity of access through mobile applications. “Now, they don’t have to visit a casino; everything is on their smartphones,” he noted.
DeWine pointed out that the ramifications of sports betting reach beyond individual gamblers, referring to threats directed at University of Dayton players, the federal indictment of two Cleveland Guardians pitchers for pitch manipulation, and arrests by the FBI of active and former NBA players linked to gambling-related misconduct.
“It’s evident that sporting events are among the most-watched broadcasts yearly. Their appeal lies in the unpredictability of outcomes, perceived legitimacy,” DeWine added. “If integrity is compromised, fans might start to wonder whether a particular pitch was influenced by bets, undermining the entire credibility of the sport.”
The Republican governor initially advocated for a statewide prohibition on proposition or “prop” bets. After negotiations with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, he endorsed a solution led by the league that restricts wagering on individual pitches, limiting certain “microprop” bets to $200.
“This wasn’t exactly my intended outcome,” DeWine stated, but regarded it as “a reasonable middle ground,” emphasizing that larger bets pose heightened risks.
DeWine is lobbying the NFL and other leagues to implement equivalent protections, deeming gambling a “ticking time bomb” for professional sports. He affirmed that he would still endorse legislation prohibiting prop bets in Ohio if it came to his attention.
However, Ohio lawmakers appear to show little readiness to consider new restrictions on sports betting before DeWine’s term concludes early next year.