Gov. DeWine Says He Regrets Ohio Gambling Legalization

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has said he regrets signing the bill to legalize sports gambling in the state, describing it as his biggest mistake. 

Speaking to The Plain Dealer, Gov. DeWine said he had underestimated the impact of operators' aggressive advertising and the accessibility of gambling via mobile phones when he signed the bill legalizing Ohio sports betting in December 2021. He also added that he didn’t take into account the impact it could have on addiction. 

“It’s a huge problem among young males up to 45. It’s a huge problem, and we have many of them addicted, many of them spending money that they do not have,” he said. 

Sports betting has grown dramatically in Ohio since legalization. Ohioans gambled $7.7 billion in 2023 and nearly $8.9 billion in 2024. At the same time, Gov. DeWine said the state has spent millions of dollars on programs to help residents struggling with gambling addiction.

The governor also expressed concern about the wider impact of legalized betting, citing threats made against University of Dayton players by gamblers who lost money and high-profile criminal cases involving professional athletes. Those include federal indictments for two Cleveland Guardians pitchers on pitch-rigging charges. 

In response to those controversies, Gov. DeWine has pushed to limit prop bets, initially calling for a complete ban, but eventually compromising by restricting bets on individual pitches and capping some prop bets at $200. He has since called on US sporting leagues to limit access to prop bets in order to protect the integrity of their sports. 

Gov. DeWine added that he would still support legislation banning prop bets in Ohio, though lawmakers have shown little appetite for new restrictions before he leaves office next year. It looks like there won't be any further restrictions on Ohio sportsbook promos in the near future.

Missouri regulators reject NCAA request on prop bets

While Ohio has been tightening its prop bet rules, regulators overseeing the Missouri sports betting market have declined to follow suit. The Missouri Gaming Commission has rejected the NCAA's request to ban prop bets on college athletes, citing insufficient data due to the state's recent launch of sports betting.

Missouri became the 39th state to launch legal sports betting on Dec. 1, 2025, after voters approved a constitutional amendment. Missouri Gaming Commission chair Jan Zimmerman said it was too early to make regulatory changes less than two months into the new market.

The NCAA has argued that prop bets on individual college athletes are particularly susceptible to manipulation, citing a recent federal indictment alleging game-rigging across multiple Division I basketball teams. Since 2023, several states, including Ohio, Louisiana, Maryland, and Vermont, have banned prop bets on college athletes.

However, industry groups have opposed a ban, arguing that legal sportsbooks help detect suspicious activity and warned that stricter rules could push bettors toward illegal sites. For now, Missouri will maintain the existing policy banning in-state college athletes from participating in prop bets, which could be expanded in the future.