Ohio Lawmaker Pushes Back Against Governor's Proposed Prop Bet Ban

Ohio House Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart has stated he will oppose any such rule if enacted by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: August 6, 2025 2:53 PM EDT • 2 minute read

Ohio Lawmaker Pushes Back Against Governor's Proposed Prop Bet Ban — Pictured: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jamari Thrash gets away from cornerback Greg Newsome II during NFL training camp. Photo by Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's recent push to ban proposition bets on individual performances by professional athletes in the Ohio sports betting market has met resistance from a top Republican lawmaker. Ohio House Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart has stated he will oppose any such rule if enacted by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

The proposal would extend a policy already in place for collegiate athletics. In 2023, the Commission banned prop bets involving college athletes following requests from DeWine and the NCAA, citing concerns about harassment and integrity.

However, licensed Ohio sports betting apps still take wagers on events such as a single touchdown pass or a pitch result in MLB games.

“I think that prop bets are a significant part of sports betting in the state of Ohio. It’s something that clearly a lot of Ohioans have taken part in and enjoy, and I don’t think there’s something that we should eliminate entirely,” said Stewart.

The legislator also suggested introducing legislation to protect such wagers from future restrictions.

DeWine maintains opposition to gambling expansion

Gov. DeWine has a long-standing opposition to gambling expansion in Ohio, including to Ohio online casinos, and recently reaffirmed his position. He cited concerns over increased gambling addiction and the social risks tied to 24/7 mobile access to casino games.

During an informal visit to the Ohio State Fair, Gov. DeWine said he opposed any expansion of legal gambling, including mobile access to slots, table games, and poker. While not explicitly committing to a veto, he clarified his disapproval of proposals currently under discussion in the Ohio legislature.

In May, lawmakers introduced separate House and Senate bills that would permit the state's licensed casinos and racinos to launch online casino websites. The Senate's bill version includes expanded provisions for internet lottery games and horse race betting.

These measures represent the latest in a long line of gambling expansions in the state since voters approved casinos in 2009.

Cleveland Guardians players on leave amid gambling investigations

Emmanuel Clase of the MLB's Cleveland Guardians has been placed on leave through August 31 as part of the league's ongoing investigation into potential gambling violations. MLB announced the decision on July 29, stating it was reached jointly with the MLB Players Association.

Clase became the second Guardians pitcher in less than a month to be sidelined during an inquiry into sports betting. The suspension follows similar action against teammate Luis Ortiz earlier in July.

The Guardians confirmed the team had been informed that no other personnel are currently implicated.

Written by:
Ziv Chen

Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.