- Banning online sports betting, limiting bets at $100 and eliminating parlays are just some components of the recently introduced Save Ohio Sports Act.
- It’s the most restrictive sports betting bill seen in Ohio, also aiming to ban all prop bets, in-game betting and all college wagers.
- The bill was introduced in a Thursday press conference with the support of the Center for Christian Virtue.
CINCINNATI – Ohio lawmakers introduced the Save Ohio Sports Act on Thursday, which aims to prohibit online sports betting, limit wagering to the state’s four land-based casinos, and cap bet amounts at $100. The bill would drastically change the legal sports betting landscape in Ohio, most notably by outright banning online sports betting in the state.
Under the proposed legislation, Ohio residents won’t be able to bet on college sports, prop bets like a Reds player to hit a home run, and any in-game betting. The restrictive nature of the bill aligns with some of the comments from Governor Mike DeWine, who claims the “prop experiment has failed badly” and called for complete prop betting bans in Ohio.
The Save Ohio Sports Act would do all of the following in Ohio:
- Ban online/mobile sports betting
- Limit wagering to four land-based casinos
- Ban all prop bets (college and professional)
- Completely ban bets on college sports
- Eliminate parlays
- Cap wagers at $100 per bet
- Only allow eight bets within a 24-hour span
- Ban sports betting advertisements during sporting events and at stadiums
- Prohibit sportsbooks from offering free bets
Christian Group Supports Restrictive Ohio Sports Betting Bill
The Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) joined state representatives Riordan McClain, Gary Click, Johnathan Newman, and other supporters of the bill at Thursday’s press conference. In that conference, the CCV explained that the legislation focuses on sports integrity and consumer protection.
“The national annual social cost of problem gambling has risen to $14 billion,” said the CCV in their press release. “Beyond the financial toll, the mental and social consequences of sports betting addiction are staggering. Nine million American adults suffer from gambling addiction, and 96 percent of those affected also face a co-occurring mental health issue.”
Still, lawmakers and supporters of the bill are naïve if they think residents will just live with the restrictions and place their max $100 bets at Ohio casinos. There are plenty of online sportsbooks that accept Ohio players where bettors will have access to college bets, prop bets, parlays, and other markets that state-regulated sportsbooks won’t offer if the Save Ohio Sports Act passes.
