Ohio Sports Betting Bill Would Kill Mobile Wagering, Ban Parlay, Prop Wagers - Analysis
A sweeping Ohio Sports Betting Bill would dramatically scale back legal sports betting in the Buckeye State, including bans on mobile wagering, prop bets, and parlays. Sponsors of the “Save Ohio Sports Act” - all Republicans - seek to completely overhaul the state's sports betting landscape. It may represent the latest step in the nationwide backlash against the proliferation of online sports betting — including the best betting sites — and other forms of gaming.
Proposed changes in Ohio include bans on:
- Mobile/Online Wagering
- In-Game Bets
- Individual Player Prop Bets
- Parlays
- College Sports Bets
- Best Funded By Credit Cards, Or Borrowed Money
- Sign-Up Incentives
The Ohio Sports Betting Bill also seeks to curtail advertising and marketing used by sports books.
In short: a fundamental reshaping of one of the country’s most accessible betting markets.
It faces long odds for passage. At least in its current form. But the bill's sponsors have put up a Hail Mary that would represent the biggest state sports betting turnaround since the Supreme Court's PASPA decision in 2018.
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Sponsors Believe Bill Would Install 'Guardrails'
Reps. Riordan McClain, Gary Click, and Johnathan Newman describe their proposals offer a “guardrail” on an industry they believe encourages addiction, financial distress, and social harm
Lawmakers want to confine wagering to in-person bets at Ohio casinos, effectively eliminating the convenience that has fueled the industry’s explosive growth through online betting with the best betting apps.
Newman described the current system as a “freeway with no speed limits,” arguing that the state expanded too quickly without adequate consumer protections.
Supporters say the combination of smartphones and gambling creates a high-risk environment — particularly for problem gamblers placing bets in isolation.
They point to growing concerns around addiction, with experts noting that gambling carries one of the highest suicide rates among addictive behaviors.
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What’s At Stake: Billions In Handle, State Revenue
The timing of the Ohio Sports Betting Bill is notable. Ohio launched legal sports betting in 2023 and quickly became one of the more active markets in the country.
Mobile betting accounts for roughly 90%+ of total handle in most U.S. states, meaning a ban would effectively gut the market overnight. Ohio sports betting generated more than $1 billion in revenue for the state last year, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Most of that is funneled toward education, with a portion dedicated to funding programs that combat problem gambling.
Opponents of changes such as this argue that a rollback of this magnitude wouldn’t just reshape consumer behavior — it would likely send bettors back to offshore sites. And to neighboring states with more accessible markets. Ohio is bordered by five states: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. All five offer live mobile betting with none of the restrictions proposed here.
The changes could push more bettors toward prediction markets. As of now, federal law governs the operation of prediction markets as Designated Contract Markets via the Commodities Futures Trading Corporation. Those include sites such as Kalshi, Robinhood, and Polymarket U.S. Those platforms do not pay any state taxes, nor are they subject to state regulators' oversight.
Prediction markets also continue to face headwinds in several courts across the nation. Although just this week, Kalshi won a major victory in a federal appeals court against New Jersey.
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Part Of A Bigger Trend
Ohio isn’t operating in a vacuum.
Across the country, a second wave of sports betting legislation is emerging — not to expand markets, but to rein them in.
- Illinois lawmakers have floated stricter oversight tied to consumer protections
- Massachusetts regulators have taken a hard stance on certain bet types
- Other states are revisiting advertising rules and responsible gaming measures
The Ohio proposal represents one of the most aggressive efforts yet — particularly with its focus on eliminating mobile betting entirely.
Long Odds In The Legislature
Even the bill’s sponsors acknowledge the challenge ahead.
Ohio’s original sports betting law passed with broad bipartisan support in 2021, and the industry has since become a meaningful source of state revenue.
Still, there are signs of alignment. Gov. Mike DeWine has previously supported limits on certain wagers, including a ban on prop bets involving college athletes.
For now, the proposals are still being finalized, with separate bills expected to address consumer protections and sports integrity.
But the message is clear:
The debate around sports betting is no longer just about legalization — it’s about how far is too far.
And in Ohio, lawmakers are testing just how much of the market they can put back in the bottle.
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