Ohio Governor Shares Regret Over Supporting Sports Betting

Another lawmaker was added to the list of those backtracking on their support for legal sports betting this week.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine discussed his regret over legalizing sports betting in Ohio in an interview with the Associated Press this week. He believes the fallout has been far too significant and that the state was not as prepared as it thought it was. 

“Look, we’ve always had gambling, we’re always going to have gambling,” DeWine shared during the AP interview. “But just the power of these companies and the deep, deep, deep pockets they have to advertise and do everything they can to get someone to place that bet is really different once you have legalization of them. … Ohio shouldn’t have done it.”

DeWine also said he would gladly sign any bills that crack down on, or even ban, the growing industry. While he acknowledged the MLB for working to rein in controversial micro-betting, he believes more changes are needed. That includes cracking down on player prop bets, though he hasn’t had enough support to make any changes.

The comments came a couple of weeks after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were arrested for their participation in a spot-fixing scheme involving micro-betting. 

Is Banning Sports Betting Really Possible?

While DeWine’s talk about possibly banning the industry was stunning, he isn’t the only lawmaker to share that sentiment. That has led some to wonder if banning legal sports betting is actually possible.

From a legal perspective, states have the power to shut down their markets. Since all of them are regulated at the state level, the industry would be unable to stop it. However, sportsbooks have invested a fortune in political donations to ensure that won’t happen.

There is also a serious concern about what bettors will do if online sports betting is once again banned. With millions falling in love with the hobby, they could seek out illegal options, such as offshore sportsbooks. They could also switch to sports prediction markets, which are legal in all 50 states. That would mean a spike in problem gambling and zero tax dollars to help fight it.