Ohio Sports Betting Regulator Sets Sites on Micro-Betting

Micro-betting appears to be on its way out in the Buckeye State.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission has confirmed it is creating a new rule to ban the controversial betting option. It will apply to in-game player-specific bets, which are commonly known as “micro-betting.” These wagers focus on a single aspect of a game, such as a pitch or an at-bat in baseball.

The announcement comes just days after Ohio Governor Mike DeWine requested that the sports betting regulator crack down on prop betting. While the governor did not specify which prop bets he wanted to be banned, the OCCC confirmed it is an attempt to fulfill his request.

DeWine’s call came after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were suspended by the league after investigations into suspicious betting activity were reported. In both instances, watchdogs noticed a spike in in-game micro-bets. While neither player has officially been charged, the details released make it seem likely they will.

The OCCC did create a ban on college player prop betting in February 2024, showing they are not shy about making changes to the state’s thriving sports betting market.

Will More States Follow?

Ohio is not the first state to take aim at micro-betting. New Jersey lawmakers are considering a similar ban in response to the uptick in betting scandals. While sportsbooks are hopeful the ban won’t pass, it appears it may be only the beginning of a much larger national effort.

While only Ohio and New Jersey are currently considering bans, it seems likely that more states will soon follow. The recent scandals from the MLB and NBA are getting far too much attention from residents and sports fans, who have begun to demand that lawmakers take action. 

While the sports betting industry has opposed these bans, time will tell if their political donations can outweigh the growing public outcry.