Ohio Proposal Seeks End to Online Sports Betting Access State

Ohio legislators have introduced a proposal that would dramatically reshape the state's sports betting landscape by ending online wagering and introducing a series of new restrictions on legal gambling activity.

House Bill 971, known as the Save Ohio Sports Act, was filed in the Ohio House of Representatives by Reps. Johnathan Newman and Beth Lear. If approved, the legislation would roll back key parts of Ohio's current sports betting framework by allowing wagers only at licensed retail casino locations and removing statewide access to mobile sportsbooks.

The measure arrives as lawmakers continue to debate the balance between gambling revenue and concerns about its broader social effects.

Bill would confine sports betting to casino locations

The central feature of HB 971 would require all legal sports betting to take place in person. Mobile sportsbooks would no longer operate across the state, as the proposal would geofence betting activity to licensed casino properties. Retail sportsbooks would continue operating, while online platforms would no longer be permitted.

Supporters of the legislation argue that Ohio's sports betting market has expanded beyond what they consider appropriate and say additional safeguards are necessary.

Rep. Jonathan Newman criticized the current funding model, saying:

“Monetizing addiction to fund public education is the wrong direction for Ohio. Who wins when predatory gambling preys on the vulnerable? It’s not our schools; that’s for sure! It’s the trillion-dollar big gambling companies who win. How is this good for Ohio?”

The legislation has been introduced in the House but has not yet been assigned to a committee for hearings or possible amendments. Before becoming law, it would need approval from both legislative chambers before reaching the governor.

Proposal adds tighter limits on wagering and advertising

HB 971 also includes several measures that would significantly reduce the range of legal betting options available to Ohio customers.

If enacted, the bill would remove live and in-game wagering, player proposition bets, parlay bets and all betting on college sports. Bettors would only be able to place wagers on individual games, reducing the number of betting markets currently offered.

The proposal would also introduce limits on customer activity by capping wagers at $100 each and restricting bettors to eight wagers within a 24-hour period.

Advertising practices would face new controls as well. Sportsbook operators would no longer be allowed to advertise inside college sports venues or air gambling advertisements during live sporting events.

Funding methods would also change under the proposal. Players would no longer be able to use credit cards to deposit money into betting accounts and would instead rely on alternatives such as bank transfers or existing winnings.

According to lawmakers supporting the measure, these changes are intended to reduce gambling exposure and strengthen consumer protections, particularly for younger audiences.

Rep. Beth Lear said the legislation reflects concerns about the impact of gambling on public health.

“Gambling is the No. 1 addiction that leads to suicide. Online gambling companies are in an aggressive pay-to-play game with the Ohio Legislature, hoping to expand their profits on the backs of Ohioans with the ‘carrot’ of providing extra tax money for the government. This legislation makes it clear: our kids, their physical and mental well-being, are not for sale.”

State faces debate over gambling revenue and future policy

Ohio's regulated sports betting market began operating in 2023 and online sportsbooks have accounted for more than 98% of the state's betting handle during recent reporting periods.

The current market has generated substantial tax revenue. Operator taxes produced more than $200 million in 2025 alone, while retail sportsbooks contributed only a relatively small share of overall collections.

Should HB 971 become law, Ohio would stand apart as the first US state to completely reverse legal online sports betting after the repeal of the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which allowed states to legalize sports wagering individually.

The proposal also comes against the backdrop of Governor Mike DeWine's previously stated reservations about sports betting. He has described legalizing sports wagering as his "biggest regret," a position that may indicate support for stricter regulation.

The legislation now begins what is expected to be a closely watched discussion over the future of gambling in Ohio. Lawmakers will weigh arguments surrounding consumer protection and public health alongside the financial contribution that sports betting currently makes to state revenues.

Source:

Ohio Lawmakers Advance Bill to Ban Online Sports Betting and Tighten Gambling Rules, news.worldcasinodirectory.com, July 3, 2026.