Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has revealed that he considers signing the sports betting legalization bill as his biggest mistake during the last seven years. The legislation was signed in December 2021 and legalized sports betting in Ohio from January 2023. As a result, citizens placed over $7.7 billion in bets in 2023 and nearly $8.9
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has revealed that he considers signing the sports betting legalization bill as his biggest mistake during the last seven years.
The legislation was signed in December 2021 and legalized sports betting in Ohio from January 2023. As a result, citizens placed over $7.7 billion in bets in 2023 and nearly $8.9 billion in 2024.
DeWine said:
“People have asked me, ‘What mistakes did you make?’ And I’ll lead with signing a bill for sports gaming. It’s a huge problem among young males up to 45. It’s a huge problem. And we have many of them addicted, many of them spending money that they do not have.”
Despite the popularity of sports betting in the state, Ohio has spent millions to help residents who suffer from problem gambling. The governor pointed to the fact that players now don’t have to go anywhere, as they have casinos right in their phones. Additionally, he mentioned that the problems have extended not just to gamblers but also to the athletes they are gambling on.
DeWine initially aimed to enforce a ban on proposition bets; however, after speaking with Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred, he decided to allow the MLB to set up its own nationwide restrictions.