Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently publicly expressed his regret over the sports betting legalization bill signed in 2021. Despite acknowledging that repealing the bill is politically impossible, he remains committed to pushing for reforms, limiting prop bets, and setting betting limits, believing that the current system poses a threat to sports integrity.
The Governor's Reflection and Reform Efforts
DeWine candidly stated: "Ohio should not have done this." He believes that after legalization, the gambling companies' extensive advertising campaigns created an environment that was much harder to manage than expected. Over the past two years, he has actively promoted limiting industry risk areas, including removing college sports prop bets from the legal betting scope, and negotiating with Major League Baseball to set a betting limit of $200 on pitching-related bets—these regulatory dynamics are also continuously tracked in PASA's industry reports.
Specific Measures and League Response
Following a gambling harassment incident involving the University of Dayton basketball team, DeWine spoke with the NCAA president, prompting Ohio to remove college sports prop bets. MLB Commissioner Manfred praised his contributions: "Governor DeWine has indeed made significant contributions, highlighting the necessity of taking action." However, the governor believes this is still not enough, warning sports leagues that ignore the risks of small bets that they are "playing with fire."
Political Reality and Future Outlook
DeWine clearly acknowledges that repealing the bill "does not have enough votes to support it," hence he turns to influencing leagues and regulatory bodies. Although the gambling industry has deeply cultivated Ohio's political scene through political donations, the governor still insists on reform. As his term nears its end, he continues to warn of the risks to sports integrity, stating that even without legislative support, he will continue to advocate for stronger protective measures, a persistence not often seen in politicians.
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