Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Has Purchaser’s Regret With Sports activities Betting

• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine needs he hadn’t signed sports activities betting into regulation
• DeWine signed sports activities playing laws in December 2021
• The Republican says sports activities betting has elevated playing issues, notably amongst younger males

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) is within the ultimate 12 months of his governorship. Because the calendar ticks nearer his exit, the term-limited Republican is starting to mirror on his eight years in workplace.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine waves to attendees on the Ohio Auctioneers Affiliation’s annual convention on Jan. 9, 2026. DeWine has regrets about signing sports activities betting into regulation in December 2021. DeWine’s run as governor of the Buckeye State ends in January 2027. (Picture: Governor Mike DeWine)

This week, DeWine sat down with the editorial board of Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer to debate the highs and lows of his tenure. The previous state lawyer normal revealed that he has regrets about signing Ohio’s sports activities betting regulation in 2021.

“Individuals have requested me, ‘What errors did you make?’ And I’ll lead with signing a invoice for sports activities gaming,” DeWine mentioned.

It’s an enormous downside amongst younger males as much as 45. We now have lots of them addicted, lots of them spending cash that they don’t have,” DeWine conceded.

This isn’t the primary time the governor has expressed regret about sports activities betting. In November, DeWine informed the Related Press that sports activities betting was a nasty guess.

“We’ve all the time had playing, however the energy of those corporations and the deep, deep, deep pockets they should promote and do every part they’ll to get somebody to position that guess is actually totally different,” DeWine mentioned. “Ohio completely shouldn’t have completed sports activities betting.”

Ohio Sports activities Betting Legislation 

DeWine’s December 2021 signing of Home Invoice 29 legalized cell sportsbooks and in-person sports activities betting at casinos, racinos, sports activities stadiums, and bars and eating places that maintain liquor and lottery licenses.  

Immediately, quite a few sportsbooks are operational within the Buckeye State, together with DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, Laborious Rock Wager, Caesars Sportsbook, and BetMGM. Final 12 months, Ohioans guess greater than $10 billion on sports activities, a brand new file, shedding virtually $1 billion to the oddsmakers.

Ohio takes 10% of the gross income, which means the state benefited from sports activities betting to the tune of roughly $100 million in 2025. Ohio’s funds for its 2025 fiscal 12 months was greater than $100 billion.

Ohio for Accountable Playing, a authorities program supported by 4 state businesses — the Ohio Lottery Fee, Ohio On line casino Management Fee, Ohio State Racing Fee, and Ohio Division of Behavioral Well being — has reported a major enhance within the variety of calls to its playing helpline since sports activities betting turned authorized. 

2026 Odds

Merchants on prediction market Kalshi give the Republican candidate one of the best odds of successful the 2026 gubernatorial election in Ohio. Shares of a GOP win are at the moment buying and selling at 64 cents.

Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is the betting favourite for the Republican ticket, along with his shares buying and selling at 91 cents. Northwest Ohio small enterprise proprietor Casey Putsch is a distant second at 7 cents.

On the Democratic facet, Dr. Amy Acton is sort of a certain factor, together with her shares buying and selling at 95 cents in securing the occasion’s ticket. Acton is the previous director of the Ohio Division of Well being.