Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he would sign a bill repealing the state's legal sports betting framework, but believes lawmakers lack the votes to pass one. He said concerns over gambling advertising and harassment of college athletes contributed to his regret; Ohio's ban on college player prop bets took effect in February 2024.
A repeal could end legal sports betting in Ohio, while DeWine says he will pursue tighter controls instead.
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he regretted signing House Bill 29, which established the state’s sports betting framework. He cited recent betting scandals and criticised operators’ advertising, while saying changes to strengthen sports integrity could be possible; the source reports that Ohio has generated $500 million in tax revenue from sports betting.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine proposed raising the state’s sports betting tax from 20% to 40% in the 2026-27 budget. He said the increase could raise $100 million to $130 million for a fund supporting professional sports facilities and youth sports, with allocations made by a group appointed by the governor and legislature if lawmakers approve the measure. Sports Betting Alliance president Jeremy Kudon warned that higher taxes could prompt operators to cut costs.
Former CFTC and SEC chair Gary Gensler filed a court brief supporting Ohio in its dispute with Kalshi over whether sports-based contracts fall under federal derivatives law or state gambling rules, the report said. Kalshi argues that certain sports contracts are swaps subject to CFTC oversight; Gensler contends that the law was not intended to cover sports wagering. The appeals court is considering the issue, with states, tribal organisations and industry groups supporting state-level authority.
The Ninth Circuit ruled in a Nevada case that federal law does not bar states from applying gambling laws to Kalshi’s sports-event contracts. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said she is reviewing the ruling; it does not resolve Arizona’s separate case over election-related contracts, which remains blocked by a federal judge.
The NCLGS adopted a resolution supporting state authority over sports-betting and gambling policy. Its executive committee approved the position unanimously amid the debate over prediction markets.