Summary
- Ohio has decisively eliminated collegiate prop bets.
- Governor Mike DeWine announces that the next focus will be on prop bets in professional sports.
- The governor has urged the regulator to take immediate action and resolve the situation.
Governor Mike DeWine has long been a strong voice against most forms of gambling, and now he's turning his attention to another issue: the involvement of prop bets in Ohio's sportsbooks. DeWine firmly believes that prop bets don't belong in the standard betting markets, arguing that they create a dangerous environment for athlete exploitation and increase the potential for abuse.
Gov. DeWine says it’s time for prop bets to go as a whole
In a strong push for change, Governor DeWine has urged the Ohio Casino Control Commission to consider banning prop bets. This comes after two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were sidelined amid ongoing investigations into betting offenses. Governor DeWine is also appealing to the six major sports leagues in the United States—the MLB, NFL, MLS, NHL, NBA, and WNBA—to support his mission to eliminate prop bets entirely. He believes these bets are a threat to the integrity of sports, not only in Ohio but nationwide. First, Ohio athletes faced threats, and now two prominent Ohio pros have been suspended by Major League Baseball due to sports betting probes, he stated. Governor DeWine feels the potential risks far outweigh any tax benefits, stressing that the current trend is alarming. He calls on the Casino Control Commission to act decisively and remove all prop bets from Ohio's market. His anxiety is justified. The NCAA has long warned of the dangers sports betting poses to student-athletes, with prop betting at the forefront of these concerns. Instances like threats to the University of Dayton’s basketball players recently brought the issue into sharp focus for Governor DeWine.
Collegiate props are gone as they should be – why not professional sports’ ones as well?
In February 2024, the regulator finally stepped up to ban prop bets on college sports, but this move is just the beginning. The governor's office emphasizes that these bets still cast a shadow over regular sports matches, causing real harm. The aim is to lead a nationwide effort to eliminate this troublesome betting market entirely. With this popular betting option off the table, there's a chance that prediction market platforms and similar non-betting companies might swoop in to catch the attention of traditional sportsbook customers. The repercussions for the integrity of sports could be significant and concerning.
