New Bill Proposes Ohio Online Sports Betting Ban

Ohio could become the first state to fully reverse course on online sports betting since the practice went legal nationwide. Reps. Johnathan Newman and Beth Lear have filed House Bill 971, also called the Save Ohio Sports Act, and it proposes an Ohio online sports betting ban that would strip mobile wagering out of the state entirely. Bettors would still be able to place wagers, but only in person at a licensed casino.

The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee, so it has a long road ahead before any vote. Still, its scope makes it one of the most sweeping gambling proposals introduced in the state so far.

What the Ohio Online Sports Betting Ban Would Change

HB 971 would geofence all sports wagering to physical casino properties. Mobile apps and online sportsbooks would lose their legal footing in Ohio, so anyone who wants to bet would need to walk onto a casino floor to do it. That single change would upend how most Ohio bettors currently place their wagers.

The bill also narrows what counts as a legal bet. In-game and live betting would disappear, along with prop bets and parlays. College sports wagering would be banned outright, leaving only standard single-game bets on professional sports as an option. Individual wagers would be capped at $100, and bettors would be limited to eight bets in any 24-hour stretch.

Credit card funding would also end under the proposal. Sportsbook advertising would be barred from college venues and pulled from live broadcasts, cutting off two of the industry’s biggest promotional channels.

Why Lawmakers Are Pushing the Ban

Supporters of the bill point to how dominant online betting has become in Ohio. Mobile wagering accounts for more than 98% of the state’s total betting handle, and that volume generated over $200 million in operator tax revenue in 2025 alone. Sponsors argue that scale is exactly the problem, not the payoff.

Governor Mike DeWine has previously called legalizing sports betting his biggest regret, and that sentiment gives the bill more political weight than a typical long-shot proposal. If HB 971 becomes law, Ohio would be the first state to fully repeal online sports betting since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban in 2018. That would mark a sharp reversal for a market that has grown quickly since it launched.

What Happens Next

Because HB 971 still needs a committee assignment, its path forward remains uncertain. Ohio lawmakers have introduced similar proposals before, and earlier bills aimed at the same market have stalled or been scaled back during negotiations.

The stakes here go beyond Ohio. Other states have been watching how the market matures, and a full Ohio online sports betting ban would give opponents of mobile wagering a concrete example to point to elsewhere. Whether HB 971 survives committee review or fades like earlier attempts, it signals that Ohio’s sports betting debate is far from settled.