Ohio Sports Betting Regulations Could End Mobile Wagering

Ohio sports betting regulations could be getting a dramatic overhaul. A group of Republican lawmakers has introduced the Save Ohio Sports Act. It is a bill that would impose some of the strictest limits on sports wagering seen in any US state. The proposal targets gambling addiction head-on, but it comes with trade-offs that have split public opinion and alarmed industry observers.

What the Save Ohio Sports Act Actually Proposes

The bill covers a lot of ground. Under its terms, bettors would be limited to $100 per wager and no more than eight bets in a 24-hour window. More significantly, all bets would have to be placed in person at one of Ohio’s licensed casinos. Mobile sports betting would be gone entirely.

The legislation also bans several popular bet types. Parlays, prop bets, in-game wagers, and all college sports betting would be prohibited. On top of that, sports betting advertising would be banned during live broadcasts and inside professional sports venues. Taken together, these changes would reshape Ohio sports betting from one of the more open markets in the country into one of the most restricted.

The Addiction Argument

Lawmakers pushing the bill point to a sharp rise in gambling-related harm since Ohio legalized sports betting in January 2023. Calls to the state’s gambling helpline surpassed 10,000 in 2024 alone. Sponsors argue that easy access, aggressive advertising, and high-frequency bet formats have driven that surge.

The concern centers on younger bettors in particular. Rep. Gary Click, one of the bill’s sponsors, has argued that Ohio is effectively funding mental health problems by allowing the current betting environment to continue unchecked. The Center for Christian Virtue, a conservative advocacy group, has backed the proposal publicly and called for an end to mobile wagering specifically. For supporters, Ohio sports betting regulations of this scale are long overdue.

A Billion-Dollar Market at Stake

Critics see a different picture. Ohio’s sports betting market generated over $1 billion in revenue in 2025, with the bulk of that coming from online wagering. Eliminating mobile betting would cut off the primary channel most Ohio bettors currently use.

The deeper concern among opponents is displacement. Restricting legal options tends to push some bettors toward unregulated platforms, which pay no taxes and offer no consumer protections. That outcome would cost the state both revenue and oversight. Some Ohio residents have said the restrictions go too far, arguing that adults should be trusted to manage their own betting habits. Others have acknowledged the need for some guardrails but see blanket bans on parlays and mobile access as excessive.

What Happens Next

The Save Ohio Sports Act is working its way through the Ohio House of Representatives. It is likely to face amendments before any final vote. Several stakeholders, including operators, advocacy groups, and public health organizations, are expected to weigh in as debate continues.

Ohio is not alone in wrestling with these questions. Several other states have moved to tighten Ohio sports betting regulations or introduce similar restrictions in recent months, reflecting a broader shift in how US legislators view the gambling boom that followed the 2018 federal legalization of sports wagering. Whether Ohio goes as far as this bill proposes remains to be seen. But the conversation it has started is unlikely to go away.

The Save Ohio Sports Act represents one of the most aggressive attempts yet to walk back the permissive approach many states took when sports betting first launched. It may not pass in its current form, but it signals a growing willingness among state lawmakers to treat gambling access as a public health issue, not just a revenue opportunity.