Ohio bill seeks sweeping ban on online and college sports betting

Ohio lawmakers have introduced House Bill 971, a measure that would fundamentally reshape the state’s sports betting regime by banning online wagering and sharply curtailing the range of permitted bets. The bill was introduced on Wednesday, 1 July, and is framed by its backers as a response to mounting concerns about consumer protection and the impact of rapid betting expansion on local sports.

The proposed legislation comes less than four years after Ohio legalised sports wagering through earlier laws and launched its online market on 1 January 2023. Since then, sports betting has become a significant regulated activity in the state, with numerous online operators and a broad menu of bet types available to consumers.

HB 971 seeks to reverse much of that liberalisation. Under the bill, sports wagering would no longer be available online. Instead, bets could only be placed in person at physical retail locations, such as licensed casinos and other approved venues.

The core provision of House Bill 971 is a ban on online sports betting, closing off access to wagering via mobile apps and websites that currently underpin most betting activity in Ohio. This would leave only retail sportsbooks able to offer legal sports bets, significantly reducing consumer access and likely shifting market volume away from digital channels.

The bill extends beyond the online ban to target specific bet types. It proposes a prohibition on wagering on college sports, ending the ability to bet on collegiate competitions that have been part of Ohio’s legal market. The legislation would also outlaw parlays, player proposition bets and live betting markets, all of which are currently common features of online and retail offerings in the state.

HB 971 is not limited to product-level restrictions. It includes direct controls on player behaviour and staking. Individual bets would be capped at a maximum of US$100, while customers would be restricted to no more than eight wagers within any 24‑hour period. The bill further prohibits the use of credit cards or borrowed funds to place bets, requiring that wagering be funded only with deposited money.

Advertising and promotions are also in focus. The proposed law would impose tighter limits on sports betting advertising and restrict bonuses and promotional offers, with the stated aim of enhancing consumer protection and reducing the appeal of high‑intensity betting incentives.

House Bill 971 was introduced by Republican representatives Johnathan Newman and Beth Lear and is backed by eight other Republican legislators. Supporters argue the bill is necessary to protect consumers and safeguard the integrity of Ohio’s sports environment, which they believe has been exposed to heightened risks as betting has expanded. The measure has been informally nicknamed the “Save Ohio Sports Act”, underscoring its stated focus on the wellbeing of local sports institutions.

Proponents contend that online betting, college wagering, parlays, player props and live markets collectively increase the likelihood of problem gambling and potential pressure on athletes and teams. They emphasise that limiting bet types and imposing stake caps are intended to curb excessive play and reduce harm. At the same time, these restrictions would significantly diminish product variety in a market that, since 2023, has offered a wide array of betting options across professional and collegiate sport.

The bill is at an early stage. It has not yet been assigned to a House committee, a necessary step before formal hearings, amendments and votes can occur. To become law, HB 971 would need to pass the Ohio House of Representatives, clear the state Senate, and then be signed by Governor Mike DeWine. Earlier in 2026, lawmakers had signalled an intention to pursue substantial changes to the sports betting framework, and HB 971 gives concrete form to that agenda.

For observers in Australia’s iGaming sector, the Ohio proposal highlights how regulatory settings for sports betting can shift rapidly, even in markets that only recently embraced online wagering. The bill combines a full online ban with detailed product and advertising limits, demonstrating one model of a restrictive response to integrity and consumer protection concerns in a mature U.S. betting market.