Ohio Governor Mike DeWine promises sports betting will come to the state, but not before public policy questions get some answers—such as how to address gambling addictions, whether bets will be allowed on mobile phone apps, and whether bets can be made on in-state inter-collegiate sports.
“I have not weighed in on these. I will at some point. Again, these are questions that the public needs to look at and I would encourage anyone who cares about this…to weigh in with their legislators and weigh in with us,” DeWine said earlier this month.
House Bill 194 and Senate Bill 111 each seek to legalize sports betting, though they would take different regulatory approaches. HB194 would give oversight duties to the Ohio Lottery while SB111 would give them to the Casino Control Commission.
According to the Dayton Daily News, SB-111 would permit current casino and racino license holders the ability to offer sports betting in person, online and via mobile devices. Betting on intercollegiate contests would be allowed but not on high school sports, said bill sponsor, State Senator John Eklund.
But public and private colleges and universities oppose legalizing betting on intercollegiate sports. In a letter signed by presidents of 14 public and 30 private universities, they argued that legal betting on college sports could compromise the integrity of the athletic programs, increase underage gambling and put additional pressure on students.
Another letter signed by athletic directors of Ohio’s 13 Division I NCAA institutions argues against legalizing sports betting on college athletics.
If state leaders insist on legalizing sports betting on collegiate sports, the athletic directors recommend multiple restrictions, including limiting wagers to the outcome of games, prohibiting wagers using student financial aid money and prohibiting wagers by athletes and university athletics staff.
