Ohio Moves to Ban Certain Micro-Bets After MLB Betting Probe
Ohio gaming regulators are drafting a new rule to prohibit certain types of “micro-bets” on professional sports, a move that comes as a direct response to an ongoing Major League Baseball investigation involving two Cleveland Guardians pitchers. The proposal, requested by Governor Mike DeWine, specifically targets wagers on discrete, in-game events that can be controlled by a single player.
The Catalyst: A Betting Probe Hits Home
The regulatory push was prompted by an investigation into Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase. The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), in conjunction with MLB, identified unusual betting interest centered on the first pitch of specific innings thrown by Ortiz in two separate games in June.
According to reports, a significant amount of money was wagered on Ortiz throwing a ball or hitting the batter on his first pitch of an inning. In both instances, the pitches were described as being “significantly outside the strike zone.” This suspicious activity led to both Ortiz and Clase being placed on paid administrative leave by MLB pending the outcome of the investigation.
Defining the Scope of the Ban
The proposed rule would not be a blanket prohibition on all proposition bets. Instead, it is aimed squarely at what Governor DeWine has termed “micro prop bets”—wagers on highly specific events. The most cited example is a bet on whether the first pitch of an inning will be a ball or a strike.
While the final language of the rule is still being developed, it is expected to target markets that are most susceptible to manipulation by a single athlete. Less “micro” prop bets, such as the outcome of the next drive in a football game, would likely remain permissible.
A Governor’s Call for Action
Governor DeWine has been a vocal proponent of the ban, arguing that the risks posed by these types of wagers outweigh any potential benefits. “The evidence that prop betting is harming athletics in Ohio is reaching critical mass,” he stated. “The harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear.”
DeWine also noted that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed similar concerns, telling the governor that certain micro-bets are “unnecessary and particularly susceptible [to manipulation].”
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