Top Ohio Lawmaker Vows to Block Governor’s Proposed Prop Bet Ban
A powerful Ohio lawmaker is pushing back against Governor Mike DeWine’s call to ban all prop bets on professional sports. State Representative Brian Stewart, who chairs the House Finance Committee, stated he will work to block any such rule from taking effect.
A Governor’s Call to Action
Governor DeWine’s call for a ban is a direct response to a recent Major League Baseball investigation. The probe involves Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase, who were suspended following allegations of unusual betting activity related to their performances in June.
DeWine argues that the incident proves “the prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly.” He has asked the Ohio Casino Control Commission to eliminate all prop bets on professional sports, stating, “The harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear, and the benefits are not worth the harm.”
This is not the governor’s first move against this type of wager. In February 2024, at his request, the commission banned prop bets on college athletes in Ohio. DeWine now seeks to extend that prohibition to the professional level.
A Lawmaker’s Rebuttal
Representative Stewart, however, sees the situation differently. He believes the existing regulatory system is working as intended, pointing out that the unusual betting activity in the Guardians’ case was successfully flagged.
“I don’t think it makes sense to respond to that by pulling the rug out from under Ohioans who have come to enjoy using this product,” Stewart said.
He emphasized the popularity of these wagers, citing industry officials who estimate that prop bets account for as much as 50% of all sports betting activity in Ohio.
“I think that prop bets are a significant part of sports betting in the state of Ohio,” he stated. “It’s something that clearly a lot of Ohioans have taken part in and enjoy, and I don’t think there’s something that we should eliminate entirely.”
The Legislative Path Forward
Stewart has a direct role in the process. He is one of ten members of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), a body that must approve all new rules from the Casino Control Commission. He has pledged to use his influence on the committee to prevent the ban from being implemented.
If that fails, Stewart said he is prepared to introduce his own legislation to protect prop betting in the state. He acknowledges that such a bill would likely face a veto from Governor DeWine, which would require a supermajority vote in both the House and Senate to override.
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