Ohio regulator reviews future of prop bets following governor’s push, MLB scandal

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) told U.S. media it is “gathering information” following Governor Mike DeWine’s call to ban prop bets from the state’s legal sports betting market.

The statement, shared with outlets including Legal Sports Report and Sports Betting Dime, comes after DeWine urged the OCCC on Thursday to eliminate this form of wagering.

“The Ohio Casino Control Commission (the ‘Commission’) works closely with Governor DeWine’s Office and General Assembly in serving the citizens of Ohio and protecting the integrity of gaming in the State,” said Assistant General Counsel Emily Berner. “To that end, staff is gathering information for the Commission to consider. The Commission will announce its next steps in the upcoming days.”

DeWine’s push to prohibit prop betting coincides with an ongoing MLB investigation into two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, who may have violated the league’s betting policies.

While exact figures on how much of Ohio’s betting handle comes from prop bets are unavailable, industry stakeholders warn that removing the option could reduce tax revenue.

Prop bets let bettors wager on in-game events or player-specific outcomes, such as whether a pitcher throws a strike or ball to open an inning. In mature betting markets, this category can represent more than 50% of total betting activity.

If removed, this would mark the second time the OCCC has revised its betting offerings in response to regulatory or ethical concerns. In February 2024, the regulator banned college player props after DeWine supported a request from NCAA President Charlie Baker.

DeWine, reiterating his stance last week, said these bets have already caused damage to Ohio athletics. “First, there were threats on Ohio athletes, and now two high-profile Ohio professional athletes have been suspended by Major League Baseball as part of a sports betting investigation,” he said.

The players in question — starting pitcher Luis Ortiz and All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase — were both placed on non-disciplinary paid leave amid the investigation. Ortiz was sidelined on July 3, followed by Clase on July 28. Both will remain on leave through August 31.

MLB launched the investigation after a monitoring firm flagged suspicious activity related to two pitches thrown by Ortiz during separate games. Details about Clase’s involvement have not yet been disclosed.

“The harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear, and the benefits are not worth the harm," DeWine said Thursday. "The prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly. I call on the Casino Control Commission to correct this problem and remove all prop bets from the Ohio marketplace.”