Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has issued a forceful call to action, demanding the immediate elimination of proposition bets from legal sports wagering in the state, a move precipitated by recent unsettling developments within Major League Baseball involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers.
This pivotal request stems directly from the MLB’s decision to place two Cleveland Guardians pitchers on paid administrative leave, amid an intensifying MLB investigation into sports gambling Ohio activities. The governor views these suspensions as stark evidence that the “prop betting experiment has failed badly.”
Prop betting, at its core, allows bettors to wager on highly specific, player-centric outcomes rather than overall game results. This can encompass a player’s individual performance metrics, such as the number of three-pointers in basketball or a pitcher’s initial throw being a ball or a strike, creating unique vulnerabilities.
Governor DeWine’s initiative extends beyond Ohio’s borders, as he intends to seek support for a nationwide prop betting ban from commissioners and player unions across the six major U.S. sports leagues, including the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, and Major League Soccer, highlighting the systemic threat to sports integrity.
In a powerful statement, DeWine articulated that “The evidence that prop betting is harming athletics in Ohio is reaching critical mass,” citing earlier threats to Ohio athletes and now the high-profile Guardians suspensions. He firmly believes the potential harm to athletes and the very integrity of the game far outweighs any perceived benefits.
Media reports have concurrently linked the ongoing MLB investigation to alleged instances of unusual baseball betting patterns and activity in various states, including New York, New Jersey, and crucially, Ohio, particularly during Cleveland Guardians games in June, underscoring the widespread nature of the concern.
This statewide push follows a significant precedent set earlier in 2024, when the Ohio Casino Control Commission, at the urging of NCAA President Charlie Baker, already moved to prohibit player-specific wagers on college sports. This previous action demonstrates a recognized need for enhanced gambling regulations.
With increasing urgency, DeWine has explicitly urged the Ohio Casino Control Commission to “correct this problem and remove all prop bets from the Ohio marketplace,” underscoring the perceived immediate danger and the necessity for robust regulatory action to protect the fundamental fairness of athletic competition.
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