Ohio Sports Betting Could Ban Live Player Props

A big change could soon be coming to the Ohio sports betting market. And it would rid The Buckeye State of player-specific live prop wagers.

The Casino Control Commission, which oversees sports betting in Ohio, is reportedly putting together a rule that would ban what they call particular “micro betting” options.

“The Commission is currently drafting a rule to prohibit player-specific micro wagers,” Assistant General Counsel Caty Abbott told Legal Sports Report’s Matthew Waters. “When we believe we have a draft that will accomplish that, then the Commission will follow the statutory process for rule promulgation.”

This news comes at a time when certain states are looking to crack down issues arising throughout the industry. Regulators of sports betting in Massachusetts are so far being the most aggressive. Senator John Keenan has proposed the Better Health Act. If successful, it would impose individual betting limits, raise sportsbook taxes, and most notably, require operators to implement thorough financial background checks aimed at curtailing the rise in problem gambling and reported bankruptcies.

In this case, the Ohio sports betting ban for certain micro transactions comes at regulation from a different angle. Governor Mike DeWine noted the Cleveland Guardians sports betting scandal as part of the proposal. Removing a bulk of player prop wagers would, in theory, prevent pro athletes from influencing the outcome of wagers involving them.

Full Details of Potential Ohio Sports Betting Ban

Here is Wagers with a complete breakdown of this pending Ohio sports betting proposal:

“The timeline given suggests the new Ohio sports betting rule may not go into effect until mid-September or later. After a rule is drafted, the commission must hold a public hearing with at least 30-days’ notice. The rule would be in effect after it is published in the Register of Ohio, which is updated weekly. Without the rule language, it is not clear what will be included in the change. Even the kind of first-pitch bets that are reportedly involved in the MLB investigation could be argued to include more than one player. For example, a pitch’s placement could be picked by the catcher. Some of the not-as-micro live prop bets – such as a bet on the outcome of the following drive in a football game – should still be allowed.”

Loosely reading between the lines, it seems like the Ohio sports betting ban would target single-player transactions. We imagine this includes lines such as the over/under on the touchdowns a quarterback throws, the number of points a basketball player scores, the number of pitches thrown by an MLB player, etc. But again, like Waters notes, this is purely speculation. We need the specific proposal to know for sure. And it seems the piece of legislation is still in progress.

Expect Push-Back from Ohio Online Sportsbooks

There will inevitably be push-back from Ohio sports betting operators whenever new restrictions are brought to the table. Sportsbooks will argue this eats too much into their current business model.

Of course, this is another issue that requires the specific language. Initial speculation suggests the Ohio sports betting rule would target live player props. Under this interpretation, betting on the number of touchdowns an NFL QB throws would still be legal up until the opening kickoff.

This becomes a totally different issue if The Buckeye State is looking to ban all player-specific micro bets. According to Fortune, sports betting in the United States grew by over 50 percent during the 2024 calendar. Experts believe that prop wagering is a huge catalyst behind that increase. Mobile sports betting apps have made it easier than ever to place wagers in real-time, and these transactions provide a break for customers from more traditional betslips that feature moneyline and point spread investments.

Prop betting is particularly lucrative around tentpole events. It would not be a stretch to say Super Bowl prop betting is a billion-dollar industry by itself. If the Ohio sports betting market is seeking to dismiss those types of wagers, operators aren’t going to be happy. We aren’t talking about a generalized ban, either. There will be impassioned rebukes delivered from companies even if the emphasis is exclusively on live player props.

Will Ohio’s Micro Betting Ban Be Successful?

It is much too early for a definitive answer here. Once more, we do not even know the full scope of the forthcoming proposal. However, the Ohio sports betting market banned betting on college player props last year. Governor DeWine drove that bus as well following a request from NCAA President Baker, one of the most outspoken opponents of player prop betting in the United States.

Granted, Ohio is entering separate waters this time around. Banning pro sports betting is a taller order. And it will be even harder to accomplish if all player props fall under the proposed umbrella.

Still, The Buckeye State remains among the states most focused on addressing the downsides of sports betting. Their track record isn’t perfect. But the same can be said for every other state. Ohio at least seems to be more active on the regulatory front.

To that end, this could have a trickle-down effect. If Ohio sports betting no longer allows for live or general player props, other states could follow suit. The same goes for the fate of the Better Health Act in Massachusetts. Imposing tighter restrictions may not be a top priority for every state just yet, but we are headed in that direction. The number of studies about the adverse effects of sports betting in the USA is growing. That will continue as the industry ages up. If major markets like Ohio and Massachusetts start adopting more aggressive regulations, we could see them become standard practice elsewhere.

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