Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton and Libertarian opponent Don Kissick support expanding online gambling to generate additional state revenue if elected, while Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy has yet to publicly outline his position on the issue, according to interviews with Cleveland.com.
Acton’s campaign said revenue from expanded iGaming would be used to help fund public schools, childcare and property tax relief. The campaign did not specify which forms of online gambling she would seek to legalize, although proposals previously considered by Ohio lawmakers have included online casino games, poker, internet horse-race betting and iLottery products.
Ohio’s next governor is expected to play a key role in shaping the state’s gambling policy, including potential expansion of online gambling, sports betting taxation, funding for problem gambling treatment and consumer protection measures.
Ohio has four casinos, seven racinos and legal sports betting, which launched in 2023. The sector generated a record $3.5 billion in revenue last year, according to the American Gaming Association.
“Amy is open to responsibly expanding iGaming … to increase revenue in Ohio to fund our priorities,” Addie Bullock, spokeswoman for Acton’s campaign, said.
Acton also supports new restrictions on microprop bets while keeping Ohio’s 20% sports betting tax unchanged. However, she opposes a broader ban on proposition bets.
“Consumers should be able to spend their money how they please,” Bullock said.
The Democratic candidate also backs stronger responsible gambling measures, including banning gambling advertisements aimed at people under 21, prohibiting promotions promising “guaranteed wins” or “risk-free bets,” expanding voluntary self-exclusion programmes and preventing active athletes and celebrities from targeting at-risk gamblers.
“As a doctor and public health professional, Dr. Acton would also prioritize mental health protections and support strengthening safeguards for our children,” Bullock said.
Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Don Kissick also supports expanding online gambling, arguing that legalization would channel betting through licensed operators rather than illegal markets.
“I am of the mindset (that) prohibition does not work,” Kissick said. “At least with a sensible legalization setup, people are engaging in that activity through licensed and legitimate vendors, as opposed to underground and criminal operations,” he added.
Kissick opposes changes to Ohio’s existing sports betting laws, saying frequent legislative changes would complicate compliance for operators.
“Constantly modifying betting laws necessarily will make compliance more difficult. We should not be tacitly setting up these operations to fail,” he said.
While Kissick said he is open to increasing funding for gambling addiction treatment, he argued against excessive government intervention.
“The people of Ohio can get by without an entertainment nanny state,” he said.
Ramaswamy has not publicly stated his position on expanding online gambling or broader gambling policy, and his campaign did not respond to questions on the subject, according to The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.
The debate comes as Ohio’s online gambling consumer protections received a score of 57 out of 100, equivalent to a D-minus, earlier this year from the Center for Addiction Science, Policy, and Research. Meanwhile, Gov. Mike DeWine has said signing Ohio’s sports betting legislation was his biggest regret as governor and has advocated tighter restrictions on certain betting markets.