Ohio’s 2026 governor candidates hold different views on expanding online gambling, with two in favor and one staying silent on the issue.
Two of Ohio’s leading gubernatorial candidates say they’d support expanding online gambling in the state, though they disagree on how tightly it should be regulated. A third has yet to take a public position at all.
Key Takeaways
- Democratic nominee Amy Acton and Libertarian candidate Don Kissick both back expansion, but differ on regulation
- Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has not stated a position
- State lawmakers separately introduced a bill in June that would restrict, rather than expand, sports betting in Ohio
Where the Candidates Stand
Acton and Kissick were both asked where they’d land on Ohio’s gambling laws if elected this November, including whether they’d support legalizing more forms of online gambling and whether new consumer protections are needed.
Acton indicated she’d be open to broadening what Ohioans can legally wager on through phones and computers, while also pushing for stronger consumer safeguards and tighter rules specifically around sports betting. Kissick supports expanding online gambling too, but takes a lighter-touch approach to regulation, framing gambling largely as a personal choice adults should be free to make without added government oversight.
Ramaswamy’s campaign did not respond to questions on the topic, leaving his position unclear heading into the election.
That gap matters. Ohio’s next governor will have real influence over whether the state moves to legalize online casinos, poker, and lottery apps, or holds the line on its current setup.
Ohio’s Current Gambling Landscape
Ohio’s gambling framework has stayed largely unchanged for more than a decade, built around four casinos and seven racinos. Sports betting joined the mix in 2023 and quickly became a significant revenue driver, with bettors in the state wagering more than $10 billion in 2025 alone.
Lawmakers Move the Opposite Direction
While the governor’s race leaves online gambling’s future uncertain, some state lawmakers are already pushing to tighten sports betting rather than expand into new verticals. State Representatives Johnathan Newman and Beth Lear introduced House Bill 971, the Save Ohio Sports Act, in late June.
The bill would ban certain high-stakes betting formats, eliminate betting on college sports entirely, and restrict practices its sponsors view as predatory. It carries nine total provisions split roughly evenly between consumer protection and sports integrity measures. As of introduction, the bill had not yet been assigned to committee.
The split between the governor candidates’ openness to expansion and lawmakers’ push to restrict existing sports betting sets up a broader fight over the direction of Ohio gambling policy heading into 2026.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute political endorsement of any candidate or position.