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Ohio voters face two very different plans for legal online gambling in the 2026 governor race. Amy Acton and Don Kissick support wider access, while Vivek Ramaswamy has not presented a public policy.
Good To Know
Acton, the Democratic nominee, would consider allowing more gambling through phones and computers. Her position also includes tighter sports betting rules and added protections for players.
Libertarian candidate Kissick supports online casinos and other digital gambling products but opposes pairing legalization with broad new restrictions. He views gambling as a personal decision for adults.
Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee, did not answer questions from Cleveland.com about sports betting, online casinos or gambling harm. His campaign silence leaves no clear indication of how he would handle Ohio gambling expansion if elected in November. Ramaswamy and Acton secured their party nominations in May 2026.
The next governor could influence proposals covering Ohio online casinos, internet poker and lottery apps. Lawmakers introduced House Bill 298 and Senate Bill 197 in 2025 to regulate internet gambling, although neither proposal has legalized the market.
Ohio currently operates four casinos and seven racinos. Legal sports betting began on January 1, 2023, while real money online casino games remain prohibited.
A separate Republican proposal would reduce legal betting rather than add new products.
State Reps. Johnathan Newman and Beth Lear introduced House Bill 971, known as the Save Ohio Sports Act, on July 1, 2026. The official legislative record still lists the bill at the introduced stage with no committee assignment.
The bill would end statewide mobile sports betting while retaining limited in-person wagering. It also targets college bets, live betting, parlays and player proposition markets. Ten Republican representatives had joined as sponsors by early July.
Newman argues that gambling companies receive more value from legal betting than schools and residents. The proposal creates a direct policy clash before the election: Ohio could approve casino apps under one path or remove much of its mobile sportsbook market under another.
No. Ohio permits online sports betting but not regulated real money casino apps or online poker.
Amy Acton and Don Kissick support broader online gambling access, although they disagree over regulation.
Ramaswamy has not publicly outlined a detailed position on online casinos or sports betting rules.
The proposal would end mobile sports betting and restrict several betting formats while retaining limited retail wagering.