In light of betting-related suspensions to two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) is debating banning microbets in the Buckeye State after a request from Governor Mike DeWine.
- Image
Terms and Conditions
New customers only. Deposit min. $10. Place first bet of min $5 and get $100 in bonus bets if your bet wins.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
21+ and present in OH.
DeWine Could Get His Wish Again
Following the suspensions of Luiz Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine picked up his familiar refrain of banning prop bets. DeWine had previously called for the banning of prop bets after the University of Dayton athletes were harassed. DeWine was semi-successful, getting prop bets banned for collegiate sports.
And again, it looks like DeWine could get his wish. According to David Purdum of ESPN, the OCCC is reviewing microbetting in the state and will draft a report on which options to remove.
The OCCC and the state legislature must agree on any ban on betting markets.
It is unlikely that the OCCC bans all prop bets. However, a ban on microbets, where bettors can wager on individual actions in a game, such as the first or next pitch, is possible.
MLB A Willing Participant
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is seemingly on side with DeWine's appeal. The Comish told reporters during the All-Star break that certain microbets are "unnecessary and particularly vulnerable [to manipulation]".
That vulnerability is on full display with Ortiz and Clase being investigated for manipulating pitches. For Ortiz, his investigation is focused on two opening pitches tossed well outside the strike zone. A betting-integrity firm alerted the MLB to unusual activity on both pitches in question.
This manipulation is exactly what Mike DeWine is worried about with his recent quest to ban prop bets, telling the commissioners of the six major sports leagues: "The harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear, and the benefits are not worth the harm. The prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly."
Terms and Conditions
New customers only. Deposit min. $10. Place first bet of min $5 and get $100 in bonus bets if your bet wins.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
21+ and present in OH.
New Jersey On Board For Microbet Ban
Ohio isn't the only state where microbets are coming under fire. New Jersey Assemblyman Dan Hutchison has put forward a bill that would prohibit New Jersey sportsbooks from offering microbets.
Hutchison introduced bill A5971 to protect bettors from bets designed to keep them gambling through impulsive markets, stating: "This bill is a commonsense step to slow that cycle [of impulsive bets] down and protect individuals from the financial and emotional harms that come with excessive betting."
Not that the bill worries big sportsbooks. DraftKings CEO Jason Robins was asked about Hutchison's legislation and its potential impact on his company. Robins effectively brushed off the threat of microbets being banned and indicated that microbets account for a "single-digit percentage" of the company's total handle.
We'll see where this goes, but if Ohio bans microbetting, maybe books should worry a little, as we may see that trend continue in the Garden State.
Related News
