Copyright cleveland.com
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s abrupt reversal on sports prop betting is a “stunning waffle” that potentially jeopardizes the integrity of sports, say the Today in Ohio podcast hosts. DeWine, who in August had demanded a complete ban on sports prop betting, has now changed and says he is content to have Major League Baseball police itself on the issue. This dramatic shift comes after the indictments of two Guardians pitchers in a a sports gambling scandal related to prop bets. Laura Johnston reminded listeners of DeWine’s previous forceful stance, quoting his words: “The prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly. I call on the Casino Control Commission to correct the problem and remove all prop bets from the Ohio marketplace.” That strong position has now been replaced with a much softer approach that allows MLB to self-regulate, a solution that Chris Quinn described as completely inadequate. “This doesn’t solve the problem,” Quinn said bluntly. “You’re letting the people who are out of control regulate themselves. And he took a principled stand and said, ‘we are wrecking sports.’ And then MLB says ‘We got this,’ and he completely caves.” The podcast hosts connected DeWine’s reversal to his own potential conflict of interest as the owner a minor league baseball team. While not a major league franchise, his ownership position raises questions about whether DeWine is the appropriate person to lead on this issue. Quinn emphasized the high stakes involved, suggesting that prop betting may have already compromised Cleveland’s chances in the 2024 baseball season. “We’re going to do a project on Emmanuel Classe. That guy had a .46 ERA all through the 2024 season and in the two series at the end of the year, it was 9. And he gave up home runs that were critical to losing games. Did he throw away Cleveland’s chance for a championship?” Johnston added that the economic impact of sports corruption extends far beyond the games themselves: “There’s so much riding on this because when Cleveland makes the playoffs, the economic boom is palpable, right? And the mood on the region, it affects literally millions of people and businesses.” She speculated that DeWine’s reversal might be politically motivated, noting resistance from legislators who vow to fight any attempt to ban prop bets. The podcast conversation highlighted how prop betting – allowing gamblers to wager on specific events within games rather than just final outcomes – creates opportunities for corruption that could undermine fan confidence in the fairness of professional sports. With major league sports being central to Northeast Ohio’s cultural and economic identity, the hosts clearly view DeWine’s reversal as more than just a policy shift – it’s a failure to protect the integrity of something deeply important to the region and its residents. Listen to the conversation here. Read more Today in Ohio news No taxation without representation: Ohio’s proposed municipal income tax reform falls short “The whole game of baseball is in Jeopardy:” MLB falls short after Guardians scandal Cuyahoga County cuts social services — and the sheriff wants more deputies?
