Ohio Democratic candidate Amy Acton says she is open to online casino legalization if advertising limits and youth protections are built in

Ohio governor hopeful Amy Acton says real-money iGaming could become a source of tax revenue, but only inside a “very nuanced and comprehensive strategy” with tighter rules on advertising and protections for young people. For PSPs and operators watching Ohio, the key point is simple: the door is not open yet, but the policy debate is now tied to regulation, not just revenue.

1. Acton, a physician and former Ohio health director, told Karen Kasler of the Statehouse News Bureau for The State of Ohio that she could support legalising online casinos if elected in November, but only with a strict regulatory framework. Her comments put iGaming into the Ohio governor race as a live policy issue rather than a side note.
2. She described online casino gaming as “a source of revenue” that could help fund proposals aimed at lowering the cost of living in Ohio and paying for public services. At the same time, she said she wants to stop “predatory advertising” and make sure “young people are protected.”
3. Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy has not outlined a detailed policy. In a separate interview cited by the Statehouse News Bureau, he said he wanted a “fresh perspective” on the debate and said any action should be done “in a responsible way that protects Ohioans.”
4. Ohio’s sports betting market opened in January 2023, but real-money online casino games are still not permitted. That distinction matters: sports betting is already live, while iGaming remains a separate licensing and tax question for the state.
5. Governor Mike DeWine, who is serving his last term, has voiced disapproval of iGaming. Meanwhile, House Bill 298 and Senate Bill 197 were introduced in 2025 to legalise the sector and outlaw online sweepstakes games, but both are currently held up in committee.

For high-risk payment providers, the practical takeaway is that Ohio is still in the pre-licensing phase for online casino, with the usual set of conditions attached: ad controls, youth safeguards, and a regulator-minded political debate. In other words, this is not a launch date; it is a policy signal.