When Ohioans place their first legal sports wagers within state lines on New Year’s Day, they will immediately have a broader buffet of betting options — mobile sportsbooks, retail tellers, and kiosks at neighborhood businesses like bars, bowling alleys, and grocery stores — than in any other state to date.
But while these may be exciting times for Buckeye State sports bettors, Ohio’s launch has the potential to create an unnerving situation for those seeking to prevent or treat gambling addiction.
“My initial reaction was one of concern,” Dr. Gregory Stewart, an associate professor of social work at the University of Cincinnati, told OH Bets when asked how he first felt when he learned that sports betting would be legal in the state.
