Ohio Governor Candidate Amy Acton Backs Online Casino Expansion
Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton said she is open to expanding online casino gambling in the state if elected, but wants any legislation to include strong youth protections and limits on predatory advertising.
Acton, a physician and Ohio's former state health director, made the comments in an interview with The Statehouse News Bureau published this week.
"Certainly I see it as a source of revenue that can help fund the proposals that we need to help bring down the cost of living in this state and provide for the services we need to fund," Acton told The Statehouse News Bureau.
She added, "That said, I am a doctor and a public health professional, and I want to make sure we have the right regulatory environment around it. I want to make sure we stop the sort of predatory advertising we're seeing, and I want to make sure our young people are protected."
A Campaign Position, Not Yet A Bill
Acton's comments come as some Republican state lawmakers have separately floated expansion of online casinos as a way to raise revenue.
Her remarks give Ohio's 2026 governor's race an early online gambling policy marker, though she has not endorsed a specific bill, tax structure, or regulatory framework.
Acton said her approach would be "a very nuanced and comprehensive strategy" rather than a simple expansion.
Ohio's Existing Gambling Market
Ohio legalized online sports betting in January 2023, but has not authorized online casino gaming.
Should the state move to expand iGaming, it would join a growing list of states weighing similar legislation to capture revenue currently going to unregulated offshore platforms.
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