Ohio Looks to Restrict Promo Offers for Bettors Using RG Tools

The Buckeye State continues its push to curb problem gambling.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission has proposed banning sportsbooks from sending promos and bonuses to bettors who have been enrolled in responsible gambling tools in the last 48 hours. Those bettors could still place wagers, but they would not receive emails, text messages, or push notifications with offers intended to solicit more wagers.

Ohioans will have a chance to comment on the new proposal until EOD on October 30.

Expanding Protections

Currently, most states only restrict promos and advertising for bettors who sign up for self-exclusion lists. While we’ve seen cases where this rule is violated, those cases are rare. 

Ohio is considering taking this a step further by adding protections for players who set deposit limits, wager limits, or other RG tools offered by sportsbooks. Although it would last only 48 hours, that time should give many struggling bettors time to cool off and get a clear picture of their gambling habits. 

The OCCC’s exact wording from the proposal is below.

A sports gaming proprietor must not send direct advertisements containing marketing or promotional material, including push notifications or any other digital or physical direct marketing, to any individual within forty-eight hours of the individual enabling or changing any responsible gambling tool or mechanism, including wager or deposit limits, other than during initial account creation.

AI Threat Ads Urgency

The OCCC’s proposal follows a New York Times article reporting that DraftKings Sportsbook used AI to target losing bettors. While the sports betting giant has denied these charges, it has also shared little information about how it uses AI tools for marketing. 

Regulators like the Massachusetts Gaming Commission have asked operators for transparency, but they have yet to receive it. Sportsbooks hold these practices close and may be unwilling to share them with state regulators. 

With no definitive answer in sight, the OCCC is trying to better protect vulnerable bettors who AI tools may target.

Could The Proposal Backfire?

On paper, Ohio's proposal seems like a significant step forward for responsible gambling. However, it could have the opposite effect.

The biggest concern is that the lack of promotions may deter some struggling bettors from using RG tools. Those struggling with compulsive gambling often use these to help fund their habit amid mounting financial losses. While these offers are meant to encourage wagering, some bettors see them as “free money.”

Addiction affects a person’s decision-making abilities, allowing them to convince themselves that bonus bets, odds multipliers, and other deals are the best way to make up for those losses. 

The OCCC hopes the 48-hour window will be long enough to give players a break, but short enough to keep bettors from using RG tools.