Ohio's College Prop Ban: Exactly What You Can and Can't Bet

If you've ever searched for "Ohio State player props" and wondered why your sportsbook app shows nothing, here's the answer: Ohio banned them. Since February 2024, you cannot bet on individual college player performance in the state of Ohio.

This catches a lot of bettors off guard, especially during football season when you can bet quarterback passing yards in Indiana but not in Ohio. Here's exactly what the rule covers, why it exists, and what you can still bet on.

What's Actually Banned

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) prohibits wagers on "individual player achievements" for collegiate athletes. In plain English: you can't bet on what a specific college player will do in a game.

The key distinction: team-level bets are fine, player-level bets are not.

Real Examples

Here's how this plays out for Ohio State football:

Why Ohio Did This

The ban came after a series of incidents that highlighted the vulnerability of college athletes:

The rationale makes sense when you think about it: college athletes are unpaid (or modestly paid through NIL deals), young, and under enormous pressure. Unlike pro athletes who have security teams and media training, college kids are accessible—and some bettors were contacting them directly to demand they "hit the over."

How This Affects Your Betting

If You're a Casual Bettor

Honestly, this might not change much. Most casual bettors focus on spreads and totals anyway. The main frustration is not being able to bet "my guy to score a touchdown" during Ohio State games—but you can still bet on the Buckeyes to cover or the game to go over.

If You're a Sharp or Serious Bettor

Player props can offer value because they're less efficiently priced than main markets. Losing access to them removes one edge-finding opportunity. However, Ohio's game lines and totals are still liquid and tradeable.

If You Cross Into Indiana

Indiana has not banned college player props. If you're near the border and can legally bet in Indiana, you'll find those markets available. Just remember: you need to be physically located in the state where you're placing the bet. Using a VPN to fake your location is illegal and will get your account shut down (and possibly worse).

Professional Sports Are Different

The college prop ban does NOT apply to professional sports. You can still bet:

• NFL: Joe Burrow passing yards, Browns RB rushing props, all player markets
• NBA: Cavs player points, rebounds, assists, all props
• MLB: Guardians pitcher strikeouts, player hits, home runs
• NHL: Blue Jackets player goals, assists, shots on goal

The restriction is specifically about protecting college athletes, who are in a fundamentally different position than paid professionals.

The Micro-Betting Question

There's a separate but related development: following investigations into MLB players and gambling irregularities, Ohio is considering restrictions on "micro-betting"—extremely specific live bets like "outcome of next pitch" or "will this free throw go in." This would affect professional sports, not just college. As of late 2025, this is still being finalized by the OCCC.

Other States With Similar Bans

Ohio isn't alone. Several states have restricted or banned college player props:

• New Jersey: No college props (any sport)
• New York: No college props (any sport)
• Illinois: No college props for in-state schools
• Oregon: Limited college prop restrictions
• Vermont: No college sports betting at all

The trend is toward more restrictions, not fewer. Several other states are considering similar rules as the NCAA continues lobbying for student-athlete protections.

What About DFS?

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) operates under different regulations than sports betting. As of now, you can still create DFS lineups featuring college players on platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel's DFS products. However, this is a regulatory gray area that could change.

The key difference: in DFS, you're competing against other players, not betting against the house. Regulators view this differently—for now.

The Bottom Line

Ohio's college prop ban is straightforward once you understand it:

• Individual player props = banned (passing yards, TDs, rebounds, etc.)
• Team-level bets = allowed (spreads, totals, moneylines, team props)
• Professional sports = not affected
• Workarounds = not worth the risk

It's a limitation, but not a dealbreaker. Ohio still offers full betting menus on professional sports and robust game-level markets for college. Focus your college betting on spreads, totals, and futures—and save the player props for NFL Sundays.