Schuler has been among the more vocal and visible regulators regarding sports betting, athlete safety.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Matthew Schuler, who has led the Ohio Casino Control Commission since its creation more than 15 years ago, will retire as the gambling regulator’s executive director at the end of the month, Gambling Insider has learned.
The commission is scheduled to honor Schuler during its monthly meeting later Wednesday morning in Columbus.
Schuler has been one of the country’s more visible and vocal gaming regulators, especially since the Buckeye State passed sports betting late in 2021. Since then, the OCCC has been one of the more vigilant and proactive agencies overseeing online wagering.
That continues to the present day, as the regulator is among those looking into former University of Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who recently entered into a recovery program for his gambling addiction.
In addition, Ohio has been one of the more proactive states seeking to block federally regulated prediction market operators from offering its catalog of sports events in the state. A month ago, the OCCC announced plans to slap a $5 million fine on Kalshi for operating a sportsbook sans state approval.
Held Ohio Sportsbooks Accountable
Even before the first legalized wager was placed on Jan. 1, 2023, the state agency levied six-figure fines against several top operators that were found to violate rules on promoting their product on college campuses and sending marketing materials to individuals under 21 years of age. Other licensees were penalized a short time later for not updating their marketing materials to include information on responsible gaming.
The sports gaming industry has received multiple reminders of the rules and standards for advertising and promotions, yet continues to disregard Ohio law,” Schuler said in a statement three years ago. “These repeated violations leave the Commission no choice but to pursue administrative action to bring operators into compliance. The Commission takes responsible gambling seriously – and expects the industry to value the same.”
In 2023, the state became the first to take down proposition markets on individual college athletes after the NCAA asked the OCCC to consider it.
Ohio also took proactive steps to look after athletes by seeking to ban anyone who threatens a player over a lost wager. Also under Schuler’s watch, the commission handed Brad Neff a lifetime ban from betting in the state after he tried to wager $100,000 at a BetMGM sportsbook on a college baseball game in which he had received insider information.
There Since The Beginning
It is uncertain who will replace Schuler on a permanent basis at this time. Gov. Mike DeWine’s second and final term ends on Jan. 11, 2027, and voters will elect a new state executive in November.
Then-Gov. John Kasich appointed the first Ohio Casino Control Commission board shortly after he took office in 2011. On Sept. 21, 2011, the board picked Schuler to be the agency’s top staffer.
Prior to that, he served as the chief of staff for Ohio Senate Republicans for six years. In between stints working for Ohio legislators, the Mansfield, Ohio, native also oversaw public policy initiatives for the Ohio Manufacturers Association.
This article may be updated.
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