Sen. Nathan Manning, Ohio Gambling Supporter, to Leave Legislature for Judicial Post
Manning to become state appeals court judge next month
The Ohio Legislature is losing one of its most prominent supporters of legalized gambling.
On Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced he appointed state Sen. Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) to fill a vacancy on the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals. According to a release from DeWine’s office, Manning will start his new position on Aug. 3.
Manning served as the chairman of the Select Committee on Gaming and, for the current session of the legislature, sponsored a bill to legalize iGaming in the state. That measure, Senate Bill 197, has yet to make it out of his committee.
Passing on House Bid in November
First elected to the Senate in 2018, Manning was serving in his final year as a state senator. Ohio law limits individuals to two successive four-year terms in the Senate and four consecutive two-year terms in the House, with successive defined terms separated by less than four years.
As a result, he planned to run for a seat in the House. Two months ago, he won the Republican primary running unopposed and would face Democratic nominee Mike Baker in the November general election.
However, Manning told Gambling Insider that he will forego the House election and pursue the judicial seat. He replaces Donna Carr, a Republican who retired last month after 28 years on the court. In order to serve the remaining two years of Carr’s six-year term, he must win a special election in November.
Who’s the Next Ohio Gaming Proponent?
After Manning officially leaves the Senate, Senate President Rob McColley will determine who takes over as the chairman of the gaming committee. Currently, Sen. Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario) serves as the vice chair. Other GOP members on the committee include Majority Floor Leader Theresa Gavarone (Bowling Green), President Pro Tempore Bill Reineke (Tiffin), and Higher Education Committee Chair Jane Timken (Jackson Township).
Gambling legislation has stalled over the past couple years, primarily because DeWine has expressed remorse over legalizing sports betting. This year, a cadre of lawmakers have proposed legislation that would eliminate online sports betting in Ohio. While there have been stories coming from Ohio about bettors harassing athletes and authorities accusing athletes of conspiring with gamblers to fix in-game markets, the measure seems destined to fail as the state generated more than $209 million from sports betting in 2025.
Like Manning, DeWine is in his last year as the state’s governor. Ohio voters will elect a new governor in November. The ballot includes Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton, who served as DeWine’s Public Health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and former presidential candidate.
Whoever wins that election will influence the state’s gaming policy over the next four years. That includes nominating commissioners to oversee the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Three of the current seven-member board have terms that expire next year, with two more in 2029 and another two in 2030.
Traders at PredictIt and Kalshi both foresee a tight race. As of Monday evening, shares for the Democratic Party winning were available for 53 cents, while Republican shares were available for 52 cents. Kalshi has Ramaswamy shares available at 53 cents, and Acton at 48 cents.
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