Ohio Casino Regulator Matthew Schuler to Retire Month-End

Matthew Schuler will retire at the end of the month after more than 15 years as executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The commission plans to recognize him at its regular monthly meeting in Columbus on Wednesday.

Schuler was selected as the commission’s first executive director on Sept. 21, 2011, shortly after the board was formed. He has led the agency since its creation and oversaw its work as Ohio legalized sports betting in late 2021 and began full wagering on Jan. 1, 2023.

Before joining the commission, Schuler served six years as chief of staff for Ohio Senate Republicans and worked on public policy for the Ohio Manufacturers Association. He is a native of Mansfield, Ohio.

Under Schuler’s leadership, the commission issued six-figure penalties to operators before the state’s wagering launch for promotions on college campuses and for sending materials to people under 21. The agency later sanctioned other licensees for failing to include responsible-gambling information in marketing.

The commission moved to block certain federally regulated prediction markets from offering bets in Ohio and announced plans to seek a $5 million fine against an operator for running a betting product without state approval.

Ohio was the first state to act to remove proposition markets on individual college athletes after a request from the NCAA. The regulator also pursued measures to bar people who threaten athletes over lost bets and has been among agencies examining the case of former University of Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who entered a recovery program for a gambling problem.

In one enforcement example, the commission imposed a lifetime ban on Brad Neff after he attempted to wager $100,000 at a sportsbook on a college game using inside information.

It is not yet known who will succeed Schuler on a permanent basis. The commission’s board appointed him at the agency’s founding, and a successor will be named after the board and state leadership complete their selection process. Gov. Mike DeWine’s second and final term ends Jan. 11, 2027, and the incoming governor could influence the timing and choice of a replacement.

Schuler wrote in a statement three years ago: “The sports gaming industry has received multiple reminders of the rules and standards for advertising and promotions, yet continues to disregard Ohio law. 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.”