
Stand with Ohio Pastors
Against Predatory Gambling
About the Letter
There is a dangerous push to expand online gambling in Ohio. But online sports betting through apps like DraftKings has already proven itself to be a gateway drug into this pervasive and addictive world. In fact, more and more college students – especially young men – are getting pulled into this addiction at an alarming rate.
In response, a group of pastors from across the state helped craft a unified letter urging lawmakers to oppose this legislation.
If you are a pastor or ministry leader, please consider adding your name to this letter to let the legislature know that the pastors and ministry leaders in Ohio are standing together, on Scripture, against this legislation that disproportionately targets and harms the most vulnerable in our communities.
Dear Governor DeWine
and Members of the Ohio General Assembly,As pastors from across Ohio, we write to express our firm opposition to the proposed legislation that would expand gambling by legalizing online poker and virtual casino gambling in our state.
This legislation is not just harmful—it is deeply unjust. It preys on our state’s most vulnerable citizens by promoting addictive gambling as a means of generating state revenue. As Christian leaders, we know Jesus has a special heart for the poor (Psalm 140:12) and has called on those in governing authority to reject “unjust decrees” (Isaiah 10:1). The data is undeniable expanded predatory gaming in the state is an exponential wealth transfer, exploiting low-income Ohioans to play addictive games stacked against them and sending the money to wealthy out-of-state gambling corporations.
What’s more, expanding access to 24/7 online gambling—especially through smartphones and computers—turns every living room into a casino and every struggling Ohioan into a potential target for financial exploitation. This is especially dangerous with the mental health crisis our state is facing because, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, gambling addiction results in the greatest rates of suicide compared to other forms of addiction.
Lastly, this proposal will have incredibly harmful effects on young men. As Ohio deals with lower participation in the workforce by young men, expanded online gaming is especially detrimental. A Rutgers University study on legalized gambling in New Jersey found that a third of this population were now gambling in some form online—four times as many as when the center last surveyed the state’s population in 2017—and 19 percent were at “high risk for problem gambling.”
Ohio needs these young men to lead in our communities and raise families, not waste their time, talent, and financial futures on games they can’t win.
From our pulpits and in our counseling rooms, we have seen the real cost of gambling addiction: broken marriages, lost homes, mental health crises, and children left behind. It is morally indefensible for the state to rely on the losses of its own people, particularly the poor and the young, to fund government operations.
We urge you to reject this legislation and instead pursue policies that promote economic dignity, strengthen families, and uphold justice. Proverbs 31:8–9 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Ohio should not be in the business of exploiting its most vulnerable—it should be in the business of creating opportunities for them to thrive.
Sincerely,
Apostle Arthur McGuire
Joshua Christian Ministries
Kettering, OH
Bill Montgomery
River Radio Ministries
Gahanna, OH
Shaun Brainard
The Ark Church
Dublin, OH
Caleb Ingram
Declare
Dayton, OH
Canon Rose-Mariae Edwards
Anglican Church in North America
Aurora, OH
Deacon Thomas Sanford
Destiny School of Ministry
Celina, OH
Denise Emerine
Greater Toledo House of Prayer
Bowling Green, OH
Dr. Carson Castleman
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, OH
Dr. Christopher Atwood
Liberty Barn Church
Delaware, OH
Dr. David Forbes
Columbus Christian Center
Columbus, OH
Dr. Doug Taylor
Crossroads Church
Mansfield, OH
Dr. Eric Tober
The Ark Church
Dublin, OH
Dr. Floyd Radebaugh
Calvary Bible Baptist Church
Marion, OH
Dr. James Allen
Overflowing Hope 180
Bowling Green, OH
Dr. Jeremy Westbrook
State Convention of Baptists in Ohio
Columbus, OH
Dr. John Foster
First Baptist Church Grove City
Grove City, OH
Dr. Michael Bullock
Hands of Faith Church
Zanesville, OH
Dr. Robert Matthew Read
Jersey Church
New Albany, OH
Dr. Ross Adelmann
Quest Vineyard Church
Columbus, OH
Dr. Todd Marrah
Rock City Church
Columbus, OH
Dr. Tom Edwards
Equippers City Church
Reynoldsburg, OH
Edward Sitter
Foundation for Life
Bowling Green, OH
Fr. Jacob Willig
Oxford, OH
Lauren Fleer
Faith Community Alliance Church
Columbus, OH
Linda Harvey
Mission America
Columbus, OH
Minister David Mahan
Pickerington, OH
Minister Ruth Edmonds
Don’t Mess With Our Kids
Upper Arlington, OH
Pastor Adam Pursel
Lifepoint Church
Mount Vernon, OH
Pastor Adrian Powell
Faith Community Church
Grove City, OH
Pastor Alistair Begg
Parkside Church
Chagrin Falls, OH
Pastor Andrew Stensaas
First Baptist Church
Eaton, OH
Pastor Andy Powell
Germantown Baptist Chapel
Franklin, OH
Pastor Andrew Dempsey
Cross City Church
Lockbourne, OH
Pastor Austin Shaw
Providence Church
Avon, OH
Pastor Audra Norman
Eastpointe Christian Church
Blacklick, OH
Pastor Austin Beckett
Revive Church - Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, OH
Pastor Ben Douglass
Faith Community Alliance Church
Columbus, OH
Pastor Bill Bolin
Grove City Church of the Nazarene
Grove City, OH
Pastor Barbara Herzog
Vineyard Church of Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pastor Brad Borke
Vision Baptist Church
Parma, OH
Pastor Brondon Mathis
Columbus, OH
Pastor Bruce Traeger
Dayton Avenue Baptist Church
Xenia, OH
Pastor David Pratte
Church of Christ
Utica, OH
Pastor Brandon Wilson
Christian Life Center
Heath, OH
Pastor Brenda Parsons
The Father's House
Canton, OH
Pastor Brian Williams
Hope City House of Prayer
Columbus, OH
Pastor Charles Leister
New Beginning Ministries
Columbus, OH
Pastor Clyde Hughes
DayStar Church
London, OH
Pastor Dale Benson
Grove City Church of the Nazarene
Grove City, OH
Pastor Dallas Howard
Bridge of Hope Church
Cincinnati, OH
Pastor Danny Ransey
Toledo, OH
Pastor Dan Lund
Ohio Ministry Network
Blacklick, OH
Pastor Darryl Baker
Change City
Pickerington, OH
Pastor David Milroy
New Albany Presbyterian Church
New Albany, OH
Pastor Dennis Wheeler
Bainbridge Church of Christ
Bainbridge, OH
Pastor Frank Carl
Genoa Baptist Church
Westerville, OH
Pastor Gary Frost
The Open Door Church
Girard, OH
Pastor Irma Chon
Cornerstone Christian Fellowship
Hilliard, OH
Pastor James Davis
Dublin Baptist Church
Dublin, OH
Pastor James Dimel
Renovate Life Church of God
McArthur, OH
Pastor James Schulker
Life Church at Easton
Columbus, OH
Pastor Jason Goss
The Wapak Church
Wapakoneta, OH
Pastor Jason King
New Life Christian Center
Celina, OH
Pastor Jeanne Davies
Genoa Christian Church
Genoa, OH
Pastor Jeff Greenway
Reynoldsburg, OH
Pastor Jeff Haygood
Living Word Church
Etna, OH
Pastor Jerrill Wyler
Wayside Chapel Bucyrus
Bucyrus, OH
Pastor Joe Silvestri
Wooster Bible Church
Wooster, OH
Pastor John Hays
Jersey Church
New Albany, OH
Pastor Johnny Amos
Shiloh Christian Center
Columbus, OH
Pastor Jonathan Perry
Life Chapel
Walbridge, OH
Pastor Joshua Rollins
Pataskala Grace Church
Pataskala, OH
Pastor Juan Ramirez
Mission 216 Cleveland
Cleveland, OH
Pastor Justin Jump
First Church of Bellevue
Bellevue, OH
Pastor Karlie Hale
One Love Community Church
Cleveland, OH
Pastor Keith Hamblen
Calvary Bible Church
Lima, OH
Pastor Ken Dean
Victory Christian Center
Rushville, OH
Pastor Ken Floyd
Canton, OH
Pastor Ken Rathburn
New Albany Presbyterian Church
New Albany, OH
Pastor Les Bowling
Eagle Rock Church
Reynoldsburg, OH
Pastor Leon Collins
Eastview Church of God
Riverside, OH
Pastor Mark Burd
reviveOHIO
Anna, OH
Pastor Matt Peachey
Bible Truth Baptist
The Plains, OH
Pastor Matthew Miller
Springfield Assembly of God
Akron, OH
Pastor Matthew Williams
First Baptist Church Fairborn
Fairbown, OH
Pastor Michael Gammill
Cathedral of Life Church
Canton, OH
Pastor Michael Spears
The FISHERY
Reynoldsburg, OH
Pastor Michael Oldfield
The Potter's House Church of God
Columbus, OH
Pastor Mike Andrews
Lifepoint Church
Mount Vernon, OH
Pastor Mike Cameneti
Faith Family Church
Canton, OH
Pastor Paris Yanno
Ohio Ministry Network
Blacklick, OH
Pastor Patrick Owens
Fairfield Church of God
Fairfield, OH
Pastor Randy Barr
Connection Pointe Church of God
Grove City, OH
Pastor Raymont Johnson
Faith City Alliance Ohio
Alliance, OH
Pastor Rick Duncan
Cuyahoga Valley Church - Broadview Heights
Broadview Heights, OH
Pastor Rodney Lord
Freedom Gate Church
Marietta, OH
Pastor Rob Tuttle
Stockport, OH
Pastor Robert MacClennan
Seedspreaders Ministry
Dayton, OH
Pastor Ronnie Reed
Manna-Fest Christian Cathedral
Columbus, OH
Pastor Roxanna Diyanni
Vineyard Community Church
Etna, OH
Pastor Scott Burns
Cross City Church
Columbus, OH
Pastor Shawn Meyer
Aletheia Christian Church
Celina, OH
Pastor Stan Slabaugh
Bible Baptist Church
Grove City, OH
Pastor Steve Hopkins
State Convention of Baptists in Ohio
Columbus, OH
Pastor Steve Hubbard
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Logan, OH
Pastor Steven Todd
Generations Church
Brookville, OH
Pastor Tim Davies
Genoa Christian Church
Genoa, OH
Pastor Timothy Wilmetti
Pataskala Grace Church
Pataskala, OH
Pastor Tim Thomson
The Ark Church
Dublin, OH
Pastor Tim Throckmorton
LifePointe Ministries
McDermott, Ohio
Pastor Tim Oldfield
Princeton Pike Church of God
Liberty Township, OH
Pastor Tony Loseto
Gateway Church Old Brooklyn
Cleveland, OH
Pastor Victor Hernandez
Embajadores Church
North Royalton, OH
Pastor Wally Contreras
First Baptist Church of Gahanna
Gahanna, OH
Pastor Wayne Holmes
58 Partners Foundation Church
Columbus, OH
Pastor Webb Parsons
The Father's House Church of God
Canton, OH
Pastor William Herzog
Vineyard Church of Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pastor Zane Sanders
Lower Lights Community Church of the Nazarene
Columbus, OH
Randy Moore
Celebrate Recovery
Sidney, OH
Rev. Beth Davis
Fredericksburg, OH
Rev. Bruce Kramer
Trinity Lutheran Church
Springfield, OH
Rev. Dr. Beau Hummel
Marriage For Life, Inc.
Caledonia, OH
Rev. Dr. William Coker
Powhatan Point Church of the Nazarene
Powhatan Point, OH
Rev. Garry Hogue
Cutler Chapel
Beverly, OH
Rev. Igor Beaufils
Family Christian Center
Toledo, OH
Rev. Jonathan Lucas
Grace Community Church
Washington Court House, OH
Rev. John Davis
Fredericksburg, OH
Rev. Ken Dillingham
Lifeway Church
Xenia, OH
Rev. Marie Gillombardo
Complete In Him Ministries
Beachwood, OH
Rev. Murray Brown
Perry, OH
Rev. Shane Tucker
For Columbus
Delaware, OH
Sabrina Sword
The Fathers House
Canton, OH
Sister Maureen Studer
Seneca County Jail Chaplaincy Committee
Tiffin, OH