Ohio’s online gambling market may be booming, but a new national scorecard suggests consumer protections are lagging behind the industry’s rapid growth. A report from the Consumer & Society for Public Research (CASPR) gave Ohio a “D” grade and a score of 57 out of 100, placing the state 23rd nationwide for online gambling safety and regulatory strength. Researchers say the grade reflects a gap between how easy it is to place a bet and the rules meant to protect people from financial harm or addiction. The scorecard warns that “operators can offer bets to individuals demonstrating addictive gambling behaviors,” drawing attention to what it calls a major weakness in Ohio’s current system. CASPR scorecard ranks Ohio 23rd nationwide for online gambling safety, giving the state a D grade and citing limited consumer protections. Credit: CASPR Ohio legalized sports betting in 2022, launching retail sportsbooks and mobile apps at the start of 2023.…