Senator Niraj Antani hopes to consolidate Ohio as the eighth state in the United States to legalize online casino gaming. On September 4, Antani introduced a 146-page bill with the sole purpose of legalizing igaming in the state.
The proposal would create a regulatory framework for online casinos, and the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) would be responsible for maintaining it and overseeing its operation.
Commission will be responsible for monitoring
Under the terms of the bill, the 11 casinos and racinos currently active in Ohio would gain permission to offer an online service. Thus, the Commission will be able to approve which games the platforms will offer, maintaining control over the options made available.
The proposed tax rate for table games and online slots would be 15%, which is lower than the 20% currently applied to sports betting.
The expectation is that legalizing gaming could yield economic growth similar to that observed in:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
Ohio could also benefit from being one of the most populous states to legalize online casino gaming, as its population of 12 million puts it in second place among the states mentioned above — surpassed only by Pennsylvania.
Obstacles for Ohio
The bill comes at a tumultuous time in US politics, with the election looming, providing an era of uncertainty for legislation. The Ohio Senate likely won’t consider the text until the end of the year, according to analysts’ expectations.
Another possible blow to the bill could come from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who demonstrated his disdain for gambling when he expressed his regret over the passage of the state’s online sports betting legislation in 2021.
Governor DeWine referred to the “unacceptable behaviors” that have developed as a result of the launch of the online betting market, after several college athletes were “harassed” by bettors.
Furthermore, despite having proposed the bill, Senator Antani will probably not be able to move it forward, as he will leave office at the end of this year.
