Although Ohio permits online sports betting for individuals aged 21 and above—the state’s legal gambling age—online casinos remain illegal in the Buckeye State, awaiting legalization. However, state lawmakers and leaders are now discussing the idea of legalizing iGaming. iGaming, or interactive gaming, lets gamblers place their bets online.
Let’s explore the recent conversations and examine the potential role that online sportsbooks could play in this scenario.
Commission Quest
The Study Commission on the Future of Gaming in Ohio held its first meeting to discuss online casinos. It’s composed of eight members: four from the House of Representatives and four from the Senate. It is co-chaired by Rep. Jay Edwards and Sen. Nathan Manning, both Republicans.
The first meeting was not open to the public or the media, as no live stream or recording was available.
According to the commission’s agenda, the only speakers were Matthew Schuler, the executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and Michelle MacGregor, a representative of the Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition of Ohio’s professional sports teams and casinos that supports online sports betting.
What Happened Behind Closed Doors?
According to PlayUSA, Schuler and MacGregor presented their views on the current state of online casinos in the US and the world, as well as the potential opportunities and challenges for Ohio.
They also answered questions from the commission members. The commission expressed interest in learning more about the regulatory frameworks, consumer protections, tax revenues and social costs of online casinos.
MacGregor said Ohio already has the rules and technology to run online casino games. Why? Because it started online sports betting on January 1, 2023.
She mentioned a study by the American Gaming Association that said Ohioans spend $621 million every year on illegal online gambling. She said if Ohio allows online casino games, it could make $205 million to $410 million more in taxes every year.
Aside from the hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenue, proponents say legalizing this form of betting would help get rid of the illegal iGaming market that already exists.
Ohio Hoping to Join Short List of iGaming States
This form of betting is currently legal in seven states, including three surrounding states. Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia have already legalized it. So, it figures that Ohio would want to take a serious look at legalization.
iDEA Growth and Boyd cited a study by Eilers & Krejcik that found online gaming helped all six states that allowed it. The study’s findings include:
- All states that added online gaming made more money from their physical casinos.
- Online gaming states had faster growth in their physical casino money than non-online gaming states.
- Online gaming boosted the money from physical casinos.
The fact that the commission is willing to consider online casinos as a possibility shows that there is some interest and curiosity among Ohio’s lawmakers.
Online Casino Discussion in Ohio Will Continue
The sports betting industry in Ohio generated nearly $1 billion of taxable revenue in its first year of legality. This certainly lends credence to the iGaming talk.
The commission is expected to meet three more times this year. They will discuss the entirety of the Ohio gambling industry, potential changes needed and possibilities for future expansion.
The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for March 6, 2024. They will focus on iLottery, which is the online sale of lottery tickets. The group is expected to submit a final report with its findings and recommendations by June 30, 2024.
Calculators
