Ohio state Senator Niraj Antani is hoping to cement the Buckeye State as the eighth US state to legalise online casino gaming.
Issued on 4 September, Antani introduced a 146-page bill with the sole purpose of legalising igaming in the state. The bill would create a regulatory framework for online casinos to be maintained by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
Under the terms of the bill, the 11 casinos and racinos currently active in Ohio would each gain permission to offer one online casino offering.
The bill underlined the remit of the Commission with the OCCC to be made responsible for monitoring and overseeing the introduction of each online casino offering, while approving games set to be offered on every platform. The proposed tax rate for online table games and slots would be 15%, which is lower than the 20% currently applied to sports betting.
Should it go through, Ohio would become the eighth US state to legalise igaming in hopes of gaining similar economic growth that has been witnessed in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia.
Ohio may also benefit from being one of the most-populated states to legalise online casino gaming, as its population of 12 million places it second out of the aforementioned states – surpassed only by Pennsylvania.
Ohio obstacles
The bill comes at a tumultuous time in US politics with the approaching election providing an era of uncertainty for legislation. It is expected that the bill won’t be considered by the Ohio Senate before the end of the year.
Another potential blow to the bill could come from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who showed a disdain for gambling when he expressed his regret over passing the state’s online sports betting legislation in 2021.
Gov. DeWine referred to “bad actors” and “unacceptable behaviour” that developed as a result of the online betting market launch, following a number of collegiate athletes being “harrassed” by bettors.
Furthermore, despite issuing the bill, Antani will also be unlikely to take it through the legislative process as his term limits will see him leave office at the end of this year.