The Ohio House of Representatives approved the gaming House Bill 194 that would legalize both retail and mobile sports wagering in the US state.
The bill will put the Ohio Lottery Commission in charge of regulating the system and would tax betting receipts at 10%, sending net proceeds to education and gambling-addiction programs. It would allow mobile betting, and also would permit certain veterans’ and fraternal organizations to offer on-site betting through approved state vendors.
First introduced by State Representatives Dave Greenspan and Brigid Kelly in April of last year, the bill passed the House by a vote of 83-10 on May 28.
Democratic State Rep. Brigid Kelley, a bill sponsor along with Republican state Rep. David Greenspan of Westlake, said a sign in her Cincinnati district advertises sports wagering just 20 minutes away — across the Indiana border.
“So Ohioans who want to wager on sports have to go spend their money somewhere else in another state,” she said. “Well it’s either that or they call ‘their guy,’ or that’s how I understand it. But we can change that.”
Operators that secure a sports gaming agent license in the state would be subject to a tax rate of 10% on sports wagering receipts.
The Senate version would levy a 6.25% tax, with proceeds going into the state’s general fund, instead of being earmarked specifically for education.
Funds collected from taxing regulated sports betting would be used to support elementary, secondary vocational, and special education programs in the state.
Only a casino operator or a video lottery sales agent would be permitted to apply for a sports gaming agent license, with the Commission to set the application fee at a non-refundable $100,000
Operators that wish to renew their license would need to pay a fee of $100,000 or 1% of their gross sports betting receipts from the previous year of operation in the state, whichever is less.
In terms of mobile betting, the bill would permit certain veterans’ and fraternal organizations to offer on-site wagering through an approved state vendor.
HB194 now moves to the Senate for further scrutiny.
The House on Thursday also approved House Bill 282, which makes it legal for charitable organizations to operate “electronic bingo” machines that resemble slot machines. The bill would expand existing laws that allow charitable organizations to offer paper “instant bingo” games, similar to lottery tickets. The bill has been backed by fraternal organizations which view the games as a way to raise revenue.
