The Ohio state House of Representatives is set to vote Thursday on a bill that would legalize sports betting in the Buckeye State.
The House Finance Committee passed House Bill 194 by a 29-1 vote Wednesday, and state Rep. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake), who along with state Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) serves as the primary sponsor for the bill, told Casino.org after the hearing that the floor vote is expected to take place when the House convenes for its Thursday session at 1 pm ET.
The bill would tax sportsbook receipts at 10 percent, and Greenspan said first-year projections estimate the state would receive about $15 million. The Ohio Lottery Commission would be the regulatory body for sports betting, with the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) serving as the enforcement arm. The state’s four casinos, seven racinos, and veteran/fraternal lodges eligible to host sportsbooks.
The bill also allows mobile betting and does not prohibit betting in-state college teams.
Senate Likely to Amend Bill
The Greenspan and Kelly bill is one of two sports betting bills currently before the Ohio Legislature. State Sens. John Eklund (R-Munson Township) and Sean O’Brien (D-Bazetta) sponsor a bill in their chamber that has some key differences.
For starters, the tax rate in the state Senate bill is just 6.75 percent. The bill also calls for the OCCC to regulate sports betting, instead of the lottery. In addition, where the House bill would earmark most of the revenue for education, with some money also going to address problem gaming.
The Senate’s proposal puts the money in the state’s general fund.
Greenspan said neither he nor Kelly had the chance to discuss the bills with their Senate colleagues. However, should the House bill pass as expected Thursday, Greenspan expects the House bill to become the focal point for sports betting legislation in Columbus.
He added that he’s willing to work with Senate to craft legislation that can satisfy both chambers.
What I would imagine is going to happen is that the House version will be the version that would get amended, and I anticipate we’ll have some amendments in the Senate,” Greenspan told Casino.org. “Then, we’ll come back on a concurrence vote, and hopefully avoid a conference committee.”
Lawmakers will have until the end of the calendar year to get the bill through the General Assembly and to Gov. Mike DeWine.
Ohio Represents a Big Sports Betting Market
Ohio finds itself surrounded by states that have already legalized sports betting. Pennsylvania and West Virginia to the east, Indiana to the west, and Michigan to the north all have sportsbooks open.
While his district near Cleveland sees some marketing from Pennsylvania books, Greenspan said his constituents are still about a 90-minute drive to the state line. Ohio’s western residents are getting targeted more by Indiana sportsbooks, especially down in Cincinnati, which is about a 30-minute drive from Indiana.
With a population of about 11.5 million, if Ohio passes sports betting, it would be the fourth-largest state in the US to allow it. With passionate fan bases for both pro and college teams and three major league markets, Ohio could quickly become one of the largest sports betting states once the state completely implements sports betting.
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