Ohio Sports Betting Efforts Have Completely Stalled Out

• There has been no movement with OH HB 194 and OH SB 111 since introduction.
• The Ohio legislative session does not end until December 31.

Two Different Ideas For Sports Betting

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio sports betting bills introduced in the last two months have not moved since introduction.

There are two sports betting bills that are being considered by Ohio’s Congress. OH SB 111 was first introduced in March. The bill would allow the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) to regulate sports betting. This would allow for 11 different sportsbooks to open up in Ohio. OH SB 111 would also allow for the introduction of mobile sports wagering.

Each sports betting license would cost $10,000 to purchase and they will sell the licenses to 11 casinos and racinos. Sports betting revenue will have a 6.25 percent tax rate. This bill was first introduced back in March and it has not moved since. There have been no hearings and no votes placed on the bill.

OH HB 194 is in a similar situation, though it would go about legalizing sports betting with different provisions.

OH HB 194 would allow the Ohio Lottery Commission to regulate sports betting. This would allow any gambling facility to offer sports betting. This includes veterans’ halls and fraternal organizations. This could lead up to 1,000 different sportsbooks to open up in Ohio.

Licenses for casinos and racinos would cost $100,000. Veterans’ halls and other smaller locations could obtain a license for $1,000. The tax rate for sports betting revenue would be at 10 percent.

Conflicting Views In The Legislature

The Senate has argued that opening many sportsbooks would increase tax revenue. The tax revenue in the Senate bill goes towards funding education.

The House believes that having only 11 sportsbooks, sports betting regulation would be much easier.

The conflicting views on sports wagering is why neither bill has moved forward since they were initially introduced.

That does not mean that it is the end for the sports betting efforts in Ohio. The current legislative session in Ohio does not end until December 31. That is plenty of time for Ohio’s Congress to further discuss what sports betting should look like. There is even time to introduce a brand-new sports betting bill that would solve all these problems.

News tags: OH HB 194 | OH SB 111 | Ohio | sports betting