The Midwestern state could soon become the latest to legalize online and land-based sports betting. A few days ago The Ohio House of Representatives reportedly overwhelmingly passed proposed legislation.
From the Dayton Daily News newspaper we learn that the Republican-controlled chamber approved House Bill 194 by a margin of 83 to ten on Thursday so as to give the Ohio Lottery Commission oversight over a new sportsbetting service that would allow anyone over the age of 21 to place wagers on a wide range of professional and collegiate sports.
From the newspaper we can find out that the legislation sanctioned by the 99-member body has been over a year in the making and would allow sports wagering to be conducted over the Internet or within casinos, racinos and fraternal halls. It is estimated that licensing operators will have to pay 10% net income tax to collect about 23 million each year to help fund government-sanctioned educational programs across ‘The Buckeye State’.
House Bill 194 is being supported by Penn National Gaming Incorporated, which for some states casinos like Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hollywood Casino Toledo properties, However, it is purportedly being opposed by the Cincinnati Reds franchise of Major League Baseball in addition to the Citizens for Community Values, the Bowling Centers Association of Ohio and the Professional Golfers’ Association with numerous private and public universities having also expressed reservations about allowing people to wager on collegiate sports.
According to the newspaper at least 19 American states have already legalized some form of sports betting in the wake of 2018’s revocation of the previous Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prohibition. These have included Ohio neighbors Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana and West Virginia although the American Gaming Association purportedly estimates that the nation’s illegal sports wagering market is still worth approximately $150 billion a year.
