Ohio Legislature Introduces Comprehensive Online Gambling Expansion Bill
A proposal has been put forward to permit residents of Ohio to engage in online gambling for casino and lottery games. So, is Online Casino Gambling Coming to Ohio? Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) has introduced groundbreaking legislation that would dramatically expand Ohio’s online gambling landscape beyond sports betting to include poker, casino games, lottery products, and horse racing wagering through digital platforms.
The bill was officially introduced Tuesday and will be unveiled Wednesday in the newly formed Senate Select Committee on Gaming, with parallel support from House Finance Chair Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), who is developing complementary iGaming legislation specifically to generate additional state revenue.
Key Political Support and Strategic Positioning
According to online ports betting guides, the expansion effort enjoys significant backing from legislative leadership, with Senate President Rob McColley acknowledging a shifting political climate regarding gambling expansion. “Ohioans want to have a little bit more choice as to how they spend their money and spend their recreational time,” McColley noted, reflecting the legislature’s evolving perspective. Speaker Matt Huffman framed the initiative pragmatically, observing that “people want services and they don’t want to pay taxes,” positioning gambling expansion as a fiscal solution without increasing traditional taxation burdens.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio has expressed conditional support for online gambling in Ohio. He acknowledges the revenue potential while emphasizing the critical importance of concurrent investment in addiction services and mental health programs – a prudent stance recognizing the industry’s responsibility toward vulnerable populations.
Online Casino Gambling Coming to Ohio – Industry Impact Assessment
A commission established in the previous budget cycle published findings that highlighted substantial tax revenue potential from similar expansions in other states while acknowledging potential market disruption. Thus, Online Casino Gambling Coming to Ohio is a strong possibility. Ohio’s established gambling interests – including four casinos and seven racinos – have expressed understandable reservations about customer base cannibalization, a legitimate concern as digital channels typically attract both existing players and new demographic segments.
This legislation for online gambling in Ohio could position them to compete effectively with neighboring states that have already embraced expanded digital gambling options, potentially recapturing revenue currently flowing across state lines. Industry stakeholders face complex operational decisions regarding platform development and integration between physical and digital experiences – challenges that will define winners and losers in the state’s evolving gambling ecosystem.
As the bill progresses through legislative channels, industry analysts will closely monitor whether expanded digital options create genuine market growth or merely shift existing players to more convenient platforms – a critical distinction for assessing long-term revenue projections and operational strategies for both commercial operators and state beneficiaries.
Current State of Online Gambling in Ohio
Ohio’s digital gambling ecosystem remains relatively limited compared to neighboring states, with legal online options restricted primarily to sports betting since its January 2023 launch. The state’s entry into mobile sports wagering came after a deliberate regulatory implementation following the December 2021 passage of House Bill 29. In its inaugural year, Ohio’s sports betting market generated approximately $780 million in handle monthly, with state tax revenue exceeding initial projections at nearly $90 million in 2023.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission currently oversees 20 licensed online sportsbook operators, including major national brands like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook, alongside several smaller operators. The robust 10.5% tax rate on sports betting revenue has created a substantial new funding stream for education and problem gambling programs, demonstrating the financial potential of regulated digital gambling.
However, Ohioans seeking other forms of online gambling in Ohio that must either cross state lines or turn to unregulated offshore operators, as casino games, poker, lottery games, and horse racing wagering remain unavailable on digital platforms within state boundaries. This regulatory gap has created significant revenue leakage to neighboring Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia, all of which offer more comprehensive iGaming options.