Ohio Bill Introduced to Legalize Online Casino Gaming

A bill has been introduced by Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani would legalize and regulate online casino gaming in the Buckeye State if passed, bringing Ohio in line with neighboring states Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The bill, which is dubbed Senate Bill 312, would put the Ohio Casino Control Commission in charge of regulating the activity, including which games would be allowed within the state. The lawmaker said he expects online slot machines, blackjack, poker, and more to be available if the bill is passed into law.

Tax revenues would be 15% on revenues, coming in 5% lower than what sportsbooks pay.

Regarding the bill, Antani said: "As gaming has evolved in our state and we've seen massive success with sports betting, it's now time to legalize igaming in Ohio. Many Ohioans don't have close access to a casino or racino, but should be able to participate in this entertainment option. It's time to bring igaming out of the black market, and into the sunshine to provide it safely to all Ohioans."

There have been discussions on legalizing online gaming in Ohio for some time, but little in the way of concrete attempts to get the activity rolling. As it stands, it will be some time before the bill is heard by the Senate's committees. We're going to be following this story and will be updating readers as appropriate.