Ohio Senator Wants to Legalize iGaming as the Next Logical Step

Ohio senator Niraj Antani, R-Miami Twp., has introduced a 146-page bill that would legalize online casino gaming in the Buckeye State. 

The bill, which was introduced on Wednesday and is yet to receive an official number, is aimed to give the green light to legal internet casino gambling including online slot machines, table games, roulette, and online poker for Ohioans.

State residents could also be given access to online gaming via legitimate casino providers’ mobile apps.

The Legalization of iGaming, the Next Logical Step for Ohio

During a news release, Antani described the legalization of casino gaming as the next logical step for the state’s gaming industry which has already experienced a series of significant changes in the last decade and a half. 

Three years ago, the same senator became a joint sponsor of the historical bill that made sports betting legal for the Buckeye State on January 1, 2023. 

Also, in 2009, a constitutional amendment was introduced to allow casinos in Ohio for the first time in history, setting the ground for the legal gaming market there.

“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,” he argued. 

The senator added that many state residents cannot easily access casinos or racinos, but should be given the opportunity to “participate in this entertainment option.”

“I don’t think that it’s needed, but this is an entertainment option people want,” he explained, further saying “People should be free to gamble if they want.”

“Time to Bring iGaming Out of the Black Market”

“It’s time to bring iGaming out of the black market, and into the sunshine to provide it safely to all Ohioans,” Antani added.

The senator also acknowledged the necessity for operators to perform checks to keep additional gambling problems at bay by tracking players and ensuring “nobody is sort of spiraling and betting too much beyond what they’re capable.”

As expected, groups opposing the project that are responsible for monitoring gambling addiction have expressed their concerns.

The list includes Problem Gambling Network of Ohio executive director Derek Longmeier who mentioned their latest survey that showed one in five state residents are at risk of developing a gambling problem.

Longmeier also mentioned the “substantially higher” number of calls to their helpline since the liberalization of sports betting, something expected to repeat in case of “further expansion.”

According to Antani, part of the tax revenue would reach programs fighting off gambling addiction.

The senator also explained the decision to legalize iGaming would also offer some player protections.

Following the Example of Neighboring States 

Out of the US states that have legalized online casino gaming so far, including Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, and West Virginia, two (Michigan and Pennsylvania) are Ohio’s neighbors. 

In Pennsylvania alone, the iGaming industry generated revenue of $174.3 million in July. The amount marked 35% of the state’s total $500.8 million in total gaming revenue for the respective month.

As for Michigan, the state’s iGaming and sports betting operators reported $220.86 million in revenue during the same month. 

Antani’s new bill would also allow the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which is responsible for ensuring “the integrity of casino gaming, sports gaming, skill-based amusement machines, and fantasy contests by licensing, regulating, investigating, and enforcing state laws,” to contract with licensed casinos, choose vendors and establish which games players would be legally allowed to access online.