COLUMBUS – Ohio lawmakers are rolling out another proposal to bring legalized sports betting to the state.
The latest plan announced Thursday calls for issuing 40 licenses to allow people to place wagers on college and professional sports either online or at casinos, sports bars and betting shops.
“Gaming is here today in Ohio and all we want to do it put guardrails around it to make sure it’s done correctly,” said Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton), one of the bill’s co-sponsors.
Backers want to have a bill approved by the end of June. The bill will be sent to the House for consideration after Senate hearings and approval.
Three-year licenses that will allow mobile app on-line gambling and betting at casinos, bars or parlors cost $1 million and the wagering will be governed by the Ohio Casino Control Commission
The measure also allows for electronic bingo at veteran’s and fraternal organizations overseen by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and a pool betting system that allows $20 wagers through lottery retailers regulated by the Lottery Commission.
“This is free market driven, and comes with oversight from existing Ohio agencies with gaming experience to make sure Ohioans are not being taken advantage of by illegal gaming,” Schuring said.
The state will receive 10% of the net revenue from these operations, to be earmarked for education, while 2% is directed toward gambling addiction and problem gaming prevention programs, Schuring said.
A 2018 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court allows states to establish their own systems for sports betting.