Ohio votes to legalise sports betting
Ohio has decided to legalise sports betting for those 21 and older.
Lawmakers have passed House Bill 29, which is expected to be signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. Once this happens, licensed gaming operations will be able to accept wagers as soon as 1 April 2022.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) will be responsible for regulating and monitoring all sports gambling activity in the state.
After the bill is signed into law, the OCCC will have to establish its licensing process, consumer protections, advertising guidelines and financial protections for licensees.
The regulator will be accepting licence applications starting 1 January 2022 and can begin issuing a limited number of licences on 1 April 2022.
The OCCC will provide three classes of licence: type A licences for casinos, racinos and sportsbooks operating online and via mobile apps, type B for land-based sportsbooks (which are to be distributed throughout the state based on population) and type C for betting terminals to be placed in restaurants, bars and other locations with liquor permits.
A 10% tax has been decided on the new industry’s revenues. Added to the fees and fines collected by the OCCC, the money will be distributed by the Ohio General Assembly to public and nonpublic education programs, and a state-sponsored problem sports gambling and addiction fund.
Adam Clay Miller, Member of the Ohio House of Representatives, said: “We had to pass this legislation to keep up with other states and to ensure Ohio wasn’t left behind; and to ensure sports betting is open, regulated and fair.”
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