Summary:
- Senator Niraj Antani has two months to get his SB 312 aimed at legalizing online casino gambling in Ohio moving.
- The bill, which would also levy a tax, was introduced before a lame-duck session.
- Antani proposes a 15% iGaming tax rate and $550,000 in total operator taxes paid yearly.
A new bill that could allow Ohio residents to wager real money on online casino games is approaching a potential debate, but not without facing significant challenges.
Senator Niraj Antani, who introduced SB 312 in the Ohio Legislature in September in yet another attempt to legalize online gambling and impose a tax in the Buckeye State, might be running out of time to get the bill to move.
This is because Antani introduced the bill just before the year-end lame-duck session. This session occurs after a November election and before the next Congress begins.
To make matters more urgent, Antani is currently serving his last term as a state senator, which means if the bill isn’t addressed during this session, it will lack a sponsor in the 2025 legislative year.
In short, Antani has only two months to see any progress on SB 312.
15% Tax for iGaming, $550,000 Yearly Operator Fees
The bill proposes a 15% tax for iGaming, which is 5% lower than the state’s current 20% tax imposed on online sports betting.
SB 312 also stipulates a series of operator fees, including a $100,000 application fee, a $300,000 licensing fee, and a $250,000 contribution fee that would reach a problem gambling fund.
Since licenses would only be valid for one year, operators would have to pay a total of $550,000 annually to conduct business in the state.
Additionally, Antani is also interested in seeing Ohio join Michigan, Delaware, Nevada, West Virginia, and New Jersey in the multi-state poker pools these states are already part of, with Pennsylvania expected to join soon.
Uncertainty on the Horizon
Despite prior discussions, having taken place, the recent introduction of the bill is making it unlikely for it to have its first hearing sooner than November, with legislative sessions set to resume on November 13, with key dates for hearings and sessions set for November 13, 19, and 20, December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, and 19, if necessary.
The chances of SB 312 advancing remain uncertain. Filed on September 4, the bill has yet to be assigned to a committee or gain co-sponsors.
Moreover, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, whose term runs until January 11, 2027, has expressed opposition to gambling expansion.
While some bipartisan support exists, with three Ohio Republicans, Representatives Jay Edwards, Jeff LaRe, and Cindy Abrams having shown cautious backing, there are still concerns regarding whether online gambling could harm brick-and-mortar casinos.
For now, the race is on to get SB 312 into a committee for discussion before lawmakers can consider passing it.
Provided the senator’s bill comes out with flying colors, Ohio, which already legalized online sports betting, will join a short list of states where both activities have been greenlit, including Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
Ohio’s online casino industry will be supervised by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
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