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Gov. Mike DeWine made it clear last week that any legislation legalizing Ohio online casinos will likely die on his desk. “Basically, to put a casino in everybody’s hands, 24/7, I think is probably not a great idea,” he said during a news conference at the Ohio State Fair. “I think it will cause more pain and suffering in regard to addiction, as far as gaming addiction. I’m just not for it.”
That’s bad news for the two online casino bills working their way through the Ohio Legislature right now: HB 298 and SB 197.
And, according to estimates, blocking them could cost Ohio at least $500 million in annual tax revenue, according to staff reporters at Cleveland.com. DeWine didn’t say he guarantees a veto, but said he is “very much against” online casinos.
Governor’s stance deals blow to online gambling in Ohio
While DeWine could veto a bill, there’s a strong chance he simply won’t let an online casino measure become law. Lawmakers can decide if they want to move iGaming bills through the House and Senate, but, most likely, the bills won’t advance, and lawmakers will try again during the next legislative session this fall.
Because DeWine’s position is based on the concern that online casinos may cause or worsen gambling addiction, it’s likely he won’t change his mind by the fall. (In some cases, governors may be unhappy with how tax money is spent or the tax rate.)
Bet on sports, fold on slots: DeWine’s gambling double standard
DeWine’s pushback on online casinos is notable because he signed the state’s sports betting bill into law in 2022, making Ohio one of the biggest sports wagering markets in the country.
Is it simply a matter of online casinos posing a greater risk of problem gambling or deepening existing gambling addictions? That’s a question for researchers.
Addiction rehabilitation provider Birches Health noted in an article that online casinos are more addictive than sports betting for one main reason: the nature of the games offered.
“From an addiction perspective, iGaming has unique dangers,” Birches Health noted. “Casino games, especially slots, are designed for rapid engagement and quick outcomes, encouraging continual play and making it easier for players to chase losses.
Sports betting, on the other hand, traditionally involves waiting for game outcomes, which slows the gambling cycle and reduces some potentially impulsive behaviors.” That being said, sports betting also carries risks, Birches Health observed.
“Many gamblers perceive sports betting as a skill-based endeavor, convincing themselves that ‘smart bets’ can yield consistent wins,” the article stated.
“This perception, coupled with the rise of longshot parlays, can lead sports bettors to adopt high-risk strategies under the guise of skill, driving potentially harmful betting patterns.”
Additionally, in-game betting can add an element of rapid engagement, although not quite as rapid as bettors would get from playing online slots.
Next moves for Ohio iGaming advocates post-DeWine pushback
Online casino advocates may have to wait out DeWine’s final term as governor. DeWine took office in 2019 and will serve his second and final (by law) term through 2027. At that point, online casino advocates would need a pro-iGaming governor to take office to have a chance at legalization. Working in their favor is the massive tax revenue that online casinos represent.
Generally speaking, online casinos generate considerably more operator revenue than sportsbooks, leading to more tax revenue for states. And if Ohio’s economy struggles over the next two years or faces budget shortfalls when DeWine leaves office, legalizing online casinos may become a financial decision rather than a moral one.
