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Sports betting in the Buckeye State will begin no later than 2023 after the passage of HB 29 by state lawmakers.
The bill took less than five minutes to get passed by the conference committee and spent roughly 10 minutes on the Senate floor. Later in the afternoon, the House passed the bill, which legalized Ohio sports betting.
The bill currently sits on the desk of Gov. Mike DeWine, patiently waiting for his signature.
Ohio sports betting is on its way…but it might be a while
As noted, there is still a long way to go before anything happens.
Sports betting in Ohio must be up and running before Jan. 1, 2023, but it can start earlier if things progress without any hiccups.
It had been a few months since any significant movement had taken place in Ohio. But Sen. Kirk Schuring, a supporter of mobile sports betting, was optimistic lawmakers could get a deal done by the end of the year.
After a signature from the governor, it will take 90 days for the bill to become law. After that, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) can establish rules and regulations to govern sports betting.
A look inside the bill
Professional sports teams, casinos, and racinos can launch one skin (website) and petition the OCCC for a second.
If operators petition for a second skin, they must prove it will have an incremental economic benefit to the state.
Other notes:
- Sports betting revenue will be taxed at 10%
- Mobile and retail licenses are good for five years
- Lottery retailers can host a betting kiosk
- Official league data is no longer a requirement for live betting
- There can be more than 25 mobile licenses as long as those applying demonstrate a need for more online sportsbooks
This is undoubtedly a win for Ohio. Although the state will miss out on Super Bowl betting in 2022, it can set up its infrastructure to compete with neighboring states like Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
