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After a study commission on the future of gaming in Ohio, some legislators seemed eager to begin efforts to legalize online casino in the Buckeye State.
However, PlayUSA spoke with three members of the study commission who cautioned that Ohio online casino legalization will be a longer process.
“We joke in Ohio that sometimes we’re not the first ones to act on something but we’re not the last ones,” Sen. Nathan Manning said. “We did that on sports betting, and there’s no perfect legislation, but I think we did a pretty good job on that.
With iGaming, I think we should tread carefully. But it’s something that’s happening in more and more states, and I think it’s eventually going to come to Ohio.”
Manning and Rep. Jay Edwards co-chaired the study commission. Both legislators previously sponsored sports betting legislation, which Ohio passed in 2021.
The first of four meetings held by the commission focused on iGaming. After the meetings, Edwards wrote a letter, along with Republican House commission members Jeff LaRe and Cindy Abrams, expressing their view that online casino is a future “net benefit” to the state.
Ohio online casino bill sponsor has yet to emerge
Edwards seemed likely to take the reins on online casino legislation in the House.
However, this is Edwards’ last year in office because of term limits. He said he took charge of the study commission because he felt it was important to gather information for colleagues to consider online casino in the future. The 354-page report contains the iGaming testimony submitted by stakeholders.
“My hope is that future general assemblies will look at the report as they’re planning out what the future holds for the state and gaming,” Edwards said. “I think iGaming is a really great opportunity for the state. We don’t have a lot of opportunities to bring in new revenue streams. We looked at the numbers that Michigan and Pennsylvania are doing and it’s tremendous.”
Who could take the reins is a mystery. LaRe’s legislative aide told PlayUSA he has no plans to introduce iGaming legislation next year. Abrams did not respond to multiple emails and voice messages over several weeks.
Rep. Bill Seitz is another Ohio legislator who has long shown interest in gaming issues. But, like Edwards, he is terming out and said he doesn’t know who might have an interest in filing iGaming legislation.
Manning could champion a bill in 2026, which will be his last year in office. But he said not to expect him to introduce an online casino bill in 2025.
“At this point, I’m not planning on introducing something next year. I carried the iLottery bill last general assembly, which is somewhat similar. I’m certainly OK with a responsible expansion of gaming, giving people what they want in a responsible way. So I’m not planning on introducing something, but I’m open to that discussion. We’ll see if the House introduces something or not.”
Senate will take longer to convince than House
Manning does think the Ohio online casino efforts begin in the House, as they did with sports betting. The Ohio House passed sports betting legislation in 2020 before the Senate got serious about the issue the following year.
“I know with my Republican colleagues in the Senate, there are a lot of concerns about expanding any gaming in the state, let alone something like iGaming,” Manning said,
Manning added that the Senate isn’t going to rush to approve iGaming. He explained that he has colleagues who are concerned the big revenue numbers for online casinos come at a social cost.
“Quite frankly, a lot of legislators just aren’t aware of what iGaming is. But that’s part of our job is to share with our members that this is going well for the most part in Pennsylvania and Michigan, our neighboring states. We can learn from their success, some of their mistakes, and it does bring in revenue.”
Sen. Bill DeMora said his concerns come down to iGaming’s impact on brick-and-mortar casino jobs. Labor union opposition has posed big problems in in potential New York online casino and Maryland online casino markets.
“I’m the most pro-union legislator in Ohio,” DeMora said. “And a casino will be in my district starting in January when we have new districts take effect. Everyone who works there is a union worker with a good paying job and benefits and retirement. So until I see the studies and the facts that iGaming doesn’t hurt brick and mortar and people aren’t going to lose their jobs, I’m cautious about it.”
DeMora said he’s still open to the discussion on iGaming in Ohio.
“I have four horse racing apps. I have four sports betting apps. I’ve been in casinos all across the country. I’m not opposed to gambling. And I understand that technology is coming and it’s the wave of the future. But I want to know three years after we go to that, they’re not going to fire half the staff at the casino that’s in my district.”
Online casino will come to Ohio eventually
Manning said he has no doubt Ohio will legalize online casino in the coming years. He’s just not optimistic that it’s while he’s still in office.
“I always go back to what do our constituents want, and quite frankly they want iGaming. It shows by how many people are using it in other states that they want this. We’re in a digital world and it makes sense to offer this digitally at some point, but once again tread carefully.”
Manning said he was shocked to learn how much more revenue comes from iGaming than sports betting in states that offer both.
“It’s kind of staggering. It’s a significant amount of revenue. I’m not saying you do something just because of revenue. But if that’s what Ohio people want and it brings in revenue and we can do it in a responsible way, that sounds like a win-win.”
Edwards added that many Ohioans have to drive an hour and a half to play at a casino.
“iGaming allows them to play a slot machine or blackjack wherever they want. I think it’s a real opportunity for the state to capitalize on something that’s already happening and drive out the black market. We’ve just got to do it in a safe manner and put the citizens of Ohio first.”
Manning attended the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States conference in Pittsburgh last month. One of the topics was model iGaming legislation that NCLGS will present at its winter conference this December. He suggested the model legislation will help Ohio get the discussion started.
“I think that will be hugely beneficial to getting the conversation going and seeing what works for Ohio,” Manning said. “Just because something works in Michigan or New Jersey doesn’t mean it will work in Ohio, so I’m not saying we’ll just take that and rubber stamp it. But it should be a great starting point.”
Governor likely an impediment to Ohio online casino
Gov. Mike DeWine never has been a big fan of gambling. He signed the sports betting bill but immediately had regrets.
DeWine led the charge to double the sports betting tax rate from 10% to 20% the next year, and Seitz said the governor wanted to curb what he saw as excessive advertising.
Ohio legislators think it will be a tall task to get DeWine’s signature on an online casino bill. DeWine will term out of office at the end of 2026.
“I don’t want to speak for the governor and haven’t had any direct conversations with him on iGaming, but I think he has concerns about expanding gambling more,” Manning said. “He had reservations about sports betting but we did move forward with that, and obviously some of the advertisements and targeting younger people was concerning to him. Thankfully that has settled down a little bit, thanks in part to the governor and our director. I think he does have concerns about expanding gaming in general if I’m reading the tea leaves.”
DeMora was more blunt.
“Our governor is not a big fan of gambling. He’s a teetotaler from the start. I don’t think our current Senate president, who is trying to be speaker next year, is a big fan of gaming either, so it faces challenges.”
Edwards said an economic downturn could change the governor’s mind but agreed DeWine was unlikely to support online casino.
“The governor has two years left, one more budget cycle, and he’s not a big fan of gaming. It doesn’t appear right now that we’ll have a huge shortfall next budget in January 2025.”
Eyes on 2027 for Ohio iCasino passage
Ohio sets a two-year budget in odd years. In 2027, a new governor will take over. By the end of his or her first month on the job, the governor will introduce an executive budget for the 2028-29 fiscal years.
And it figures that the new governor and the legislature will be looking for additional revenue. Budget bills must be signed by June 30 to take effect July 1.
“The state has been flush with all the COVID money we had, but we’re probably going to see some economic downturn coming up soon in state revenues,” Edwards said. “Legalizing iGaming may be the thing to bring the state out of some of those financial constraints.”
That will give Ohio lawmakers plenty of time to prepare the best possible online casino language, addressing problem gambling and job-loss concerns.
“It might happen during budget discussions because of the revenue coming in,” Manning said. “If we’re having lower amounts coming in from other places or want to do more tax cuts, it might be able to help facilitate that. Whether we’re having issues in education or law enforcement or whatever it may be, iGaming can kind of fill those gaps. My goal is to be prepared if this is something that all of a sudden gets moving.”
