COLUMBUS, Ohio—Although state legislators have proposed several initiatives to permit online gambling in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine stated on Wednesday that he will not back any of these proposals during the remaining 18 months of his tenure.
I’m against it,” the governor said to reporters during his yearly visit to the Ohio State Fair. “In essence, putting a casino in everyone’s hands, available around the clock, isn’t likely a good idea. I believe it could lead to more hardship and distress… particularly regarding gambling addiction.
When DeWine was questioned about whether he would reject an online gambling bill, he responded, “Well, I don’t usually use the ‘V-word.’ But, you know, I’m strongly opposed to this.”
The governor kept the door ajar when questioned about an additional legislative measure aimed at permitting video lottery terminals and increasing e-bingo machines in venues such as bars, restaurants, and bowling alleys.
I will examine each item separately. I am not aware of all the specifics regarding that,” DeWine stated. “However, I believe we likely have sufficient gambling in the state already.
In May, legislators in theOhio Senate and the Ohio Houseeach submitted bills that would permit Ohio’s four casinos and seven racinos to provide online gambling on virtual slot machines and table games, including poker, craps, and roulette.
The Senate’s bill (but not the House’s) would also allow for online Ohio Lottery games, along with internet wagering on horse races.
In June, a third bill was proposed in the House that would permit video lottery terminals to be placed in retail locations managed by Ohio Lottery sales agents. It would also enable any nonprofit organization to run e-bingo terminals at bars and restaurants, expanding the current law which only allows veterans’ and fraternal groups to do so.
Any of the three suggestions, if approved, would represent a speeding up of Ohio’s pattern from the last twenty years of reducing restrictions on gambling. In 2009, citizens approved a constitutional amendment that made the state’s casinos and racinos legal, and DeWine enacted legislationlegal approval of sports betting in 2023 allowing sports betting in 2023 sports betting legalization in 2023 the legalization of sports betting in 2023 sports betting becoming legal in 2023 making sports betting legal in 2023 the legal status of sports betting in 2023 sports betting laws in 2023 sports betting regulation in 2023 the rise of legal sports betting in 2023.
A key attraction for state legislators is financial gain. According to projections from the nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission, passing either the House or Senate bill would generate hundreds of millions of dollars in extra tax income for the state annually.
That doesn’t account for the licensing fees that casinos and racinos would need to pay, which would result in an immediate increase of up to $550 million under the House bill and as much as $1.1 billion under the Senate’s proposal, according to LSC projections.
When the two “iGaming” bills were introduced, it seemed that lawmakers intended to use the funds to offset a state income-tax reduction. Nevertheless, legislators managed to include the tax cut in the state budget by combining several spending reductions and ending certain state tax exemptions.
“We prefer to spend the necessary time to do this correctly, if we are going to proceed at all,” stated Senate President Rob McColley, a Republican from Northwest Ohio, to journalists in early June.
Nevertheless, opponents of online gambling argue that it could take advantage of less affluent residents in Ohio and worsen the issue of gambling addiction by simplifying the process of placing wagers. These opponents include DeWine,who has previously voiced worries regarding internet-based gambling– although expressed in somewhat milder language than he used on Wednesday.
Critics are also concerned that permitting online lottery games could negatively impact Ohio’s retailers, as fewer customers might purchase tickets at their locations.
It would also likely be up to state courts to determine if allowing online gambling in general would be permissible under the Ohio Constitution, whichspecifically permits only three types of gamblingthe state lottery, casinos, and bingo events organized by charitable organizations.
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