Bill passed easily

The Ohio House of Representatives has passed a retail and mobile sports betting bill, advancing it to the state Senate. Lawmakers approved House Bill 194 on Thursday by a vote of 83-10.

measure was debated for over a year

The version approved by the House puts the state’s Lottery Commission in charge of regulating the new market.

The measure was debated for over a year before the vote took place, though the COVID-19 pandemic delayed progress.

Details of the sports betting bill

House Bill 194 requires operators to pay a 10% tax rate on sports betting revenues. Funds generated from taxes will go towards supporting education elementary, secondary vocational, and special education programs in Ohio.

Mobile sports betting is open to more operators than is retail betting. Veterans and fraternal organizations can qualify to offer this service provided the mobile wagering is on-site and they partner with a state vendor that has been approved by the Lottery Commission.

Year-long discussions

The Ohio sports betting bill was first introduced in April 2019 by Representatives Dave Greenspan and Brigid Kelly. It is based on legislation that passed in 2018 in West Virginia.

In the beginning, the bill focused on allowing casinos and racinos to offer in-person wagering. Greenspan maintained flexibility to allow lawmakers to add to the legislation, such as permitting mobile and online wagering.