Soon enough, it looks like sports betting in Ohio may finally arrive.
On Wednesday, the Ohio Legislature made changes to Bill 29, and some expect the changes to allow the bill to be approved quickly. Since a 2018 United States Supreme Court ruling allowed states to set up their own legal betting systems, internal debates and politics have left Ohio behind other states' legalization process.
"It's like negotiating an agreement with the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Michigan Wolverines, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees," told the Columbus Dispatch. "None of them like each other and they're highly competitive."
Ohio governor Mike DeWine still needs to sign off on any potential bill, though DeWine is expected to sign it with no issues. Bill 29 allows the state 25 five-year licenses, as well as permitting the already-operating casinos to partner with popular online betting services. It would also allow some bars to house and operate specific types of betting machinery, given they reach certain criteria.
If approved, the state plans to tax the total revenue at 10%, which it would then put back into education funding and gambling problem services.
