Ohio lawmakers propose wide sports betting bill

Ohio state lawmakers have put forth legislation that would legalize retail and mobile sports wagering.

Republican Senators Kirk Schuring (Canton), Niraj Antani (Miamisburg) and Nathan Manning (North Ridgeville) are the sponsors of Senate Bill 176, which would offer 20 Class A licenses for mobile sports betting and 20 Class B licenses for brick-and-mortar wagering.

Licenses cost $1m and last for three years. Ohio would tax sports wagering net revenues at 10%, and revenue would be directed toward public and private education, the bill’s sponsors wrote in a statement.

Sen. Antani said, “This bill will legalize sports betting and charitable E-Bingo in Ohio through a free market approach, while safely expanding gaming in our state. Ohioans want this, and they’ve made it clear to me, they want it now. We must move swiftly to enact this bill. I am honored to be a joint sponsor of the bill.”

Of the 20 Class B mobile sports betting licenses, 11 would automatically go to the state’s casinos and racinos, who would then be able to partner with online operators.

Sen. Schuring said that the extra licenses would go to any entity “who can come up with the money to bank the bet,” according to News 5 Cleveland.

Bill sponsors said the Ohio Casino Control Commission would oversee license and sports betting regulations.

Ohio, with a population of 11.7m people, is home to five major professional sports teams as well as Ohio State University, whose college football and basketball programs are among the most popular in the country.

Ezra Amacher

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