Ohio Representative Brian Stewart has confirmed he is working on legislation to legalize online casino gaming in the state. If passed, the new proposal will allow online poker and other popular online casino games from domestic operators.
The state is seeking new sources of income after plans to raise existing taxes on gambling ventures were removed from the state’s proposed budget. Gov. Mike DeWine has not supported gambling expansion in the past, but a report published by the Study Commission on the Future of Gaming in Ohio recommends legalizing online gambling.
Reps. Jay Edwards, Jeff LaRe, and Cindy Abrams wrote in the report: “While the state should proceed with caution and care with any expansion of this magnitude, with the right regulatory framework, these types of gaming can thrive with nominal impact to our current system.”
In the report, the representatives also noted that other states have seen substantial increases in tax revenue from online casinos and lotteries. They noted that additional revenue would benefit the education system for many Ohioans.
Domestic Ohio Casinos
There are currently 11 brick-and-mortar casinos in Ohio that combined generated approximately $1.1 billion in revenue for 2024. It was also estimated that sweepstake casinos and other unlicensed operators generated $3.7 billion in revenue from Ohio players in 2024.
Last year’s report noted that other surrounding states have legalized iGaming ventures and seen substantial revenue increases. In 2024, Pennsylvania raked in $1.5 billion in revenue. Pennsylvania also implements a 54% tax rate on slots and 36% on sports betting, which provided $2.66 billion in taxes for the state.
Michigan also saw revenue growth with the legalization of iGaming, generating $1.2 billion in revenue for 2024. With lower tax rates than Pennsylvania, Michigan still collected $500 million in taxes from online gambling operations licensed by the state.
USA Online Casinos
Only seven US states have active online casino options licensed by their state of origin: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. However, all 50 states, including Ohio, has access to online casinos outside the states.
Since no federal or state gambling laws have jurisdiction over online casinos from other countries, many sites have been accepting players and offering a trusted gaming experience despite a player’s physical location. While there are some exceptions, Ohio players have been wagering online for years with international brands instead of state-licensed casinos.
Ohio online casinos might soon become a reality for many players, but luring them from the old, trusted online casinos and sportsbooks might pose another problem. Many international sites have become desirable by accepting cryptocurrency and offering bigger rewards and welcome bonuses than US state services.