Ohio governor opposes igaming expansion
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has voiced opposition to igaming in Ohio, telling reporters at the annual Ohio State Fair, “I’m not for it.”
Ohio lawmakers have drafted two icasino bills, one in the Senate and the other in the House. House Bill 298 aims to give the state’s casinos and racinos permission to offer online slots and table games, whereas Senate Bill 197 would legalize igaming but not ilottery products or horse racing wagers.
Supporters of the bills argue that the expansion could generate more than US$600 million in tax revenue for the state, with Rep. Brian Stewart adding that the legalization of igaming was simply an extension of what the state allows.
“We already have table games, we already have slots and we already have online gambling. House Bill 298 would simply blend the two and allow virtual slot machines and virtual table games alongside online sports betting,” Rep. Stewart said in testimony in May.
Yet, Gov. DeWine, who approved online sports betting in 2023, said, “I’m not for it. Basically to put a casino in everybody’s hands, 24-7, I think is probably not a great idea and I think it will cause more pain and suffering in regards to addiction as far as gaming addiction so I’m just not for it.”
More opposition comes in favor of the state’s brick-and-mortar casinos, which argue that igaming would cannibalize the market.
“To build two casinos, we employ over 3,000 people, and we invested a billion dollars in Pennsylvania,” Mark Stewart, head of the National Association Against IGaming, said in testimony. “We’re supporting literally thousands of small businesses every day. On the iGaming side, we needed to hire one person and we invested $500,000.”
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Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
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