Ohio Governor warns of rising addiction amid moves to legalize igaming
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has warned of the risks associated with legalizing igaming, lawmakers in the state consider allowing online poker, casino games, and other forms of betting,
Speaking at a business event, DeWine said he feared that passing the legislation could lead to rising addiction and other issues.
DeWine told Cleveland.com, “Just so everybody understands, this would be 24-7. Anybody who’s got an iPhone could basically have a casino there. And the potential for addiction is just massive.”
However, he did not say he would veto the vote if it favored legalizing internet gaming. He stressed he just wanted people to be informed about what the legislation could lead to.
He added, “This literally puts it in anybody’s hands – a 19-year-old, an 18-year-old, a 16-year-old. It puts in their hands the ability to game constantly, all day, any day, 2 a.m. in the morning. It’s right there.”
Two online gambling bills have already been introduced in Ohio, one in the Senate (SB197) and a separate one in the House (HB298).
HB298 would only allow gambling on slot and table games. At the same time, SB197 goes further, as it would allow Ohioans to wager up to US$500 per week and legalize an online lottery as well as horse wagers.
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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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