Once again, the topic of sports betting is back on the table in the state of Ohio, even though it’s never really gone away completely. Ohio looked like a favorite to legalize sports betting by the end of 2021, but things have been derailed a couple of different times.
Senator Kirk Schuring has been at the forefront of these discussion since this became a hot topic of conversation, and he is optimistic that a bill will be passed this time around. Schuring made these comments on a weekly radio interview and notes that a bill is already in place to be discussed.
House Bill 29 is the piece of legislation that remains on the table, and it could be taking an important step this week. Lawmakers are continuing to amend the bill in hopes that all of the previous concerns are met.
Most of the important language remains unchanged, and there is plenty of support from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Based on the process for a bill to become a law in Ohio, the earliest that sports betting could launch is in the Spring of 2022.
The new target date for approving a license is set for April 30, 2022, but that would require action in the next few weeks. The public will also have a chance to comment on the bill before it becomes an official law.
Could Become a Massive Market
One thing has been clear since this became a possibility, and that is Ohio could become a massive sports betting market. If the current bill passes, then there will be three different types of licenses available in Ohio.
Twenty-five mobile sports betting licenses will be available, and there will be plenty of competition to receive one of these. Professional sports teams in Ohio will be allowed to apply for an online license while licensed gaming facilities can also apply, but would receive two skins each.
A total of 60 retail sports betting licenses would be made available, but 20 of those would only be for sports betting kiosks. The Ohio Lottery would be allowed to set up these kiosks at locations of their choosing throughout the state.
Party Politics Holding Things Up
There was plenty of optimism that this bill was going to be passed all the way back in the summer as the bill was officially introduced on May 12. Much progress was being made, but then both political parties started to want specific things implemented.
The language was added to the bill by the Senate that allowed college athletes to make a profit off of their name, image, or likeness. House Republicans then sought to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, and those discussions derailed sports betting.
October 31 was actually the original target date to launch legal sports betting in the state, but it could still be months away. Schuring has plenty of optimism this time around, but there are still several things that need to fall into place.
