Ohio lawmakers took no action on a much-discussed sports betting bill Wednesday after more gaming entities and sports organizations testified during another gaming committee hearing.
Sports betting proponents hope the latest Senate Select Committee on Gaming hearing — the 12th this year — will continue shaping the bill, but license eligibility and other key issues continue to divide would-be stakeholders.
These key decisions, particularly around licensure, will help determine when — or if — legal Ohio sports betting can begin.
Current Bill Details
The latest bill would allow up to 20 online sports betting mobile licenses with the state’s 11 casinos, and hybrid race track “racinos” are each expected to earn one skin apiece. Adjustments to the bill last week clarified each casino could also earn licensure to open a retail sportsbook at their facilities as well.
MGM (BetMGM), Penn National (Barstool), Churchill Downs (TwinSpires), Caesars and Hard Rock all have ownership stakes or partnerships with Ohio casinos and will likely launch their respective sportsbooks if legal wagering is approved. Other national industry leaders, including DraftKings and FanDuel, will likely pursue sportsbooks in Ohio, the nation’s seventh-most populated state.
