State Rep. Thomas E. West (D-Canton) issued a statement on the passage of House Bill (HB) 29, which legalizes regulated sports betting in Ohio. Legalizing and taxing sports gaming is estimated to raise tens of millions of dollars per year for education in Ohio. Revenues will also go to support Ohio veterans and fund problem gambling support programs. Additionally, HB 29 will require the state to ensure sports gaming profits and proprietors are fair and consider diversity, inclusion and disparate impact across Ohio’s diverse population. Rep. West was successful in securing this equity language in the final version of the bill.
“This is a long-overdue development for the state of Ohio, and it will allow us to catch up to other states, especially our neighbors,” said Rep. West. “What’s more, this money will go directly to supporting a brighter future for our students. In that sense, sports betting legalization is a win-win for our state. I am also really encouraged that my colleagues recognized the importance of including measures that will ensure equity in the sports gaming industry.”
HB 29 will:
Legalize sports betting at brick-and-mortar locations in Ohio and via internet, mobile devices and kiosks under the regulatory oversight of the Ohio Casino Control Commission;
Create the Sports Gaming Revenue Fund (SGRF), Sports Gaming Tax Administration Fund (SGTAF), Sports Gaming Profits Education Fund (SGPEF), Sports Gaming Profits Veterans Fund (SGPVF), and Problem Sports Gaming Fund (PSGF) in the state treasury;
Require Sports Gaming Proprietors to hold an online/mobile, sports books, or gaming kiosks licenses, and creates the mobile management service provider license and the management service provider license;
Create a nine-member Select Committee on Sports Gaming and Problem Gambling to investigate problem gambling and problem gambling funding, and requires the Committee to report its findings. The bill also creates the Joint Committee on Sport Gaming to monitor the implementation of sports gaming.
Sports betting is legal in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Sports betting is already legal in four neighboring states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana and Michigan.
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