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Ohio Sports Betting Legislation Is Primed To Pass

Michael Molter — Sat, 18 May 2019 14:40:00 +0000

SB 111 would legalize land-based and online sports betting in Ohio.
The proposal has heavy bipartisan support in the Senate.
The bill would tax sports betting at 6.25% and create several new state funds.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Last Thursday, Ohio finally unveiled its legal sports betting legislation. This comprehensive proposal is a series of revisions and additions to the existing Ohio Revised Code (ORC), which would both legalize sports wagering and establish the government’s taxation and oversight models for the industry.

The bill originated in the Ohio Senate as SB 111, sponsored by Sens. John Eklund (R-18) and Sean O’Brien (D-32). With heavy bipartisan support and reports that the governor might be including sports betting revenue numbers in his annual budget (to be released Tuesday), chances seem very good that this bill will be passed into law during the current session.

What’s In The Proposal?

Under the terms of the bill as offered, legal Ohio sports betting will be limited to the state’s existing casino and racino venues. There are four land-based casinos and seven racino venues in the state. Each of these will be allowed to operate its own sportsbook service.

In order to become and remain licensed, a prospective bookmaker must submit to the Ohio state government an annual licensing fee of $100,000. Taxes are to be collected on sportsbook gross revenue at a rate of 6.25%, which would be – so far – the lowest such rate in the country.

In order to account for that money, the bill also creates 11 different funds to be administered by the state treasury department:

Casino Tax Revenue Fund
Gross Casino Revenue County Fund
Gross Casino Revenue County Student Fund
Gross Casino Revenue Host City Fund
Ohio State Racing Commission Fund
Ohio Law Enforcement Training Fund
Problem Casino Gambling and Addictions Fund
Casino Control Commission Fund
Casino Tax Administration Fund
Peace Officer Training Academy Fund
Criminal Justice Services Casino Tax Revenue Fund

There is no indication of why these funds are being created with sports wagering proceeds, given that all seem outside the purview of sports betting administration in general. This is evidence that SB 111 is at least ancillary related to the broader scope of gambling in Ohio.

The bill sets the legal minimum age for sports betting at 21 years old, and there are no allowances in the language of SB 111 for the extraction of any “integrity fees” payable to sporting leagues.

Does SB 111 Allow Online Sports Betting?

Yes, SB 111 indeed allows for online sports betting. Under the terms of the proposed law, each brick-and-mortar gambling facility would be empowered to offer a branded online betting portal/app.

Gambling venues would have the option of rolling out their own in-house product to offer online sports betting, or they could partner with existing bookmaking operators for this purpose.

Advertising limitations are not explicitly discussed in the bill, though given the age controls in the industry, ads will not be allowed to target minors or gambling addicts.

Bettors are not compelled to sign up at their sportsbook(s) of choice in person under the proposal. Remote account creation should assist in spreading the reach of legal Ohio sports betting. This, in turn, will help maximize the state’s revenue opportunity from the pastime.

A Curious Side-Note: What Is Bookmaking, Exactly?

Though SB 111 is reasonably comprehensive and sets the table for the fast adoption of legal sports betting in Ohio, the bill has at least one bizarre contradiction in its 146 pages. Apparently, Ohio has redefined “bookmaking.”

Per § 2915.01(A), “bookmaking” – a term used only once in the 43,000-plus words of the bill – means “the business of receiving or paying off bets.”

Per § 2915.01(B), “bet” is then defined as you’d expect, except that it “does not include sports wagering as permitted” by SB 111. As such, SB 111 effectively states that bookmaking is not related to sports betting.

Whether or not this opens the door to future legal loopholes that encourage under-the-table or gray-market sports wagering in the state is unknown. Still, even with a cursory reading of SB 111, this is the aspect that most jumps out. It will be interesting to see what consequences arise from this redefinition, even if those are limited to an academic perspective.

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Ohio Lawmakers Introduce A New Sports Betting Bill

Daniel Borjas — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 14:44:00 +0000

Lawmakers have introduced OH HB 194 to legalize sports betting.
Sports betting will be handled by the Ohio Lottery Commission.
A prior sports betting bill was introduced last month.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new sports betting bill has been introduced in Ohio on Tuesday that aims to legalize sports betting in Ohio.

Lawmakers introduced OH HB 194 that would legalize sports betting and set up the rules of how it will work in the Buckeye State.

Regulating Sports Betting

One of the main goals that this legislation will do is create the Sports Gaming Advisory Board. The board would tell the Ohio Lottery Commission what they recommend the guidelines should be regarding sports betting on college and professional games. Once that is done, the Ohio Lottery commission would be the group that would regulate sports betting.

On top of regulation, the bill lays out what will happen with the money generated from sports betting. There will be a 10 percent tax rate on sports betting. The revenue collected from this tax will go directly to education and gambling addiction programs.

Where Sportsbooks Will Appear

Many other sports betting bills that want their state lottery to regulate sports betting has regulation that only locations where you can buy a lottery ticket is where you can bet on sports. That doesn’t seem like that will be the case in Ohio.

Sportsbooks are going to be allowed to open in a large number of areas. They can be opened in the state’s casinos, racinos, and even at fraternal and veteran organizations. Land-based locations will not be the only locations that you can place your sports bets in Ohio as well. Lawmakers are hoping that statewide mobile betting will be an option for the people in Ohio.

Not The First Sports Betting Legislation

OH HB 194 is not the only sports betting bill that has been introduced recently. Lawmakers in the Senate have introduced OH SB 111 last month which also aims to legalize sports betting.

One thing to note though is that OH SB 111 has not had too much activity with it since it was introduced. There has been no hearings or discussions regarding this legislation. This means that sports betting efforts in Ohio had stalled.

Lawmakers are hoping that this brand-new sports betting bill will generate interest with their fellow members of the House to legalize sports betting in Ohio. It is not yet clear when this new sports betting bill will have a hearing.

The post Ohio Lawmakers Introduce A New Sports Betting Bill first appeared on SportsBettingInOhio.com.

New Ohio Sports Betting Bill Surfaces

Sierra Kennedy — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:42:00 +0000

Rep. Brigid Kelly and Rep. Dave Greenspan have proposed a sports betting bill in Ohio.
The bill is intended to provide additional public education funding in Ohio.
The bill would impose a 10% tax on businesses offering sports gambling.

OHIO – Sports gamblers in the State of Ohio have some potentially good news to look forward to in the coming months. Two legislators in the state have proposed a sports gambling bill. The bill would regulate and legalize sports betting for Ohio residents, something bettors in the state have been waiting on.

Rep. Brigid Kelly and Rep. Dave Greenspan were the legislators who proposed the sports gambling bill. HB 194 would regulate and legalize sports betting for Ohio residents. The bill also has some other intentions that would greatly benefit the State of Ohio.

“At its core, this bill is intended to provide additional funding for public education in Ohio by making sports betting legal,” said Rep. David Greenspan.

“The format and structure of the bill provide clarity as to the authority overseeing sports betting in Ohio while providing flexibility to address opportunities and challenges facing this newly legalized industry.”

If the bill passes into law and makes it past the House and Senate then it would be a big step for sports gambling around the country. After previous federal laws were struck down its been open season on sports gambling legislation in the U.S. Previous sports gambling bills have fallen through the cracks, but this new bill gives new hope for Ohio bettors.

HB 194 would give the Ohio Lottery Commission authority to administer sports gambling in the state. The bill would expand the Lottery Commission size from 9 to 11 members and would require that at least three of them have experience or knowledge in sports gambling. The bill would also impose a 10% tax on businesses offering sports gambling.

Upon first glance, the sports gambling bill may present legal problems for Ohio. The Ohio constitution prohibits gambling in the state. Fortunately, though, the state is allowed to operate lotteries, and “lotteries are exempt from the gambling law.” This allows sports gambling if overseen by the Ohio Lottery Commission, the possibility to become legal without going against the state’s constitution.

It’s a bright and exciting time for sports bettors in “the land”, and elsewhere in the state. While the bill does not discuss mobile on online betting, land-based wagering would still be welcomed with open arms in the state.

For the time being, though, sports betting in Ohio fans will have to chew their fingernails as they wait and see what happens with the bill. HB 194 has yet to pass the House, but if it does they’ll have some momentum on their side going into the Senate. Gamblers will not only have sports wagering in their state if the bill passes but more funding for education in the state as well. Both are great benefits for the State of Ohio.

The post New Ohio Sports Betting Bill Surfaces first appeared on SportsBettingInOhio.com.

Possible Sports Betting Legislation In Ohio Sees Favorable Odds

Hasan Nabulsi — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 14:24:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, OH – While some Ohio residents have gotten used to traveling outside the state to place their sports bets, they may soon not have to. Ohio Senator John Eklund expects to fill his placeholder bill later this month and believes it has favorable odds to pass.

A big reason why he believes this is because of the bipartisan support the bill has seen. Eklund is a Republican but he presented OH S 316 with Senator Sean O’Brien, who is a Democrat. There is also support in the House with Representative Dan Greenspan sponsoring a companion bill.

Full details of what will be included in the bill have yet to be announced, but many are optimistic about the potential for mobile wagering.

“If that’s what the consumer wants and it can be done in a safe and secure fashion that maintains the integrity of the contest, it would be hard to turn one’s back on that,” Eklund said.

He will have to address that concern in the final draft of his bill. He will also have to address integrity fees that major sports leagues have asked for, which establishments will be able to accept sports bets, and which entity in the state will regulate the activity.

How Other States Can Influence Ohio Lawmakers

Ever since the federal law PASPA was repealed in May of last year, several states have legalized sports gambling. Two of those states are Pennsylvania and West Virginia, both of which house sportsbooks in casinos and racetracks near the Eastern border of Ohio.

West Virginia also recently unveiled a sports betting app that will let anyone within the borders of the state place sports wagers. Pennsylvania sportsbooks, such as the one in Parx Casino, are also looking to release a similar platform in the near future.

Both states have already begun to see profits from their sports betting operations. Ohio lawmakers may see this new bill as a chance to keep that revenue in-state.

How Much Revenue Could Come From Sports Betting?

Those in the sports betting community know that this type of gambling is not nearly as profitable as other casino games. This week New Jersey reported a record high $385 million wagered on sports in the month of January alone. Of that amount, sportsbooks only kept $18.8 million.

Eklund understands the financial limitations that could come with this gaming expansion. “I don’t view this as the tool to solve any state’s, much less Ohio’s, fiscal concerns from now until forever,” he said.

But, this has not stopped him from finishing his bill. While sports betting in Ohio may not drive revenue on its own, the added amenity will act as an additional reason for tourists to come to the Buckeye State and for residents to visit their local casinos.

The post Possible Sports Betting Legislation In Ohio Sees Favorable Odds first appeared on SportsBettingInOhio.com.

Game 3 Can Change Everything For The Cavs

Dillon Appleman — Sun, 07 May 2017 14:21:00 +0000

After games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, it’s tough for fans to imagine this series going much further. The Warriors have thoroughly dominated and have controlled just about every aspect of each of the first two games of their series. LeBron James looks frustrated as he has received little help thus far from his teammates. Kevin Love has been good, not great, Kyrie seems hesitant to take risks, and Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, and Kyle Korver must have forgotten that they are professional basketball players because they just look lost on the court and have done nothing.

That being said, it’s completely plausible that the Cavs figure out the formula to beat the Dubs on their home court at the Quicken Loans Arena. As a matter of fact, the Cavs have pulled off Game 3 upsets in back to back years against the Warriors in the finals. They beat Golden State 96 to 91 after being a 2 point underdog in 2015, and again beat them 120 to 90 after being a 1.5 point underdog in last year’s finals.

Many people point to Draymond Green’s suspension and obviously Kyrie Irving’s shot that proved to be the game-winner as being the two biggest reasons as to why the Cavs pulled out the series in 2016 but them dominating on their home court in Game 3 could be argued to have had just as much of an impact.

The Warriors are also aware of the fact that they have had trouble in Game 3’s, telling ESPN.com that “Game 3 has been a little rough for us historically — and especially in this building,”

Game 3 NBA Finals Betting Odds

With the history being what it is, who’s to say the Cavs can’t continue that trend and take their first game at home in this series. The oddsmakers don’t seem to be taking that into account though as the Cavs will have their biggest Game 3 point spread at 4 points. This Golden State team is a different beast that they have been in the past. After adding former MVP Kevin Durant to a lineup that already consists of a two-time MVP, a defensive player of the year finalist, and one of the best catch and shoot players in the NBA, most people predicted that this team would be unbeatable when they got to the playoffs, and so far that has been the case.

The Warriors are an unbelievable 14 and 0 in the playoffs so far. At this point, just one victory for the Cavs would be an accomplishment but the odds are drastically against them. Bovada lists the Cavaliers moneyline odds at +145 while the Dubs sit comfortably at -165. Not only that but the total that has been posted for Game 3 is way up at over/under 227. Against the spread, the Warriors are 10 and 4 and their average margin of victory is an astonishing 17 points per game.

How The Cavs Can Win Game 3

I think if one thing has been proved thus far this series is that Cleveland cannot win a shootout with Golden State. For them to have any chance at continuing their trend of nabbing Game 3’s then they are going to have to do it on the defensive side of the ball. They have been falling asleep in the paint and allowing too many easy buckets and it might sound crazy but closing out on the driving man and allowing them to find open guys on the perimeter may be the best way to contain them.

The Warriors have shot 30 of 76 from 3 in this series which is only good for 39% from 3. While that isn’t the worst number in the world, that is pretty low for the Dubs. The Cavs should see if they can force them to continue the bad rhythm beyond the arc instead of allowing easy layups and fast break dunks.

It certainly won’t be easy though. The NBA Finals betting odds show that the Warriors are six times more likely to sweep the Cavs and go undefeated in the playoffs than Cleveland is to make another historic comeback. It’s tough to think that King James could be swept in the Finals so Game 3 may still be a good bet, even if the lines for sports betting in Ohio say it isn’t.

Game 3 will air on ABC at 9 pm Eastern time.

The post Game 3 Can Change Everything For The Cavs first appeared on SportsBettingInOhio.com.

Ohio House Passes Bill To Legalize Fantasy Sports

Sierra Kennedy — Sun, 07 May 2017 14:16:00 +0000

Ohio’s House has passed a bill that effectively legalizes and regulates paid-entry daily fantasy sports. This happened on Wednesday, May 24th which was shortly after the state of New Jersey’s Assembly passed their own fantasy sports legislation as well. This highlighted a big week for the top daily fantasy sports sites like FanDuel and DraftKings.

Bill H 132 passed through the house without much pushback as the voting results were 80 to 15, making it an overwhelming victory for fantasy sports betting in Ohio. The bill will now head to the Senate and the final decision should come sooner than later. Even though Ohio that has actively attempted to keep daily fantasy sports illegal, the Ohio attorney general still recommended that the state’s legislation act before it was too late.

As of now, we are not sure if the Ohio fantasy sports sites that are currently running are in violation of Ohio’s Revised Codes in the gambling section of Chapter 2915. Because this is still in question, the extended listing of fantasy laws points to the General Assembly needing to address these issues.

A lobbyist in the DFS industry predicted that the state of Ohio would legalize and regulate fantasy sports earlier in 2017 and we are finally seeing the results. The next step is to see if this bill does will at the next level.

Other State Fantasy Sports News

This news is big for the daily fantasy sports industry because to this point, it hadn’t been a very good last few months. There were some huge setbacks as of late as multiple states have failed to pass bills. Texas legislation just recently decided to delay the potential legalization of fantasy sports until 2019 and Florida’s Senate just failed to pass a bill that would have legalized DFS as well. Not to mention DraftKings and FanDuel also have decided to cease all operations in Alabama and will not alter that stance until there is a significant change in the near future.

It’s not all bad news out there though as Vermont, Pennsylvania and Arkansas have both actually passed fantasy sports bills recently as well. Vermont’s governor still needs to sign it for it to become a law but it is looking like that will happen soon.

While the bad news has outweighed the good news so far in 2017, the momentum of Ohio and these other states potentially legalizing fantasy sports is very good news. Hopefully, this momentum for sports betting in Ohio continues as the year goes on.

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