Ohio<\/a> would tax sportsbooks at 10 percent of their net revenue. The bill calls for 2 percent of the state\u2019s proceeds to fund gambling addiction services, with the rest funding public and private education.<\/p>\nThe bill also covers other gaming opportunities, including allowing veteran, fraternal, and charitable organizations to offer \u201ce-bingo,\u201d or electronic instant bingo machines. It also would create a committee to delve into iLottery and what potential impacts that might create for the state\u2019s retail lottery outlets.<\/p>\n
Concern Raised Over e-Bingo Language<\/h2>\n
While Ohio\u2019s casino operators are pushing for sports betting, that\u2019s not to say that several don\u2019t have issues with the bill.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, a group called Get Gaming Right Ohio issued a press release in conjunction with the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio that raised concerns over the \u201ce-bingo\u201d machines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nGet Gaming Right is backed by JACK Entertainment, MGM Resorts, and Penn National Gaming – entities that operate seven of the state\u2019s 11 casinos or racinos.<\/p>\n
The groups said the law, as currently written, would allow an unlimited number of casino-style video gaming terminals to be placed in 876 locations across the state.<\/p>\n
Derek Longmeier, the Problem Gambling Network\u2019s executive director, said in a statement that the current bill does not include \u201can appropriate regulatory framework\u201d to oversee the gaming machines.<\/p>\n
\u201cSB 176 does not currently contain the necessary consumer protections to mitigate the harm that will result from introducing e-bingo in Ohio,\u201d <\/strong>he said. \u201cThe bill contains no requirements to ensure the e-bingo staff, whether paid or volunteer, are consistently trained to respond to those experiencing a gambling problem.”<\/strong><\/p>\nWhat the bill includes, according to a fact sheet on the Ohio Senate\u2019s website, is a provision that gives the state Attorney General oversight authority. Currently, the OCCC oversees the state\u2019s four casinos, while the Lottery Commission has authority over the seven racinos, which offer video lottery terminals.<\/p>\n
The bill, though, would allow the OCCC to inspect the \u201ce-bingo\u201d machines to ensure they\u2019re not slot machines<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Ohio state Senate committee that drafted the current sports betting bill met Wednesday for the first time since its initial version was unveiled last week. Already, there are some changes that have been made. The Senate Select Committee on Gaming\u2019s first action was to accept an amended version of Senate Bill 176. Committee Vice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":173641,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,1074],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Ohio Senators Amend Sports Betting Portion of Gaming Bill<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n