Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, thanked Schuring for his work in leading the committee and shepherding the bill sponsored by state Sens. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, and Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg.<\/p>\n
While Yuko voted yes, he had concerns about the level casinos will be involved in sports betting.<\/p>\n
\nYou don’t take the same people that brought you to the dance and cut them off at the door,\u201d<\/strong> he said. \u201cYou have to give them an opportunity to be involved.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nYuko also urged Schuring to let the process play out in the state House.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you have a very short deadline, we might not be able to meet it,\u201d Yuko said. \u201cDon’t let that be an obstacle for us doing the right thing. We have to do the right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
State Sen. Sandra Williams, D-Cleveland, noted her town has three pro teams and two gaming venues. With more than 1 million people, Cuyahoga can only get three retail sportsbooks. She also voted yes for the bill, but expressed hope that the bill would be amended to ensure all gaming companies who want a retail license can get one.<\/p>\n
Retail sports betting licenses may not be as big an issue in Ohio as some raise. In states that offer mobile sports betting, like Indiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, online bets make up the overwhelming majority of the action.<\/p>\n
Many Convenience Stores Out in Bill<\/h2>\n
SB 176 also includes a lottery sports betting provision, and just like the Type A and B licenses, it, too, was amended in committee.<\/p>\n
\n
Originally, the bill set up what was a pari-mutuel sports betting operation for lottery retailers. However, now that segment will operate similarly to Type A and B sportsbooks. But the segment will be limited to offering point-spread bets, moneyline wagers, and totals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Bettors would be limited to $200 in bets per day on the kiosks, and the machines will only be allowed to take credit and debit cards.<\/p>\n
The Ohio Casino Control Commission would be allowed to pick up to three vendors to operate the lottery sports betting option, and current lottery licensees will not get preference for a license.<\/p>\n
The amended bill also now limits those kiosks to only establishments with a Class D liquor license, which are bars and restaurants.<\/strong><\/p>\nThat decision was met with criticism by some outlets that wanted the opportunity to offer sports betting<\/a> in their establishments.<\/p>\nRyan Howard spoke on behalf of the Ohio Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association at the committee\u2019s Tuesday meeting. He said that most convenience stores do not have Class D licenses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe respectfully ask that you allow convenience stores to participate in what would be an opportunity for us to recover from the pandemic, save small businesses, and perhaps even grow as a result of the increased in-store foot traffic, and ancillary sales that sports betting would generate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Ohio Senate wasted little time in passing a bill to legalize sports betting in the state. On Wednesday, one day after the Senate Select Committee on Gaming passed an amended bill, the full body approved the measure by a 30-2 margin. After starting with 20 mobile and 20 retail licenses each, Senate Bill 176 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":176747,"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 Senate Approves Sports Betting, But Some Concerns Remain<\/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