Ohio Takes First Steps to Legalize Sports Betting

Ohio state Reps. Dave Greenspan, R-Westlake, and Brigid Kelly, D-Cincinnati on Tuesday introduced a bill that would legalize sports wagering in the Buckeye State.

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Their bill would permit the Ohio Lottery Commission administer sports betting and give the Casino Control Commission authority to investigate sports betting and calls for a 10 percent tax to be imposed on operators.  This tax rate falls in line with some states that already offer legalized sports gambling, including New Jersey and Mississippi.  Other states like Pennsylvania assess much steeper taxes.

Bets could be placed at Ohio's eleven casinos and possibly online. State lawmakers initially suggested that bars and convenience stores throughout the state could offer betting on sports, but that idea got quashed almost from the getgo.

State Sens. John Eklund, R-Chardon, and Sean O’Brien, D-Cortland introduced a similar bill last month.