In recent years, online gambling has become increasingly popular throughout the United States, and a number of states have made landmark changes to legislation which has enabled them to open up their own legal, regulated iGaming markets. There is a varied approach across the country as different states have taken a unique approach to the issue – notably, the state of Ohio still has a relatively conservative stance when it comes to online gambling. This famous Midwestern state has maintained a restrictive approach to gambling activities – whilst Ohio legalized sports betting in 202,, the same legal status has not been given to online casino gaming sites. However, the tides are slowly changing, and some people believe that we should expect to see changes to Ohio’s legal stance on online casinos over the coming years. In this article, we’ve taken a closer look at the factors which could potentially drive change in this traditionally conservative state.
What is the current legal landscape for online gambling in Ohio?
Traditionally, the state of Ohio has been home to conservative views on the topic of gambling. Right now, online casinos are not legal in the state, but Ohio is home to a solid gambling industry including a number of brick-and-mortar casinos and race tracks where people can engage in gambling activities at physical locations. Interestingly, Ohioans have been able to legally take part in online sports betting since January 2023, following the passing of new legislation alongside a range of careful regulation measures. The move to legalize online sports betting certainly signals changing attitudes towards gambling activity in the state and could be a sign that the opening of a legalized online casino market will soon follow in the coming years. For keen Ohioan gamers online casinos can’t come quickly enough. Especially when they know they’re missing out on a nice addition of an online casino bonus that a lot of the rest of the country has access to. Overall, it appears that attitudes in the state do appear to be slowly turning in favor of a regulated, legal iGaming market.
Whilst attitudes are certainly changing over time, overall, there is a cautious approach to gambling activities on display in Ohio today. Thanks to the state’s traditionally conservative views on this sometimes divisive topic, any kind of expansion to gambling activity in the state has been met with considerable debates and scrutiny. Changes to gambling laws have often required voter approval and lengthy consideration by the government, meaning that any significant change to legislation in Ohio happens at a slow, careful pace. As Ohioan residents look at the successful new iGaming markets in other states, and with many crossing state lines to participate in online gambling elsewhere, Ohio could be missing out on substantial revenue and exciting investment potential if it continues to block casino sites. Any upcoming changes will definitely take time to be implemented, but it’s clear that more permissive legislation around online casinos could surely be on the horizon.
Which factors could drive changes to Ohio’s legal stance?
Ohio’s restrictive stance contrasts with the approach being taken in other US states, as a few regions have opened up their own legal, regulated iGaming markets in recent years, including New Jersey, Michigan and Delaware. Ohioan lawmakers will certainly be watching closely to see how these burgeoning iGaming markets progress over the next few years – particularly in its neighboring state of Michigan, where the first legal online casino platforms went live back in January 2021. Michigan’s iGaming market is an interesting example of a conservative state developing a more permissive approach to gambling legislation, and signifies how public opinion towards the online casino landscape has slowly shifted in recent years – Ohio’s residents may soon begin to demand the same experiences enjoyed by those in other US states.
Economic pressures will have a key influence on the state’s future decision-making on this issue. The continued success of Michigan’s new iGaming market and the massive tax revenue generated by legal gambling activity has been cited as a key reason why Ohio should consider following suit. It’s been a turbulent few years for the global economy, and online casinos could surely be an attractive option for increased tax revenue which could be used to fund public services and infrastructure across the state. With the potential to generate millions of dollars for the public purse, it could be hard for lawmakers to deny the possible benefits of opening up a regulated iGaming industry.
Legislative efforts will also have a strong impact on the future of iGaming in Ohio. Interestingly, in July this year, Ohio house republicans Jay Edwards, Jeff LaRe and Cindy Abrams submitted a joint letter to the state, recommending that Ohio should open up a legal, regulated iGaming market. They noted the potential benefits of legalizing online casinos, including significant increases to tax revenue, better protections for players and a reduction in usage of the illicit market. This demonstrates changing tides amongst lawmakers in the state – however, any changes will not come easily, as Ohio’s conservative political landscape means that the proposition to legalize online casinos would be met with significant opposition from some lawmakers, religious groups and conservative voters. The requirement for voter approval would mean that a well-organized political campaign would be required to initiate any significant changes.
Ultimately, whilst there are no significant changes taking place just yet, there are several reasons to believe that Ohio may change its approach to iGaming in the next few years. Changing public opinion – alongside the success of new markets in other states – is driving a change in attitudes towards the issue, and legislators are beginning to push for the benefits that a regulated online casino industry could bring to Ohio’s economy. However, any move towards legalization would have to navigate significant political roadblocks, and changes will not happen overnight. As the national trend continues in the direction of legalizing online casinos, Ohioan residents can certainly expect increasing discussions about the future of this issue in the state – it will be fascinating to see what happens next.
