Republicans in Ohio support iGaming and iLottery

Posted on: July 16, 2024, 09:07.

Last updated on: July 16, 2024, 09:07.

Several Republican lawmakers in the state of Ohio have expressed their support for the legalization of online casino gambling and Internet lotteries after serving for three months on a commission of inquiry designed to examine the future of the gambling industry in the Buckeye State.

Ohio Representatives Jay Edwards (R-Athens), Jeff LaRe (R-Violet) and Cindy Abrams (R-Hamilton) were three of the eight state representatives appointed to the commission investigating the future of gambling in Ohio. Edwards co-chaired the commission with Senator Nathan Manning (R-Lorain).

The commission of inquiry held four meetings on February 20, March 19, March 20 and April 11, during which the state’s gambling interests weighed in on whether or not the state should expand gambling to the Internet. Currently, only online sports betting is allowed.

The legislative session in Ohio lasts until the end of the year.

Online gaming support

The three House Republicans wrote to the General Assembly urging the state to expand commercial casino and lottery gaming to the internet in a regulated environment. Edwards, LaRe and Abrams acknowledged in their letter that there is some resistance from the state’s current brick-and-mortar casinos, particularly Jack Entertainment, which operates two gaming halls in the Cleveland metropolitan area, but they believe such an expansion is warranted.

While we understand they are hesitant to expand due to the uncertain impact, we believe iLottery and iGaming could be a net gain for the state of Ohio. When we look at other states that have adopted iLottery and iGaming, or both, we see significant increases in tax revenue generated by greater participation, but also that on-site sales continued to increase,” the Republicans wrote.

Currently, online slots and table games are only allowed in seven states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware, West Virginia, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The three lawmakers cited the continued gross revenue from iGaming in those states while in-person gaming is increasing, albeit at a slower pace.

Lawmakers said that while they support iGaming, implementation should not come “at the expense” of the state’s existing casinos and racinos, where thousands of Ohioans work.

Online lottery sales and/or instant play are only available in the following states: Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Dakota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. iLottery is also permitted in Washington, DC.

Ohio Republicans who support iLottery say allowing online gaming has only increased lottery revenue and increased revenue for the programs that benefit from it.

“The reality is that many other states are moving in this direction and Ohioans are already taking advantage of the illicit market. Lawmakers should accept that these expansions are most likely only a matter of time and are moving forward in the best interests of the state of Ohio. As technology evolves and society advances, so should our laws,” Sweeney wrote.

Panel not uniform

Other lawmakers on the commission investigating the future of gambling in Ohio were less sure that iGaming and iLottery are even necessary, at least not at this point. Manning said Ohio needs to “proceed with caution” when discussing such gambling because these verticals are “potentially more addictive.”

State Senator Al Landis (R-Dover) said his position is to “maintain the status quo and keep the brick-and-mortar gambling locations rather than let the state expand into iLottery and other forms of virtual gambling.” Landis also cited addiction issues as his main reason for his opposition.

State Senator William DeMora (D-Columbus) also opposed online gambling and lotteries. In addition to concerns about addiction, DeMora said iGaming and iLottery would hurt businesses as retail establishments.

The casino gambling industry employs hundreds of people in good, unionized jobs. We cannot jeopardize the position of these important institutions by making them irrelevant and forcing Ohioans who love to gamble to resort to their cell phones instead of going to brick-and-mortar stores,” DeMora wrote.