Ohio may allow sports betting outside casinos

An Ohio Senate committee has discussed changes to a sports betting bill that’s soon to be sent to the floor and could allow sports betting licences beyond casinos.

US.- The Ohio Senate Select Committee on Gaming met for just 15 minutes this week but introduced a major possibility for the state’s gaming segment: businesses other than casinos could get licences to operate sports betting.

State Senator Nathan Manning, vice-chair of the committee and co-sponsor of the state’s sports betting bill, said that changes had been made to how the licensing process would take place.

Ohio is proposing two types of licences: A and B, with the latter not needing to be tied to a casino.

Manning said: “For the Type A, it clarifies that you do need to have some sort of presence in Ohio. We are not requiring these Type A licenses to be tethered to a racino/casino.

“They can certainly use them as a presence or they can use some other presence, whether they want to set up shop here themselves, or someone threw out the example if Ford wanted to have a license… somebody that has people working and a presence here in Ohio.

The Senator added that type A licensees will be allowed to apply for type B licences as well.

Another key issue that was discussed during the meeting is who will be tasked with regulating the segment. Lawmakers believe the Ohio Casino Control Commission to be the best fit.

According to Ohio Speaker of the House Bob Cupp, legislation could soon be approved.

He said: “The goal of getting sports betting done before we recess for the summer is a high priority.”