Ohio online casino and poker bill in the works
Rep. Brian Stewart is working on a proposal.
US.- An Ohio lawmaker has confirmed that he is working on a proposal to legalise online casinos in the state. Rep. Brian Stewart’s proposal would allow online poker and other casino games in Ohio.
Stewart is the chair of the House Finance Committee and the sponsor of House Bill 96, the House version of the two-year state budget. Stewart said the bill’s goal is to generate additional revenue for the state.
A report released last year by the Study Commission on the Future of Gaming in Ohio recommended legalising online gaming. Three Republican lawmakers, Reps. Jay Edwards, Jeff LaRe and Cindy Abrams, said in the report: “While the state should proceed with caution and care with any expansion of this magnitude, with the right regulatory framework, these types of gaming can thrive with nominal impact to our current system.”
“These tax revenue benefits to the state and funding that could be provided to our K-12 education system cannot be overlooked,” the lawmakers wrote. However, there have been concerns about how internet gambling could affect traffic at Ohio’s four land-based casinos and seven racinos.
As of May 2025, the following US states have legalised online casino gambling: New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Nevada allows online poker but has not yet authorised other forms of online casino gaming.
