Ohio sports betting discussed at committee

Major sports betting operators filed letters in anticipation of the meeting, but still no progress was made on the bill.

US.- The Ohio Senate General Government and Agency Review Committee has met to discuss advancing a draft bill that would legalise sports betting in the state.

Ohio Sen. John Eklund stood before the committee to “inform and refresh” their minds on a bill that has been in motion for over a year.

Eklund said: “There are many, many shared premises and shared objectives among all the parties involved, and we are listening and formulating refinements.” 

Major sports betting operators and a gaming industry advocacy group filed letters in anticipation of the hearing in a bid to push legislation forward. Signees included including Boyd Gaming, DraftKings, FanDuel, Jack Entertainment, MGM, and Penn National.

In the end, lawmakers took no direct steps in advancing the bill but Eklund said more sessions would follow in the “not too distant future”.

Jack Entertainment’s vice president, Adam Suliman, said in a statement: “Our customers tell me regularly that they are looking forward to a day in the near future when they can wager legally on their favourite sporting event. It feels like we are very close to providing them with that opportunity, and for that, we are appreciative.”

Those who use casinos in the state also face restrictions effective from today, after Governor Mike DeWine issued a three-week curfew in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19 following a spike in cases.