Ohio casino employees, who for a decade have been banned from gambling at casinos in the state, even if they aren’t owned by their employers, will soon be able to gamble at Buckeye state casinos that aren’t affiliated with the ones they work at.
Last week the Senate voted unanimously to remove the ban, which made it as misdemeanor for casino employees to gamble at any of the four casino resorts. It didn’t affect employees of the state’s seven “racinos.” It also didn’t prevent casino employees from patronize racinos. The removal had removed by the House on a 94-3 vote in February.
The bill allows casino employees “to participate in casino gaming at a casino facility, so long as the operator or employee does not have an interest in the facility, is not employed at the facility and does not have an interest or employment at an affiliated facility in Ohio.”
The ban didn’t just include dealers and others involved with gaming, but entertainers, maintenance personal and valet parkers. The idealistic purpose was to make corruption harder.
The action affects about 9,000 employees, who now won’t have to drive to nearby states to play. This puts Ohio in line with most other neighboring states. The last neighboring state to repeal the ban was Pennsylvania, which rescinded it in 2012.
In February, shortly before the House vote Matthew Schuler, executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, told lawmakers, “After five years of regulating and enforcing the law at Ohio’s casinos, we have not had a case of employees from different casinos working in collusion to cheat,” adding, “In fact, given the systems of surveillance, segregated duties, and internal controls unique to each casino operator, it would be difficult to even attempt.”
Now it’s up to Ohio Governor John Kasich to either sign the bill or veto it. If he signs it, it will go into effect in 90 days.
