On a recent radio talk show, Ohio state Senator Kirk Schuring said sports betting legislation still is moving forward, albeit at a very slow pace. Schuring said lawmakers are negotiating over HB 29, which he amended this summer to include legalizing sports betting.
“We actually are at the stage now where we’re asking for the legislative service commission to draft language so others can look at it as we try to negotiate and read it the way it will look when it becomes law. So we’re making progress,” Schuring said.
Originally, Schuring’s goal was to have an Ohio sports wagering bill passed by Halloween. However, he said there still is time to pass a measure, since the legislative session can fun through December 31 if necessary. He commented, “I’ll remind everybody, I know this has been frustrating because it’s taking so long. But the Senate, when I offered the floor amendment to House Bill 29, which is the bill that’s in the conference committee, that floor amendment, the sports gaming floor amendment, passed unanimously. So, you know, we’re just trying to work with our House colleagues now to get it to the point where it will be approved by both the Senate and House.”
The measure would allow 25 mobile licenses. Sports teams would be limited to one skin but other providers could offer two. Also, 40 retail licenses would be available for full sportsbooks and another 20 would allow sports betting kiosks regulated by the lottery. Betting revenue would be taxed at 10 percent.
Schuring stated the slow pace of getting sports betting legalized is due to teams, casinos, racinos and lottery establishments wanting “to be a part of the market.” He said, “We’re just trying to get it to the point where we can have some semblance of order and get the bill passed. I think we will soon.”
