Online Gambling in Ohio
Gamblers in Ohio can play for real money freely on the internet. The only thing to look out for in this scenario is the legitimacy and quality of the online gambling sites you’re dealing with. Because you’re based in Ohio, you won’t have the same level of consumer protection you get in other tightly regulated markets.
Offshore sites licensed in the UK or Malta (both robust and respected regulators), for instance, are allowed to cater to players in Ohio. The ones we’re singling out here also have the VegasSlotsOnline greenlight, which is a solid confirmation that you’re putting your money into a reputable establishment. That’s why with us, you can play real money slots in Ohio and much more without any issues whatsoever.
Ohio Gambling Laws
There are no laws regulating online gambling in Ohio for the time being. This doesn’t mean you’ll be breaking the law if you’re playing in online casinos from Ohio. You won’t be punished by the state’s law enforcement officials if you gamble online.
Ohio sits in what we call the “grey area” of legal igaming in the USA. This means that online gambling isn’t explicitly legal or illegal in the state – basically that there are no laws for or against it.
The good news is that the state is exploring new avenues for increasing its tax revenue and legalizing online gambling in Ohio would be the ideal solution. In 2016, prominent gaming consultancy Spectrum Gaming Group ran a commissioned study which highlighted the positive impact of casinos on small businesses across the country. Of course, higher tax returns on a flourishing infant industry is an attractive proposal for the regional administration.
Legislators will look to neighboring Pennsylvania to assess its performance following the introduction of regulated online gambling. So far, so hopeful: in April 2020, the profit of sportsbooks in the state dwindled but online casino revenue recorded an all-time high.
This is certain to nudge both the public and politicians into supporting the first legal bill enabling online gambling in Ohio. Sports betting is reportedly already in the works. Current Governor Mike DeWin has said that the only remaining questions concern the details of the policy, not whether it will be implemented. Esports programs have caught on in Ohio too, and many students find that it enhances their professional and life skills.
Keep checking back for updates on the legal status of online gambling in Ohio. In the meantime, we’re optimistic that this state will usher in a new era soon.
Gambling History in Ohio
For most of Ohio’s modern history, there wasn’t much in the way of a gaming industry. Sure, parimutuel (mutual betting) wagering was allowed here, as it is in many states. This was due to a 1933 amendment to the state’s Constitution, which approved horse race betting. But that was virtually the only way to place a bet in the state until the 1970s.
It wouldn’t be until 1974 when the first lottery drawings were held. A campaign to allow lotteries had begun in 1971, and voters approved its formation in a 1973 vote. By the next year, drawings had been established, and the agency continues to regulate it to this day.
Around the same time, some limited forms of gambling began to crop up. In 1975, charities began authorized to hold limited raffles and bingo nights, something that is more or less taken for granted in most states these days. But that would be the last time the gambling sector expanded for more than 30 years.
Slow But Steady Progress
After some minor reforms in the 2000s,residents could buy tickets for local drawings and instant scratch off games, participate in Mega Millions, Powerball and Lucky for Life, and even play keno in restaurants and bars, which broadcast the results of draws every four minutes.
The subject of casino expansion was a hot topic. There were few options for Ohians who wanted to gamble there. With no tribal resorts available, residents were forced to travel to nearby states to gamble. Many of them did, visiting Indiana, Michigan, and – more recently – Pennsylvania casinos to hit the tables or slots without any obstacles.
Recent Casino Legislation Expands Industry
In 2009, supporters of a plan to finally bring casinos to the Buckeye State spent tens of millions of dollars on a campaign to convince the public to approve the plan. Such efforts had been defeated in 1990, 1996, and 2008, but 2009 marked the beginning of a new chapter. In a narrow 53%-47% victory, voters approved four casinos based on promises of huge tax benefits to the state and the creation of more than 30,000 jobs.
Four new resorts have opened since: Hollywood venues in Columbus and Toledo, as well as two Horseshoe resorts in Cincinnati and Cleveland. Voters also approved the expansion of video lottery terminals. There are also several racinos at existing racetracks around the state, many of which have reopened or relocated since 2012.
Online Expansion Continues to Be Considered
Once land-based expansion efforts had proven successful, there was some debate about making a similar effort to push for internet gaming as well. In fact, operators, such as Caesars – which used to manage three Ohio casinos at a time – were among those floating the idea of venturing into online gambling.
Those efforts didn’t fully materialize into concrete action. There haven't been hearings or votes on the issue, although there is a sense that lawmakers and citizens are preparing for such a move. The state of Ohio is presently making arrangements for its 11 brick-and-mortar casinos to engage in sports betting operations that will branch into online and mobile platforms for customers. This step forward is long overdue!
Questions About Casino Benefits Remain
Several years into Ohio’s casino legalization, there remain plenty of questions about the true effect the resorts have had. Many have questioned exactly how much benefit taxpayers have seen, and whether the reality of the gambling promise lived up to the hype.
Certainly, some of the figures that were bandied about have failed to materialize. Instead of 34,000 jobs, only about 15,000 were created. This includes temporary construction jobs during the building of the new facilities. Less than half of the expected tax revenues have been brought in in the first few years of operation.
Casino supporters, however, point out that there’s still a healthy stream of income, even if it falls short of the lofty figures that were quoted before the projects were completed. They also argue that the expectations were set before it was known that seven racinos would be authorized, which has created more competition for gaming dollars.
Fears about crime related to the new gambling now seem unfounded, and it may still be too early to project the long-term economic impact of the resorts. Regardless, the casinos aren’t going away any time soon, so Ohio will simply have to wait and see what the eventual impact will be.
The addition of sports betting seems designed to broaden the portfolio of the casinos, and its primary beneficiary will be state education for Ohioans. This feedback loop is sure to appease critics and win more supporters.
The Future of Ohio Online Gambling
Since the approval of land-based casinos, authorities have realised that the market for Vegas-style gambling is getting saturated in Northeast America. Consumer trends in retail and entertainment all point to a massive shift to the digital sphere. This will only intensify in the future, so an evolution is inevitable.
Until it happens, you can still play online if you want to. Like many states, Ohio is supplied with plenty of online gambling sites to choose from. And with no laws criminalizing the activity from the player’s end of things, countless residents dip into Ohio online casinos, betting and poker every day.
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