Will gambling be legalised in the state of Ohio in 2022?

Globally, gambling is on the rise. More sports betting companies are cropping up around the world, online casinos have been thriving with most of the planet’s population as they search for entertainment options to fight off the lockdown boredom, and casual gaming experiences like poker at a social casino through platforms like Facebook are booming also. In Ohio, though, the opportunity to gamble is still in limbo. 

The sports betting debate has been rumbling on in the midwestern region of the United States for a while now. Ever since the senate threw in its sports gambling bill to a house measure on veterans’ ID cards this summer, the debate around the legalisation of gambling has rumbled on, with many parties offering their views on the pros and cons of legalising what is a common entertainment option in many other countries. 

Online gambling is showing dramatic growth in many foreign territories. In fact, according to a new report by Grand View Research, the global online gambling market size is expected to reach a staggering $127.3 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 11.5% from 2020 to 2027. It comes as no surprise, then, to see many people in power wanting a slice of the pie. That has been part of the issue in Ohio, though. For every online casino operator like  BTC Casino  and professional sports organisations, there are other venues which want to be included in the discussions around hosting gambling between the house and the senate. For example, bowling centres in the area want to be able to host gambling. 

Matt Huffman sounds confident 

One of the main people aiming to lead this potential change is Matt Huffman, the Senate President, who is currently working on an agreement with house leaders. According to Huffman, there is plenty to be optimistic about despite a delay in the overall decision. The most recent proposal, which is yet to be decided on, featured up to 25 licenses for mobile betting, while enabling around 40 land-based establishments to accept bets from customers. Self-service kiosks, on the other hand, would have a special license compared to the other aforementioned operations. With a few additional details to be ironed out and some fine-tuning needed, the bill is 90% of the way there, according to Huffman. 

Mobile operators have a key role to play

Given the various things which need to fall into place, gambling in Ohio could be legalised in 2022. One such reason for this revolves around mobile betting and mobile operators, both of which are at the centre of discussions around Ohio’s tax revenue. Once agreements have been put in place, though, then the bill is likely to pass, although it would require a grace period of 90 days before it becomes effective and gambling comes to life in the state. 

With gambling reaching new audiences in America as many states aim to legalise what is a highly lucrative industry – especially in terms of tax revenue, it’s only a matter of time before Ohio follows suit too.

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