Sports Betting Bill Passed by Ohio Legislature

The Ohio legislature passed a bill Dec. 8 legalizing sports betting in the state, and the bill now goes to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature. The Republican governor has hinted in public statements that he will sign the bill into law. 

The bill authorizes many sports betting providers, ranging from online platforms to brick-and-mortar centers to kiosks in bars and restaurants. Cleveland.com reported that racetracks in the state, known as "racinos" for combining racing and casino gaming, are among the potential brick-and-mortar locations.

Provided DeWine signs the bill—and it acquired enough votes to override a veto if he does not—implementation may not take place until the second half of 2023. According to the Cleveland.com report, the bill requires Ohio to start issuing licenses April 1, and additional time is considered necessary to set up a new regulatory system.

Ohio is on the verge of becoming the 33rd state to authorize sports betting, with Kentucky, a major center for horse racing and the Thoroughbred breeding industry, one notable holdout. States with sports betting surround much of Kentucky.

Kentucky Rep. Adam Koenig, an Erlanger Republican, who previously filed sports wagering bills in the state without passage, tweeted Wednesday that he wants to make sports wagering happen in the state in 2022.

Gambling bills in Kentucky have historically faced heavy opposition from socially conservative lawmakers and those from rural parts of the state.