Updates on Ohio Sportsbook Bills

A couple of months ago, it seemed like sports betting was coming to Ohio. However, lawmakers were not able to approve any of the Ohio sportsbook bills. After five hearings, the state Senate committee didn’t tackle sports betting last week.

Ohio’s legislature closed its 2021 session this week. The Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill in summer. Thus, a political forum thought that six months was enough for the Senate to pass their version of the bill.

However, the House and Senate can’t find a compromise on their separate proposals before the 2020 legislative session ended. Some lawmakers contracted coronavirus. Also, Speaker Larry Householder was arrested on racketeering charges.

Ohio Sportsbook Bills

Supporters of the Ohio sportsbook bills are hopeful that they can pass legislation in the 2021 session. However, they will face the same challenges that hindered the proposal this year. Also, they lost three leading supporters during the recent elections.

According to a pay per head bookie, Ohio is ripe for a sports betting industry. It has a large population, several college and professional teams, and a growing casino industry. Lawmakers have been trying to legalize sports wagering in the state since the US Supreme Court struck down the ban on the activity in 2018.

Despite bicameral support, legislation faltered before the House passed the bill that allowed racinos and casinos to offer sports betting. It was up for the Senate to pass their sports betting bill. However, both chambers failed to reach an agreement.

Thus, finding the best bookie software in Ohio is impossible to date. The General Government Committee of the Senate heard testimony from various sports betting stakeholders, including FanDuel, DraftKings, Boyd Gaming, Penn National, Jack Entertainment, and MGM. The companies could offer sports wagering in Ohio through their partnership with casinos.