Online poker bill coming to Ohio?

A House Representative in Ohio has announced he is working on a bill that would legalize online poker and online casino gaming in the state.

Representative Brian Stewart, chair of the House Finance Committee, confirmed to media outlets earlier this week that he was preparing to introduce a bill that would legalize online poker and online casino games in Ohio to brining added revenue to the state.

The announcement comes after Governor Mike DeWine’s proposal to double the state’s tax on sports betting was dropped.

Online gambling expansion has been on the minds of Ohio legislators following the release of a report last year by the Study Commission on the Future of Gaming in Ohio that recommended online casino gaming and online poker.

The report noted, ““While the state should proceed with caution and care with any expansion of this magnitude, with the right regulatory framework, these types of gaming can thrive with nominal impact to our current system.”

Stewart has not released any details on his proposed bill, leaving questions around regulations, tax rates, and industry setup still to be answered. There is also the question if Ohio would look to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, adding it’s population of 12 million to the player pool.

This is not the first time Ohio legislators have tried to bring online gaming to the state. Last year Senator Niraj Antani put forth a bill that called for the Ohio Casino Control Commission to regulate online gaming and issue licenses to operators who had to partner with local brick-and-mortar casinos. The bill failed to gain any traction in the Senate.

Online gambling expansion in Ohio has also faced opposition from some brick-and-mortar casinos in the state. Several Ohio casino operators have joined the National Association Against iGaming, which was formed earlier this year to, as the name suggests, oppose the expansion of iGaming.