Proposed new bill could leave Ohio casinos without sports books

The amendment which has been added to the bill was altered and limits the licences to professional sports teams only

With the Senate’s sports betting legislation giving professional teams priority for obtaining a brick-and-mortar sportsbook licence, which could be passed today, some Ohio casinos and racinos could be left negatively impacted.

This bill assigns the 30 total sports books to counties based on population. The state has 11 casinos or hybrid racetrack “racinos.”

If professional sports teams in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati agree to request licenses, casinos and racinos in Cuyahoga, Franklin, and Hamilton counties would be excluded from the sports betting window of chance in the Senate’s bill.

The amendment which has been added to the bill was altered and limits the licences to professional sports teams only.

In an interview on Thursday, co-sponsor Sen. Nirja Antani, a Miamisburg Republican, was critical of casino organizations in the state.

Antani stated “The professional sports teams are businesses just like other businesses. They didn’t force their way into Ohio through a constitutional amendment. Casinos were lobbying very hard, lobbying more than anyone else. If they had their way, they would be the only ones in this bill.”

Several Ohio casinos having direct ties with major sportsbook operators or their partner companies will almost assuredly enter the market. That includes BetMGM, Barstool Sportsbook, Caesars, and TwinSpires.

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