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Lawmakers Considering Two Bills To Legalize Sports Gambling

WCBE 90.5FM | By Ohio Public Radio

Published April 16, 2019 at 4:58 AM EDT

Ohio lawmakers have been considering legalizing sports betting since last June's U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the issue.

But there are two different proposals on how to make that happen. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.

The bipartisan bill from Representatives Dave Greenspan and Brigid Kelly would have sports betting in casinos, racinos and fraternal and veterans’ organizations at first. But because it would be regulated by the Ohio Lottery, sports gambling could be expanded to bars, stores and other lottery vendors. Republican Senator John Eklund introduced a sports betting bill with Democrat Sean O’Brien, which would name the Casino Control Commission as the regulator, and casinos and racinos as the only locations.

“You would not see sports betting cards in your 7-11 next to the Keno board.”

Eklund says there’s a big difference between sports gambling and lottery games – and he’s concerned about underage players and about people who don’t know anything about sports gambling and losing money.

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