5 Things To Know As Sports Betting Gets Closer To Being Legal In Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — Sports betting could soon be legal across Ohio.

The Ohio General Assembly this week approved legislation that would make placing a bet on your favorite team legal in the Buckeye State. House Bill 29 now awaits Gov. Mike DeWine's signature. If the governor approves the bill, sports betting could start in January 2023.

“We had to pass this legislation to keep up with other states and to ensure that Ohio wasn’t left behind, and to ensure that sports betting is open, regulated and fair,” said state Rep. Adam Miller, an author of the bill and a member of the Select Committee on Gaming.

Sports betting is already legal in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana and Michigan.

Here are five things to know about what the future of sports betting could look like in Ohio:

• Sports betting would be allowed at brick-and-mortar locations and via the Internet and mobile devices that are under the oversight of the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
• Sports betting providers would need licenses to operate in Ohio
• A nine-member committee would investigate problem gambling and problem gabling funding.
• A new committee would also investigate the implementation of sports betting around Ohio.
• Some profits from sports betting would be directed to Ohio schools and veterans.