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- Ohio lawmakers are weighing an iGaming bill that would restrict licenses to the state’s 11 existing retail casinos and racinos while entirely banning online promotional credits.
- To prevent turf wars with land-based operators, the proposal would require any promotional incentives to be tied directly to physical casino properties instead of digital apps, with supporters estimating the market could yield up to $400 million annually.
Ohio lawmakers are considering an iGaming bill that would bar online promotional credits and instead require promotions to be tied to the state’s retail casinos and racinos.
The proposal matters because it would shape not just whether Ohio legalizes online casino gambling, but who benefits if it does. Supporters say the approach could help avoid an early fight between national online brands and land-based gaming interests, while still opening a market that State Rep. Brian Stewart said could generate as much as $400 million a year for the state.
Proposal would limit licenses and redirect promos
According to Stewart, the bill would restrict iGaming licenses to Ohio’s existing 11 casinos and racinos. He said that structure is meant to ensure the state’s current land-based operators benefit from any expansion into online casino gaming.
Stewart also described a stricter approach to promotions than Ohio bettors have seen in sports betting. “We would say that you can’t offer online promotional credits,” Stewart said. “You can offer promotional credits, but they need to be credits for the land-based casino.”
He pointed to Ohio’s sports betting launch as an example of how heavily capitalized national operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings used aggressive promotional spending to gain market share.
Stewart said he is trying to avoid a broader industry clash at the outset. “If I introduce a bill and it immediately becomes this turf fight amongst all the different gaming interests, it’s dead on Day 1,” he said.
Ohio’s political case for iGaming remains difficult
Ohio has a population of roughly 12 million and sits next to established iGaming states including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. But legalization remains a difficult political lift even with Republicans holding 65 of 99 seats in the Ohio House and an even larger majority in the Senate.
Stewart said some conservative lawmakers could still support iGaming if the tax revenue is dedicated to other priorities. “A lot of folks will hold their nose if they believe that this is a significant way to achieve other budget priorities,” he said.
Ohio already allows lottery games, commercial casinos, racinos, and sports betting. Since legal wagering began on Jan. 1, 2023, the state has collected roughly $600 million in cumulative sports betting revenue, according to the source report.
Only eight states have legalized iGaming so far. The issue could return during Ohio’s next budget process, particularly after the state gets a new governor in 2027 when Mike DeWine leaves office.
What to watch next
Several major details remain unresolved, including the bill number, formal sponsorship, tax structure, and any consumer protection or responsible gambling provisions.
For now, the clearest signal from Stewart’s comments is that any Ohio iGaming push is likely to be built around the state’s existing retail casino and racino industry, not a wide-open promotional battle among online operators.
Source: As reported by Ryan Butler.
