Client Alerts & Insights
Are you Feeling Lucky? Legalized Sports Betting Bill Introduced in Ohio Senate
May 6, 2021
On May 6, 2021, Senate Bill 176 (SB 176) was introduced in the Ohio Senate by Senators Antani and Manning to legalize and regulate sports gaming. SB 176 is the result of eight hearings with an array of testimony from 50 individuals in the Ohio Senate Select Committee on Gaming. It covers three distinct gaming levels, monitored by three existing oversight agencies.
According to Senator Niraj Antani, “This bill will legalize sports betting and charitable E-Bingo in Ohio through a free market approach, while safely expanding gaming in our state. Ohioans want this, and they’ve made it clear to me, they want it now. We must move swiftly to enact this bill. I am honored to be a joint sponsor of the bill.”
“Sports gambling is already here, Ohio just isn’t benefiting from it,” said joint sponsor Senator Manning. “This bill is fair, no one gets a special benefit and the state has expert level diverse oversight. It’s a win for taxpayers and the economy.”
On-Line Sports Wagers and Brick and Mortar Wagering
Under the bill, the state will offer 20 licenses for mobile app on-line gaming and 20 licenses for brick and mortar sports gaming.
- Licenses cost $1 million will last for 3 years
- First come first serve
- Casino Control Commission has oversight authority
Lottery
The bill allows for a sports wager system through Ohio Lottery retailers.
- $20 wagers
- Winnings are divided from losing wagers, much like the lottery
- Ohio Lottery has oversight authority
Charitable Gaming, Electronic Bingo
- Allows E-Bingo to become available to charitable organizations
- Ohio Attorney General’s office maintains oversight authority
- E-Bingo machines will be authorized by Casino Control to make sure they are not slot machines.
Tax Structure
- Ohio will receive 10% from Net Revenue of these operations
- Revenue is directed toward public and private education
- 2% is directed toward gambling addiction and problem gaming
The first hearing on the legislation will take place on May 12, 2021. As in the prior General Assembly, the House is also considering their own version of sports gaming legislation. Benesch has formed a working group that is in the process of conducting an in-depth analysis of the legislation and the opportunities it presents. Meanwhile, clients are encouraged to read the bill and contact a member of Benesch’s Government Relations Practice Group if you have any questions regarding SB 176.
Rob Zimmerman at rzimmerman@beneschlaw.com or 216.363.4437.
Rachel Winder at rwinder@beneschlaw.com or 614.223.9316.
Holly Gross at hgross@beneschlaw.com or 614.223.9392.
Kristopher Chandler at kchandler@beneschlaw.com or 216.363.4437.
Latest News
Judicial Green Light: Court Upholds NLRB’s Cemex Decision
On April 21st, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the National Labor Relations Board’s (“NLRB”) decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC., reinforcing a significant shift in federal labor law governing union recognition and employer conduct during organizing campaigns.
The LEAD Model—Kidney Care’s Value-Based Care Journey LEADs Here
The new LEAD Model, launching in 2027, is CMS’s next-generation value-based care framework for kidney care, integrating CKD and ESRD patients into standard ACOs with a 10-year benchmark period, new payment options and greater flexibility for nephrology-led organizations.
DOL Proposes Universal Guidance Meant to Simplify Joint Employer Analysis
On April 22, 2026, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division proposed a new rule to clarify joint employer status and the related analysis under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Protection Act (“MSAPA”).
Only the Strong Survive: Easy Pitfalls to Avoid as a Defamation Plaintiff
Filing a defamation lawsuit is one thing. Surviving the inevitable motion to dismiss is another. A recent case out of the Eastern District of North Carolina, McKnight v. FOXY/WFXC/K 107.1/104.3 Radio Station, et al., Civil Action No. 5:26-cv-102, provides a useful case study in the kinds of missteps that can doom a defamation complaint before it ever reaches discovery.