Newly Proposed Ohio Bill Would Cut Sports Betting Tax Rate in Half

Michael Savio
By: Michael Savio
11/15/2024
Sports Betting
Photo by Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0

Key Takeaways

  • The bill would cut the current 20% tax rate in half
  • Some lawmakers believe the current rate is stunting the market’s growth
  • A bill to legalize online casinos was also proposed

The Buckeye State may become the first US market to reduce its tax rate on sports betting operators. 

Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani has introduced sports betting bill SB190 to the Senate Finance Committee. The bill’s primary goal is to cut the state’s tax rate on sportsbooks in half, returning it to 10%, which was at launch. This comes one year after Governor Mike DeWine raised the rate to 20% in the 2024/25 state budget.

Bill Echoes Sentiments from Last Year’s Debate

The idea of cutting the tax rate is unheard of in most markets, but it has been discussed in Ohio for over a year. DeWine’s plan to raise it to 20% drew strong opposition from legislators, who believed the rate was far too high. The change occurred six months after sports betting went live in the Buckeye State.

Several legislatures have said the change was premature and harmed the market’s growth.

“This hampered the growth that was occurring and made other companies think twice about coming to Ohio to invest,” A group of Republicans wrote in response to the increased rate. “As future General Assemblies look at making changes to the sports gaming platform or implement new forms of gaming, they must keep those who are going to be making the investments in mind.”

Proponents Will Need to Justify Cut to Public

While the intentions behind SB190 are clear, it is still taking money out of the state’s pockets and returning it to sports betting operators. The idea is that a cut to the tax rate will lead to more money coming in over the long term, but that may be hard to explain to voters.

If opponents can portray this proposal as helping the “greedy out-of-state operators” to the public, it will be very difficult for legislatures to support the bill. 

Antani Also Pushes for Online Casinos

Sen. Antani has also introduced a bill that would legalize the online casino industry in Ohio. The state is one of many beginning to expand its online gambling market, but it will face an uphill battle.

The Senator has publicly discussed the bill’s slim chances of passage but believes it will kickstart a larger conversation. That makes online casinos unlikely to become a reality in 2025 but could make 2026 a genuine possibility. 

Michael Savio covers the US online casino industry, giving readers insights and information they won’t find anywhere else. He has followed the retail industry since his time living in Las Vegas and has continued to do so as the online industry has taken off. Michael covers everything from online casino reviews to industry news, making him one of the most trusted insiders in the business. Check out Michael’s latest articles at casinos.com to see what he has to offer!