US – Ohio sports betting bill now includes kiosk betting in bars and restaurants

The Ohio Senate has approved new laws to allow sports betting in Ohio, with 53 licenses up. It includes new licenses for bars that will be able to operate two betting kiosks per location.

While 25 of these licenses would be available to Ohio’s casinos and racinos, another 33 would be available for brick-and-mortar locations such as sports bars, betting shops, or restaurants.

However, counties with populations under 100,000 cannot accommodate brick-and-mortar operations. But, counties with populations between 100,000 and 500,000 can only have one Type B; counties with populations between 500,000 and a million can have two; and counties with populations over a million can have three.

Late amendments to the bill Changes to the bill include the addition of Type C for businesses with a liquor license to sell alcohol and will permit offering kiosk betting.

“We want to spread the economic value that we believe comes with the B license,” Senator Kirk Schuring stated. Right now, casinos and racinos have exclusive rights. But a whole new market is opening up, and we want to ensure that market is open to all.”