Are online casinos an innocuous pastime or a lurking threat inside the pocket of every, otherwise decent and caring citizen? That’s the debate that’s currently taking place in Ohio where lawmakers are considering offering Buckeye State residents the opportunity to play online slot machines anytime they like via HB 298.
Under the terms of the bill, which is in the House Finance Committee, the State of Ohio would grant 11 gaming licenses. These licenses would go to the 11 casinos currently operating in the state. The current plan is that 99 percent of the tax revenue would go to the state’s general fund, while the remaining one percent would be used to fund responsible gaming initiatives.
Not surprisingly, there is some opposition to the bill. Even less surprising is the reason the opposition states for not wanting online casinos; the potential for a casino inside every citizen’s pocket.
Governor Mike DeWine voiced his opposition to the bill in comments reported on by Cleveland.com saying, “Just so everybody understands, this would be 24-7. Anybody who’s got an iPhone could basically have a casino there. And the potential for addiction is just massive.
“This is not just an incremental increase in gaming. This literally puts it in anybody’s hands — a 19-year-old, an 18-year-old, a 16-year-old. It puts in their hands the ability to game constantly, all day, any day, 2 a.m. It’s right there,” he added.
HB 298 is still a long way from becoming law, but its chances of passing or not getting vetoed if it does, are still very high.