Latest news with #Bill197
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers introduce separate bills to regulate online gambling
Stock photo from Getty Images. Ohio Republican lawmakers in the state House and the Senate have introduced separate bills that would legalize online gambling. Ohio state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, introduced Ohio Senate Bill 197 last week and Ohio state Reps. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, and Marilyn John, R-Richland County, introduced Ohio House Bill 298 this week. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX There is overlap with the bills. Both pieces of legislation would regulate online gambling through the Ohio Casino Control Commission and internet gambling would start by March 31. Nearly all of the tax proceeds from internet gambling would go to the state's general revenue fund and 1% would go to the Problem Gambling Fund. Both bills only allow an Ohio casino or racino to be licensed as an internet gambling operator. Someone would have to be at least 21 and physically in Ohio to participate in internet gambling. The lawmakers behind these bills say Ohioans are already participating illegally in online gambling. 'It is important to highlight that online gambling is already occurring in the state of Ohio,' Manning said during his sponsor testimony last week in the Senate Select Committee on Gaming. 'It is difficult to quantify an exact number, but it is clear there is significant illegal online gambling going on in the state, as there was illegal sports betting before it was legalized.' Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia all have legalized online gambling. The 700-page bill would authorize three types of online gambling — internet gambling, iLottery, and online betting on horse racing. The bill levies a 36% tax on an operator's internet gambling receipts. There would be a $50 million initial fee and a $5 million renewal fee for Ohio casinos and racinos. Manning predicts this could generate at least $500 million per year for Ohio. S.B. 197 would move all Ohio gambling regulations under the Ohio Casino Control Commission. This would nix the State Racing Commission and the Casino Control Commission would take over their responsibilities. Ohio Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, questioned the horse racing aspect of the bill. 'I don't think the Casino Control Commissioner knows anything about how to regulate horse racing,' he said. In response, Ryan Soultz, vice president of governmental affairs for Boyd Gaming Corporation, said other states have found a way to have one regulatory body that oversees both. Trevor Hayes, vice president of government relations for Caesars Digital, supports the bill. 'Our experience shows that regulated iGaming provides a significant new source of state tax revenue, provides consumers with a strictly regulated and fair gaming option, and protects vulnerable populations,' he said this week to the Senate Select Committee on Gaming. When compared to the senate bill, H.B. 298 is smaller in scope. It would not allow online Ohio Lottery games nor would it legalize online betting on horse racing. 'This bill would authorize Ohio to take the next logical step in generating state revenue by authorizing internet gambling in the state of Ohio,' Stewart said this week to the House Finance Committee. 'It's reasonable to take the next logical step, technological step, and allow Ohioans to play these games online, as well as in person.' The bill would impose a 28% tax on internet gambling receipts, which is the same as Michigan. Stewart and John estimate this could general between $400-$800 million a year in revenue. 'There's a lot of things that we want to do in the state of Ohio that require increased revenues,' John said. 'This is one way that we can go about expanding the consumer base of players who prefer an online setting.' Democratic lawmakers raised concerns in committee that this could lead to more people under 21 participating illegally in online gambling. 'If we can bring regulations to this market, then it is my feeling that we will be able to help, hopefully, curb the underage participation,' John said. There are more than 250,000 problem gamblers in Ohio and 1 in 5 problem gamblers attempt suicide, said Ohio state Rep. Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati. This data is from the 2022 Ohio Gambling Survey. 'Where is the line?' Isaacsohn asked. 'At what point do we say this isn't worth it anymore, that it's not worth the additional revenue that could fund a tax cut or a stadium or whatever else it goes towards.' John said regulating online gaming could help put measures in place to help people 'before they get to the point of making a decision that they can't return from.' Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State senator pledges to fight against criminalizing homelessness in bill
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana's Senate Bill 197 as it stands Wednesday afternoon makes "street camping" illegal and a jailable offense, said state Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette. "It's coming out," Alting said Wednesday afternoon about the House's amendment to make sleeping on public land or on sidewalks a Class C misdemeanor. "(The bill's author) agrees with me that is not the correct way to handle homelessness. "We're a society of compassion." As the bill currently reads, sleeping or camping on publicly owned property becomes a Class C misdemeanor. An officer can warn those found sleeping or camping on publicly owned land. If the person is living on a sidewalk or a public right of way, they have 24 hours to move, based on the current version of the bill. If they are camped on publicly owned lands that are not on a right of way, the person must move within 72 hours of being warned. Failure to move is a Class C misdemeanor, and a conviction can carry a possible sentence up to 60 days in jail and a fine up to $500, according to Indiana law. Officers who sense there is a mental health issue can take the person to be evaluated. They also can give the homeless a ride to facility that will help the person such as a crisis intervention center, according to the version of the bill as of Wednesday afternoon. Originally, the bill addressed problems surrounding unsafe buildings and the property owners' responsibilities. But after the House amendment, it criminalizes homelessness, Alting said. "For whatever reason, these folks are homeless," Tippecanoe County Sheriff Bob Goldsmith said Wednesday morning. "Now they want to criminalize homelessness. "I foresee this being a problem when we're filling our jails with homeless people," Goldsmith said. "That's not good use of our resources." Alting said the Senate likely will vote in the coming days to remove the "street camping" portion of the bill. When that happens, the bill will go to reconciliation, where members of both chambers of the General Assembly will hammer out their differences so that the bill can be approved and sent to the governor's desk for his signature or his veto. Alting is on the reconciliation committee for the Senate. He said he's hearing that the House members on the reconciliation committee might push for wording that makes it illegal to sleep on the street or sidewalk, while not pushing the issue of homelessness camps on publicly owned lands. Alting said we're a free society, and homelessness should not be criminalized. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@ Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Sen. Alting pledges to fight against criminalizing homelessness in bill
