Ohio’s hopes for legal online casinos and digital lottery games have dimmed for the current legislative session, with top lawmakers citing saturation in the state’s gambling market.
House Speaker Matt Huffman said this week that no iGaming or iLottery measures are expected to advance after being removed from the state’s budget earlier this year, according to the Statehouse News Bureau.
Huffman pointed to recent gambling expansions, including legalized sports betting and new retail casinos, as signs the state has reached its limit. Gov. Mike DeWine reinforced that stance, calling 24/7 online gambling “a bad idea” that could worsen addiction issues.
DeWine signed a bill legalizing sports betting in 2023, which has triggered a rise in calls to the state’s gambling helpline.
