State legislators beginning review of the Ohio Casino Control Commission’s budget proposal focused Tuesday morning on a potential spike in problem gambling from sports betting rather than a possible increase in the sportsbooks’ tax rate.

Legislation recently introduced on behalf of Gov. Mike DeWine representing his budget plans for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years included his proposal to double the tax rate on sportsbook revenue from 10% to 20%. It was an unexpected idea, coming less than two months after the state launched sports wagering on Jan. 1.

OCCC Executive Director Matt Schuler volunteered no comment about the tax rate, however, when testifying on the commission’s budget for the House Finance Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education, and the committee members offered no comment or questions about it.