Sports betting comes to Ohio in the new year: unpacking the potential impacts
The state of Ohio could receive billions from the sportsbooks set to launch in January.
TOLEDO, Ohio — It was on December 8th of 2021 that the Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 29, which legalized and regulated sports betting under the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The bill took effect on March 23rd of this year, and allows betting through licensed operators of online sportsbooks and brick-and-mortar establishments.
And since then, the ads from these operators have been everywhere. From DraftKings to BetMGM to FanDuel and everyone in between, sports betting will provide quite the economic boost.
According to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, license fee revenue is “likely” to reach or even exceed $10 billion for the state. The commission goes on to say that “after several years of operation”, the 10% tax on mobile wagers is expected to generate $3.35 billion.
So what could be the potential harm of sports betting? I spoke with an expert from the Zepf Center. He says the majority of people who gamble do so responsibly, but the number of those who don’t is steadily increasing, due to an increase in ways to gamble.
“I’ve had so many people in my office and they say, you know, ‘How did this problem develop?’ And the answer is almost universally the same: slowly,” explained Steven Kapela MSW, LISW-S, LICDC-CS-GAMB, ICGC II, BACC, director of gambling, prevention, and recovery support services for the Zepf Center.
Kapela adds that the technological advancements of the last few decades have only made it easier to partake in gambling.
“This is the first generation of children with computers, given to them by their parents, linked to credit cards,” he noted.
He says his main advice to people who intend to begin sports betting in the new year is to, one, try not to recoup your losses, and two, set limits on how much money you’re allocating towards gambling.
Kapela adds that the Zepf Center isn’t opposed to gambling, but is pro-responsible gambling. He says the center’s work is funded by grants, making their services free to the public.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction, you can get in contact with Steve at zepfcenter.org or by phone at 419-841-7701.