Ohio iGaming Plan Would Send Online Bonuses to In-Person Casinos

Key Highlights

Ohio lawmakers are taking another run at online casino legislation, but the latest proposal looks notably different from the standard iGaming model.

Ohio’s iGaming Debate Has a New Retail Casino Twist

Ohio lawmakers are making another push to legalize online casinos, but the latest proposal would steer promotional incentives toward physical casinos and racinos rather than allowing operators to flood the market with online credits. Under the framework, operators wouldn’t be able to offer promotional credits for online casino play, but could provide rewards tied to land-based properties. The goal is to make physical casinos direct beneficiaries of online gambling rather than forcing them to compete against it.

State Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Asheville) first introduced House Bill 298 more than a year ago and is now trying to revive it despite earlier opposition from Gov. Mike DeWine, a longtime critic of expanded gambling access. Rep. Stewart outlined the concept during an iDevelopment and Economic Association panel on Sept, giving the renewed legalization regarding Ohio online casinos effort a distinctly retail-focused structure.

Existing Casinos Could Control Market Access

The proposal would also limit online casino licenses to Ohio’s current gaming properties instead of opening the market to new entrants. The state has 11 casinos and racinos, and those venues could be the only businesses eligible to offer iGaming under the model being discussed. Supporters argue those operators have already invested in Ohio and support thousands of jobs.

That restriction could also help lawmakers avoid a fight between retail and online gaming interests. Stewart indicated that an iGaming bill could quickly lose momentum if existing operators feel threatened by expanded competition. Building the market around current license holders may be an attempt to reduce that resistance before legislation advances.

According to Rep. Stewart, regulated activity from online casino games could generate up to $400 million per year for Ohio. The timing of HB 298’s revival is also noteworthy as Gov. DeWine is set to leave office in January. Leading Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy hasn’t declared a public position on legal online casino gaming, while Democrat gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton is in support of legalization with certain safeguards.

Sports Betting’s Launch Is Shaping the Proposal

Ohio’s sports betting rollout appears to be influencing how lawmakers are approaching online casinos. National operators of sports betting sites spent heavily on digital promotions after launch, creating a customer-acquisition battle that lawmakers may not want repeated with iGaming. Blocking online promotional credits would sharply limit that strategy from the outset.

Revenue is also part of the renewed push, with estimates suggesting legal iGaming could generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the state. Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia already allow regulated online casinos, while Ohio continues to weigh the financial upside against concerns about gambling expansion and retail displacement. The latest proposal tries to address both by tying online growth directly to physical casino traffic.