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Ohio lawmakers are preparing to revisit House Bill 298, a proposal that would limit online casino licenses to the state’s 11 casinos and racinos and require online promotional credits to be redeemable only at brick-and-mortar casino properties.
Rep. Brian Stewart is seeking to revive the measure in the new legislative session. According to the source report, the goal is to protect in-person casino traffic and jobs if Ohio moves forward with regulated online casino gaming.
No West Virginia-specific regulatory change was reported. But the proposal is notable regionally because the source places Ohio alongside neighboring states including West Virginia, where online casino gaming is already legal.
HB 298 would narrow who can participate in Ohio iGaming
The bill would reserve iGaming access for Ohio’s existing casino and racino sector rather than opening licenses more broadly. It would also attach a retail requirement to promotions by making online promotional credits redeemable exclusively at physical casinos.
The source says Stewart has framed that structure as a way to reduce the risk that online casino play pulls customers away from retail properties. Ohio’s casino industry employs roughly 20,000 people, according to the report.
The same report says regulated online casino gaming in Ohio could generate up to $400 million annually, though key details remain unsettled. Open questions include whether HB 298 will be formally reintroduced in its current form, whether it will be amended, and what tax and licensing terms would apply.
Why West Virginia readers may want to watch this debate
For West Virginia readers, this is mainly a neighboring-state policy story rather than a local market change. The source notes that Ohio borders Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, all part of a regional landscape in which some nearby states already allow iGaming.
If Ohio eventually joins that group, it could further reshape the competitive map around West Virginia. For now, though, the source does not report any direct change for West Virginia players, operators or regulators.
What to watch next
The bill’s prospects may depend in part on Ohio’s next legislative session and the state’s broader political transition. The source notes that Gov. Mike DeWine opposes further gambling expansion and is due to leave office in January, while Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton has indicated support for iGaming with safeguards. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy had not taken a firm position, according to the report.
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Source: As reported by sccgmanagement.com.
