What Ohio Can Learn from Pennsylvania About Online Casino Laws
As the online gambling landscape in the United States continues to evolve, states can gain insights from their neighbors about how to regulate it. Ohio wants to expand into online gambling, but it is currently lagging Pennsylvania, which legalized it in 2017. In Pennsylvania, brick-and-mortar casinos were allowed to apply for online gambling licenses. This helped to create a regulated and trusted online gambling market. Ohio can learn a lot from Pennsylvania’s example if it wants to create safe and regulated online gambling.
Offering a safe and secure gambling environment
In Pennsylvania, players can play online games for real money on licensed platforms. This includes slot games, table games, and poker. When playing with real money in Pennsylvania, players know games are fair and that operators must protect their private and financial information. If they don’t offer protection for players, they put their licenses at risk. In the Keystone State, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) regulates gaming. It has clear definitions of what is legal and what isn’t legal.
Ohio has been flirting with legalizing online gambling for a while, but it needs to be able to craft effective legislation that benefits citizens and the state.
A bill for legalizing online gambling in Ohio
Ohio law currently permits sports gaming through online sportsbooks and brick-and-mortar establishments. Ohio Senator, Niraj Antani, who was involved in legalizing sports gambling, has introduced a bill with the hopes of legalizing internet gaming.
While online gambling legalization in Ohio has support, it also has detractors. There are worries that it will cut down on brick-and-mortar casino revenue. Antani says that people use illegal ways to bet online now and they should have a legal and secure environment in which to do it. The bill is likely to get its first hearing in November.
Responsible gambling
One of the factors that stand in the way of legalizing online gaming is that it can result in addiction. Pennsylvania has many safeguards in place to protect citizens from the dangers of online gambling. Strict age verification and self-exclusion programs are just some of these measures. Ohio could establish similar measures to help ensure responsible gambling.
Technology for consumer protection
In Pennsylvania, online casinos use certified random number generators (RNGs) in their slots and table games. Ohio needs to think about having strict technology standards. Regular audits and security checks at online casinos in Pennsylvania create more consumer trust and help improve customer relationships. When operators must meet high-tech standards, it is not only good for players but also the online gaming industry.
Learning from economic growth in Pennsylvania
The tax revenue that Pennsylvania receives helps to fund public projects, education, etc. Ohio could adopt a similar tax structure and allocate tax revenue to local development, infrastructure, etc. Taxing slots higher than table games as Pennsylvania does is a balanced option as slots generate more money than table games.
Adapting to the local market
While Ohio can learn from Pennsylvania, it must also consider the local environment. It needs to look at demographics and economics. Ohio’s land-based casinos and racinos already help to boost tourism in Ohio and generate revenue. It seems that the logical next step would be to offer legal online gambling.
By linking online licenses to existing land-based casinos, Pennsylvania helped to ensure that the two markets weren’t in direct competition. If Ohio did the same, its online casinos could complement rather than compete with land-based casinos. Ohio will need to put in place a framework that can accommodate new technology and changing consumer trends.
