An Ohio gubernatorial hopeful is mulling a potential push for iGaming in the state, with Democratic candidate Amy Acton publicly endorsing the idea of online casinos in the state.
Ohio Gubernatorial Hopeful Says Online Casinos Are On Her Radar
Anton argued that the legalization of iGaming could be a fresh source of revenue for the state, hoping to secure public funding and allow for more funds to work with.
Her main rival, Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, also felt pressured to take a stance on the issue and tentatively suggested that any changes to gambling laws must be made in a responsible way, and protect Ohioans.
But funding public services remains a priority for Anton, who thinks that regulating the sector would help close a loophole with players already engaging in the segment but doing so illegally, without protections and at the cost of potential tax revenue.
Anton also espoused the idea that any expansion of gambling should come with draconian consumer protection laws. Anton also draws on her experience as a healthcare professional, which allows her to be sensitive to the struggle of people affected by gambling negatively:
“That said, I am a doctor and a public health professional, and I want to make sure we have the right regulatory environment around it. I want to make sure we stop the sort of predatory advertising we’re seeing, and I want to make sure our young people are protected.”
Doing the Right Thing – Whatever That Is
Ramaswamy, though, kept ambivalence on the issue, arguing that “whatever we do, it is going to be done in a responsible way that protects Ohioans.” In other words, the candidate is testing the waters to see if an endorsement of online casinos, a divisive topic in its own right, is going to cost him political capital.
But just because a would-be governor would sign a bill regulating online casinos, this does not mean that legislators will be backing the issue, or even bring it to the table once the said candidate potentially takes office.