Ohio Online Casino Bill Would Send Bonuses to Casino Floors

Ohio could finally get legal online casinos, but players would miss out on the welcome bonuses common in other states. State Rep. Brian Stewart is reshaping his Ohio online casino bill so that operators can only offer promotional credits for use at the state’s physical casinos and racinos. He outlined the plan at an iDevelopment and Economic Association panel on Friday. Stewart believes the approach can end a stalemate that has held up iGaming in Ohio since he first filed legislation in 2025.

Stewart, a Republican from Ashville, already sponsors House Bill 298, one of several iGaming proposals that stalled in the statehouse. His new approach puts land-based venues at the center of the market instead of treating them as rivals. If lawmakers accept it, the model would change how online casinos attract and reward players in Ohio.

How the Ohio Online Casino Bill Would Handle Promotions

Under Stewart’s plan, iGaming operators could not hand out bonus credits for online play. Any promotional credit would need to go toward a brick-and-mortar casino or racino in Ohio. A new player might receive free play on a physical slot floor or a hotel perk instead of a deposit match. Companies running both a retail property and an online platform could turn digital sign-ups into real visitors this way.

The 2025 version of HB 298 already contained a similar rule, but Stewart now makes it the core of his online casino bill for Ohio. That earlier draft proposed 11 licenses, one for each of the state’s four casinos and seven racinos. Each license would cost $50 million for five years, with a 28% tax on revenue. It also banned credit card deposits, and the updated text will decide which of those terms stay in place.

Why Ohio’s Online Casino Bill Favors Existing Operators

Stewart wants online licenses limited to the casinos and racinos already operating in the state. He argues these properties have invested heavily in Ohio, employ thousands of workers, and attract visitors through entertainment. In his view, their support decides the fate of any online casino bill in Ohio before a floor vote.

He also knows how quickly gaming legislation can collapse under competing interests. A turf war between national online brands, casinos, and racinos would leave the bill “dead on Day 1,” he said. A closed market with land-based promotions gives the retail sector a reason to back the plan.

That strategy sets Stewart apart from Sen. Nathan Manning, whose Senate Bill 197 would have opened the market to outside operators at a higher tax rate. Neither proposal passed, and disputes over market access and tax rates kept the Ohio online casino debate stuck. Stewart hopes a bill built around existing operators can avoid the same fate.

A $400 Million Pitch to Lawmakers

Stewart puts the potential tax haul from iGaming at up to $400 million a year. Republicans in the statehouse have set a long-term goal of eliminating Ohio’s income tax, and he has tied the online casino bill in Ohio directly to that ambition. That link gives the proposal a budget argument that reaches well beyond gaming policy.

Geography adds pressure as well. Ohio has nearly 12 million residents and borders Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, which all run competitive online casino markets. Each month without a legal market in Ohio means neighboring states keep collecting iGaming tax while Ohio collects none.

Responsible Gambling Concerns Remain

Some groups see more online gambling as a risk for Ohio players. Responsible gambling advocates worry that a legal iGaming market would push overall spending higher and increase harm among vulnerable players. Derek Longmeier of the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio has already warned that the NFL season could drive more harmful betting behavior across the state.

Stewart’s model would strip online bonus credits out of the Ohio online casino bill entirely. That removes one of the main tools operators use to attract and keep players in other iGaming states. Land-based free play would still exist, though, so players would keep receiving incentives in a different form. The credit card ban from the 2025 draft would also limit how players fund their online accounts, if lawmakers keep it in the final text.

What Comes Next for the Bill

The Ohio online casino bill now faces a tight political calendar. Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited and leaves office in January, and he has called signing sports betting into law his biggest regret. Voters pick his successor in November, and the two main candidates have taken different lines on iGaming.

Democratic nominee Amy Acton has said she is open to legal online casinos with strong consumer protections, while Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy has avoided a firm position. A friendly governor would help, but lawmakers still need to pass one bill through both chambers first. Stewart’s land-based model gives them a fresh route to that deal, and the coming months will test how far casinos, racinos, and legislators are willing to follow it.