COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sweepstakes terminal devices in Ohio would be licensed and regulated under legislation introduced Wednesday by state Sen. Joe Schiavoni.
Unlike gambling activities and skill-based amusement machines, which are regulated under Ohio law, sweepstakes operations at Internet cafes are not regulated. State Reps. Rep. Nan Baker, R-16 Westlake, and Marlene Anielski, R-17 Walton Hills, introduced similar legislation in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Schiavoni, D-33 Canfield, worked on the bill with state Attorney General Mike DeWine and the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
“I decided to take on this effort here in the Senate, and with the support of the Attorney General’s office I think we have put together a very balanced and comprehensive piece of legislation,” Schiavoni said. “With the introduction of casinos, racinos and internet cafes to our state, it is important to make sure that every form of gaming is regulated in order to provide our citizens with an understanding of the odds of the games they choose to play.”
Under Schiavoni’s legislation, the Ohio Casino Control Commission would have the authority to license, regulate, investigate and penalize vendors and operators found to be operating illegally. The legislation is intended to protect Ohio consumers from potential fraud by licensing and regulating these operators. The bill also gives local governments the authority to allow, or opt into having, sweepstakes operations within their jurisdictions; as well as the ability to levy and collect fees on these establishments.
The legislation does not place restrictions on cash prices or cap the number of licenses available to potential operators.
“Regulating internet cafés is a sensible thing to do,” DeWine said “By imposing common-sense regulations we can ensure that consumers are not taken advantage of and that the law is consistent statewide.”
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.