The governor spoke to local media this week about the legislative push for online gambling expansion in the state.
“I’m not for it,” he said frankly, as first reported by Cleveland.com. “Basically, to put a casino in everybody’s hands, 24/7, I think is probably not a great idea. And I think it will cause more pain and suffering in regards to addiction as far as gambling addiction.”
Ohio currently has two online casino bills in play, one in the Senate and another in the House of Representatives, although neither SB 197 nor HB 198 has made any progress beyond being introduced and discussed in committee. DeWine has used that language about putting “a casino in everybody’s hands” before, and it surfaced again in almost identical form at a hearing for Rep. Brian Stewart’s HB 298 on June 3.
As it does in most states considering online casin..