Ohio Online Casino Gambling Push Opposed by Faith Leaders
Posted on: June 4, 2025, 02:33h.
Last updated on: June 23, 2025, 08:06h.
- Faith leaders in Ohio are uniting to oppose iGaming
- Online gaming bills are being considered in the Ohio capital
- Online gambling, aside from sports betting, is illegal in Ohio
As online casino gambling is being considered in the Ohio state capital, religious leaders are uniting in opposition.
Two pieces of legislation — House Bill 298 and Senate Bill 197 — seek to allow the state’s casinos and racinos to operate online slot machines and table games. Proponents say many Ohioans are already gambling on their computers and mobile devices through offshore iGaming sites and/or controversial gaming platforms that bill themselves as sweepstakes operations.
Along with providing a regulated, safe online gambling environment, state lawmakers behind the bills say Ohio could receive hundreds of millions of dollars a year in new tax revenue. That tax benefit, however, might come at a significant societal cost, many faith leaders argue.
Religious Opposition
The Center for Christian Virtue, which advocates for “public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel,” is calling on all pastors and ministry leaders to sign a letter opposing HB298/SN197. The letter, addressed to Gov. Mike DeWine (R) and the Ohio General Assembly, encourages the governor and lawmakers to reject efforts to expand gambling to the internet.
“Expanding access to 24/7 online gambling — especially through smartphones and computers — turns every living room into a casino and every struggling Ohioan into a potential target for financial exploitation. This is especially dangerous with the mental health crisis our state is facing because, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, gambling addiction results in the greatest rates of suicide compared to other forms of addiction,” the letter reads.
From our pulpits and in our counseling rooms, we have seen the real cost of gambling addiction: broken marriages, lost homes, mental health crises, and children left behind. It is morally indefensible for the state to rely on the losses of its own people, particularly the poor and the young, to fund government operations,” the letter continued.
More than 120 pastors, reverends, and priests have lent their names to the letter. The appeal concludes with a reading from Proverbs 31:9-9 that says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
The religious congregation opined that gambling as a means of generating tax revenue is “harmful,” “deeply unjust,” and “preys” on the state’s most vulnerable people.
“The data is undeniable — expanded predatory gaming in the state is an exponential wealth transfer, exploiting low-income Ohioans to play addictive games stacked against them and sending the money to wealthy out-of-state gambling corporations,” the letter concluded.
Some Casinos Oppose iGaming
Ohio-based Jack Entertainment and Churchill Downs, which operate three gaming locations in Ohio — Jack Cleveland Casino, Jack Thistledown Racino in North Randall, and Miami Valley Gaming in Turtlecreek — oppose iGaming.
Company officials have testified before state lawmakers that online casinos poach play from their brick-and-mortar properties. That leads to not only reduced gaming revenue but also less money spent on food and beverage, which in turn costs jobs.
“Just like online retail has decimated local retail, iGaming will do the same under any logical scenario. iGaming will damage Ohio businesses and cost Ohio jobs leading to diminished capital investment and degradation of Ohio’s existing tax base,” Daniel Reinhart, Jack Entertainment’s senior vice president of government affairs, said last fall.
“Every market has limits on discretionary dollars. Gaming is no different,” Reinhart added.
Penn Entertainment, which runs four casinos/racinos in Ohio, disagrees. Company officials there say iGaming has only complemented its brick-and-mortar business in the states where it runs both physical and interactive casinos.
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