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The early history of Ohio, as one of the Mississippi River States’ was of crack-downs and prohibitions. As in many States, the first relaxation after the prohibition era in the first part of the 20th century was for horse-racing in 1933. Remote betting and then later, electronic lottery games would eventually be permitted at the racetracks – a thriving form of gambling today.
Charitable gambling for veterans, volunteer firefighters and education groups came more than 50 years later in 1975.
A longer wait ensued for casinos. In 2009, an amendment led to the licensing of 4 huge casinos (one for each of the biggest cities complete with poker, table games and massive slots halls).
The Buckeye State’s State House has even approved an online gaming and sports betting legalization bill in June 2020. That bill must now go to further up the legalization chain for final approval before Ohio can enjoy fully blown sports wagering.