Unable to reach an agreement, the Ohio House and Senate each released their own version of legislation designed to regulate Ohio’s casinos. Lawmakers will now have until June 3 to pass a single law. The House and Senate agreed on most issues.

Highlights:
Same in both versions:

Anyone under the age of 21 is prohibited from entering the casino, unless they are 18 and employed in a non-gambling function;

A $2 million application fee to anyone seeking a casino license. This will cover the costs of conducting background checks and other expenses associated with processing the application;

Alcohol consumption will be restricted to the hours of 5:30 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. Casinos will not be allowed to provide free drinks to customers;

Requires a cashless gaming system. Gamblers may put cash in a slot machine, but it credits them with the appropriate value in chips and bets are wagered in chips;

Convicted felons are barred from most casino jobs for at least ten years after their conviction. Any hiring of felons would be subject to commission approval;

Casino licenses subject to renewal every three years;

Establishes a seven-member commission. Each member would serve staggered four-year terms and would be limited to three total terms;

Ohio Casino Control Commission would be allowed to hire an executive director;

Gaming agents who are specially trained peace officers would police casinos and conduct investigations;

Casino inspectors would be granted unlimited access upon demand to casino facilities and the right to seize equipment for examination.

Differences between the two versions:
House version calls for a $5,000 liquor license for casinos, Senate version is for $25,000. The Senate version also permits restaurants and bars within the casino complex to serve alcohol with licenses costing $2,344;

House version spells out how some of tax windfall from one-time casino licensing fees would be spent on workforce development programs. Senate version defers spending decisions to future legislation;

In what appeared to be one of the major sticking points between the two, House bill requires casino developers to submit plans ensuring hiring of minority contractors and employees. Senate version has no such provision.

Representative Lou Blessing has stated he will seek to amend the legislation to allow video slots at nearby horse racing tracks. Each track would pay a 50% tax to the state until the casinos open. Once casinos open, the rate would drop to 33%. Casinos will pay a 33% tax rate.