House Finance Committee hears bill to expand retail video lottery terminals and electronic bingo

Representatives Davila and Manning presented informal sponsor testimony in the Ohio House Finance Committee on legislation that would expand where electronic instant bingo and video lottery terminals may operate and create a new class of retailer VLTs. Representative Davila described the proposal as part of a continuing policy dialogue about how to “structure, modernize and responsibly regulate gaming in the state of Ohio.”

The bill would do three principal things, as sponsors summarized: permit some electronic instant bingo systems to operate at retail host locations under written contracts, create a new retailer video lottery terminal (retailer VLT) class for licensed retail establishments, and set out a revenue- and tax-sharing structure. Representative Manning told the committee that retailer VLTs would be connected to a central communications system, may not dispense cash ("Payouts are issued by a voucher only"), and that the state would receive 50% of net retailer VLT income directed to the Lottery Profits Education Fund.

Under current law, sponsors said, VLTs outside casino-class facilities operate only at seven racetracks ("racinos") and are limited to a maximum of 2,500 devices per racetrack…