Ohio sportsbooks took in more than $7.7 billion worth of bets during the state’s first year of legal sports gambling, earning Ohio about $134 million in taxes. And 97% of those bets were on apps. The money is huge. But it could be even bigger with iGaming if legislators legalize table games like blackjack and poker on Ohioans phones. In 2023, the five states with live iGaming programs generated $1.2 billion in tax revenue, which dwarfs the $301 million they made via sports betting, proponents told a panel of state lawmakers. Ohio’s take could be between $205 million and $410 million. Legislators want to look at a larger picture. Future hearings will analyze lottery, horse racing, and charitable gaming in Ohio. Obviously, betting is big business in the Buckeye state. — Laura |
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Seven states – Nevada (poker only), Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Connecticut and Rhode Island – have legalized iGaming, which typically includes slots, table games and poker. (John Locher, Associated Press file photo) |
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Digital gaming : When lawmakers passed the state’s two-year budget last summer, they included language creating a study committee to examine current lottery, casino and sports-betting gambling in Ohio and determine what “the future” of the industry could look like, reports Jake Zuckerman. Marijuana dispensaries: Ohio’s top cannabis regulator anticipates there could be up to 250 to 300 marijuana dispensaries selling product for adult use by September 2026. Laura Hancock reports the estimate is based on language 57% of voters approved in November when Ohioans legalized recreational marijuana for those 21 and older. Today in Ohio : Republicans and Democrats in the Ohio House have introduced legislation to outlaw the sharing of malicious “deepfakes” – artificial media like videos or audio that can impersonate real people in unflattering or compromising depictions via increasingly sophisticated technology. We’re talking about how to protect Ohioans’ identities while also protecting free speech on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Task force: A state task force wants to change police training across Ohio, a move that seeks to place more focus on courses that emphasize how officers deal with residents in crisis situations. Molly Walsh reports that the panel, appointed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, made recommendations Wednesday for a new curriculum that would boost the skills and talents of Ohio’s 30,000 law-enforcement officers. March election : Early voting has begun for Ohio’s primary election on March 19. Andrew Tobias answers questions to help you prepare to vote. Facial recognition : State crime investigators’ use of facial-recognition software, once put on hold because of civil-liberties concerns, could now continue through at least 2025 with the help of a company that has faced multiple lawsuits over claims it stockpiles massive amounts of photos without permission. Jeremy Pelzer reports that a contract with New York-based Clearview AI allows up to 25 Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation officials to conduct facial-recognition searches using the company’s database. State of the Union : A Warren woman who faced felony charges after a miscarriage in her home will be U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty’s guest next month at President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech. Sabrina Eaton reports a Trumbull County grand jury in January decided against indicting 34-year-old Brittany Watts for abuse of a corpse in a case that gained international attention after the county’s prosecutor said he was “duty bound” to seek charges under Ohio law after Watts miscarried and flushed the remains down the toilet. |
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Police staffing : With 2024 police budget talks in full swing on Wednesday, one question posed by City Council to Mayor Justin Bibb’s team was how many officers Cleveland would need to reach the “optimum” level of staffing. Courtney Astolfi reports chief Finance Officer Ahmed Abonamah didn’t answer the question outright. Carnivorous plants: Want to grow a Venus fly-trap or another carnivorous plant in Northeast Ohio? Susan Brownstein reports that you can. But don’t ever fertilize, feed them or water them with tap water. Mentor vs. Painesville: Mentor City Council voted Tuesday night to continue its efforts to conserve 215 acres it owns in Painesville, over the objection of Painesville leaders who would prefer the land instead remain an option for future economic development, reports Megan Sims. Leap Year: Your year is about to get one day longer. Thursday, Feb. 29, is leap day, the day inserted into the calendar every four years to keep our calendar operating smoothly. Julie Washington relays Leap Year facts. Black History: Tracy Jones credits the support of her large, extended family with helping her work as executive director of the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland. Julie Washington profiles Jones, 58, as part of The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com’s celebration of Black History Month. Slovenian garden : Cleveland’s Slovenian Cultural Garden was dedicated as the Jugoslav Garden, or Yugoslav Cultural Garden, in 1932. At the time, the garden was intended to represent Cleveland’s Croatians, Serbians and Slovenians. But when Slovenia was recognized as an independent country in 1991 and Yugoslavia was dissolved in 1992, the garden underwent a similar split, reports Zachary Smith. |
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Astrocytes: Degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis might be caused by good cells gone bad. That’s the takeaway from a study led by scientists at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, published Tuesday in the journal Nature Neuroscience. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports the study found that astrocytes, a class of cells which normally support healthy brain function, can switch from helpers to a harmful state that increases nerve-cell loss in neurodegenerative diseases. Hotel renovation : Renovations are almost complete as the former Renaissance Hotel, which overlooks Public Square, becomes Hotel Cleveland. Megan Sims reports the renovation has totaled more than $80 million and counting, and the rebranding to Hotel Cleveland should be completed by late April. Ohio Savings: The Ohio Savings brand name has been around Cleveland in some form since 1889, except for a brief hiatus in the late 2000s. But the name is now gone for the second time amid a national rebrand. Sean McDonnell reports Ohio Savings Bank branches across Greater Cleveland have been branded as Flagstar Bank, which comes with changes to the bank’s mobile app and websites. Auto Show: The Cleveland Auto Show - the annual one-stop shopping extravaganza for car buyers, sellers and enthusiasts - begins its 10-day run on Friday. Marc Bona reports that sellers have a targeted audience at the show, which traditionally marks the start of the spring automotive selling season in northern Ohio. |
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Early release : Jason Jarvis was arrested at age 19 received a 96-year federal prison sentence for a string of 1993 bank robberies. On Wednesday, the day after his 50th birthday, Jarvis walked out of the federal prison in Lisbon, near Youngstown, after serving 30 years, the result of federal sentencing changes that went into effect in November, Adam Ferrise reports . Ex-officer sentenced: A married former Cleveland police officer who admitted to beating and choking his girlfriend was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday. Cory Shaffer reports Cuyahoga County Judge Jeffrey Saffold called Kevin Stanard’s actions on May 5, 2023, “reprehensible” before sending the former 27-year veteran patrolman to prison. Ex-CFO sentenced : The former chief financial officer of a company that owned a Claddagh Irish Pub chain in the United States was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in prison. Ciaran Dillon, 57, of Solon, pocketed no money from the scheme, but he hid for years that he didn’t pay $1.1 million in payroll taxes in eight states, including Ohio, Adam Ferrise reports. 7-Eleven shooting: Shaker Heights police say the man accused of shooting a 7-Eleven employee Tuesday morning has surrendered to authorities, reports Molly Walsh . William McClendon, 31, is charged with attempted murder in the incident that took place in the 20400 block of Chagrin Boulevard about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Child shot : A 65-year-old man accused of shooting his 10-year-old grandson was arraigned Wednesday in Cleveland Municipal Court. Authorities say George Zatik Jr. of Cleveland wounded the youth in the stomach on Monday. He was charged with felonious assault, Olivia Mitchell reports. Murder conviction: The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the murder conviction of a 15-year-old Cleveland boy who confessed to shooting his friend in a vacant apartment building in 2019. Cory Shaffer reports the boy made the confession after Cleveland police detectives questioned him about the shooting of 14-year-old Shon Glass for more than an hour without telling him he had the right to remain silent. Once they informed him of that right, the boy repeated the confession. |
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Ask Lucas: How can you get out of some friends’ trip to Antarctica? Lucas Daprile writes that it must be all about the penguins, which we will force to do cute TikTok dances to attract tourists. Browns exhibit : The Pro Football Hall of Fame will honor the history of the Browns through “A Legacy Unleashed,” an exhibit scheduled to open in March. Marc Bona reports the exhibit will cover the 60th and 70th anniversaries of Browns championships in 1964 and 1954, but also go beyond the titles into the eras of “The Kardiac Kids” of the 1980s, the “Dawg Pound” years and the franchise’s rebirth in 1999. Superman: The Man of Steel is coming home. Joey Morona reports director James Gunn will shoot scenes for his upcoming film “Superman: Legacy” in Cleveland and Cincinnati, starting this summer. Best burgers : Who makes the best of the best burgers in Northeast Ohio? It’s hard to believe, but it’s been almost six years since our readers nominated and voted that the Best Burger in Cleveland winner could be found at Gunselman’s Tavern. With so many great restaurants and bars across the region, cleveland.com’s Best Of team felt it was time to revisit this popular meal in a bun. Boba tea: Boba tea is usually colorful, speckled with tapioca polka-dot pearls and topped with a colorful wide straw for sipping. Alex Darus lists 25 spots to buy boba, also known as bubble tea, which originated in Taiwan. Drake show: Drake will bring his charisma and Champaign Papi persona to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Saturday and Sunday, with North Carolina emcee J. Cole as his co-headlining opener, reports Malcolm X Abram. |
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Parma appoints first female SWAT team member Read more Summit County real estate taxes for first half of 2023 due soon Read more Solon council clears path for 2024 roadway repair program Read more University Heights finally hires an engineer; University Square deal ‘almost there’ Read more Akron Mayor Shammas Malik shares 100 Day Plan; new accountability tracker lets residents monitor progress Read more University Heights to purchase former YABI property for municipal center expansion Read more Residents’ input sought on Merl-Bunts Park renovation in Lakewood Read more Olmsted Township trustees make their mark at state conference Read more Fairview High School art students spruce up crossing guard booths Read more Let the kids play: Fairview Park mayor wants to upgrade Tri-City Park playground Read more Padua Franciscan High School figure skating team wins 12th state title Read more Anchor of Hope helps refugee Ukrainian families in Northeast Ohio Read more |
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