The Vig Is Up in Ohio
If you place wagers in Cincinnati, you’ve probably noticed the sportsbooks have been tightening their belts lately. Maybe that $200 bonus offer isn’t quite as generous. Maybe those juicy -110 lines are inching toward -115. That isn’t just your imagination, and it’s not bad luck either. It’s politics. Big politics. And if two major bills working their way through the Ohio Statehouse pass this summer, the way you bet — and what you get out of it — might change for good.
Senate Bill 199: The Stadium Fee Disguised as a Betting Tax
At the center of this legislative maelstrom is Senate Bill 199, which proposes a 2% fee on Ohio's entire sports-betting handle. Not profits. Not net revenue. The full handle, which totaled around $8.9 billion in 2024. That means the state would collect nearly $180 million a year, and all of it would go to fund Paycor Stadium renovations in Cincinnati. Yes, the home of the Bengals.
To casual bettors, this might seem irrelevant. After all, the tax doesn’t show up on your bet slip. But here’s the rub: sportsbooks will pass those costs on to you. Expect worse odds (-110 becomes -115), fewer bonus bets, and more restrictive account terms. This fee effectively taxes the act of betting itself, and operators will claw that margin back from the user experience.
That’s not speculation. That’s precedent. In other states where handle-based fees were introduced, sportsbooks responded by:
Reducing sign-up and reload promos
Sharpening odds against bettors
Targeting high-volume players with limitations
Ohio could be next, especially in markets like Cincinnati where fanbases are betting big on the Reds and Bengals.
Why Paycor Stadium? And Why Now?
There’s urgency behind SB 199 because the Bengals’ lease at Paycor Stadium runs out soon, and the clock is ticking. Rather than tapping into general taxpayer funds or issuing traditional municipal bonds, lawmakers want to use betting handle as a dedicated revenue stream. From a macro-economic perspective, it’s a clever workaround. From a bettor’s standpoint? It’s a silent siphoning of value.
And here’s the kicker: the funding formula proposed in SB 199 gives priority to Cincinnati over Cleveland, based on stadium age and lease terms. That means Browns fans might be left waiting while Cincinnati gets a taxpayer-free upgrade at the expense of every parlay you place.
Senate Bill 197: iGaming Is the Sleeper Issue That Could Fund Even More
Running parallel to SB 199 is Senate Bill 197, which aims to legalize iGaming — think online slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker. While SB 199 focuses on how to spend money, SB 197 is all about bringing more of it in. Some estimates say Ohio could rake in $800 million annually by opening the iGaming floodgates.
SB 197 sets a 36% tax on online casino operators, plus hefty license fees: $50 million for established operators and $100 million for newcomers. It would also consolidate regulatory oversight under the Ohio Casino Control Commission, creating a streamlined system for both sportsbooks and online casinos.
For the average sports bettor, this legislation might seem unrelated — until it isn’t. In states where iGaming has launched, we’ve seen:
Shifted marketing dollars away from sportsbooks
Fewer sportsbook-specific promotions
More bundled offers ("Bet $100 on blackjack, get $25 on football")
So while the market might technically grow, the attention on sports bettors might shrink.
The Real Impact on Bettors
Here’s how your sports betting experience could change if both bills pass:
Worse odds: To offset a 2% handle tax, sportsbooks will widen the juice. What used to be a break-even line at -110 might become -115 or -120.
Reduced promos: Your inbox might still be full of "bonus" offers, but expect the fine print to get tighter, the rollover requirements steeper, and the true value lower.
More competition, fewer rewards: Ironically, legalizing iGaming could mean more apps, more games, and more choices—but also less attention on the sportsbook side of things.
More regulation and tracking: Expect stricter KYC (know your customer) protocols, deposit caps, session limits, and compliance monitoring. Good for safety, but less anonymous fun.
What Bettors Should Do Now
If you’re an Ohio bettor, especially in Cincinnati, here are a few proactive steps you can take:
Shop around for the best lines. Use multiple sportsbooks to your advantage.
Maximize promotions now before legislation tightens the screws.
Track legislative progress on SB 199 and SB 197.
Use tools like Oddsjam or Betstamp to spot and compare value across books.
Engage with legislators. Let them know how these changes affect you. The tax isn’t visible, but it’s real.
Is This a Good Deal for Ohio?
That depends on your perspective. If you’re a policymaker, it’s a creative way to leverage a booming industry. If you’re a Bengals fan, it’s an upgrade without touching your property taxes. But if you’re a bettor? You’re the one footing the bill—quietly, per bet, without ever seeing a receipt.
As these bills wind their way through Columbus this summer, don’t get caught flat-footed. The future of Ohio sports betting isn’t just about casinos or stadiums. It’s about how much juice you’re willing to pay to play the game.