To amend sections 109.32, 2915.01, 2915.07, 2915.08, 2915.081, 2915.082, 2915.092, 2915.093, 2915.10, 2915.101, and 2915.14; to amend, for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, section 2915.092 (2915.16); and to enact sections 2915.17, 2915.18, 2915.19, and 2915.20 of the Revised Code to authorize online raffles and make related changes to the Charitable Gaming Law and to declare an emergency.
HB476 revises Ohio’s Charitable Gaming Law to authorize online raffles and to make related changes to the regulation of bingo, instant bingo, and charitable gaming suppliers. The bill creates a new framework for online raffles, including registration for smaller entities, a license for entities with higher online raffle receipts, approval of online raffle platforms by the attorney general, age and residency restrictions for participants, and rules governing prize types and platform features. It also clarifies that traditional raffles may be conducted without a bingo license by certain tax-exempt entities and schools, and it allows electronic payment and remote ticket sales for traditional raffles under specified conditions.
The bill also updates definitions and licensing rules throughout Chapter 2915 to incorporate online raffles and electronic instant bingo into the state’s gambling statutes. It expands recordkeeping, enforcement, and fee provisions; adds licensing and endorsement requirements for distributors and manufacturers of bingo supplies and electronic instant bingo systems; and revises how net profits from instant bingo, electronic instant bingo, and online raffles must be distributed. The bill declares itself an emergency measure, meaning it would take effect immediately upon enactment, and it states that the purpose is to help charitable organizations continue raising funds.
The overall sentiment reflected in the voting history is strongly supportive and noncontroversial. The bill passed the House committee unanimously and then passed the full House unanimously as well, indicating broad bipartisan agreement on the measure’s general goals. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate significant opposition in the available materials.
The main points of potential contention are embedded in the policy choices the bill makes rather than in the recorded votes. The legislation expands legalized charitable gaming into online formats, which may raise concerns about gambling oversight, fraud prevention, youth access, and the line between charitable fundraising and commercial gaming. It also imposes detailed compliance requirements on charities, distributors, manufacturers, and platform operators, and it limits online raffle prizes to tangible personal property rather than cash or cash equivalents. These restrictions suggest an effort to balance fundraising flexibility with tighter regulatory control.
In practical terms, HB476 would significantly affect charitable organizations, veterans’ groups, fraternal organizations, sporting organizations, schools, and youth athletic park organizations that use raffles or bingo to raise money, as well as the vendors that supply and operate gaming systems. It would also expand the attorney general’s role in licensing, approving platforms, inspecting systems, and enforcing compliance, while directing associated fees into the charitable law fund and related enforcement activities.
HB476 would amend multiple sections of the Revised Code governing charitable gaming, primarily Chapter 2915, to add a regulated online raffle system and to update related bingo and instant bingo provisions. It creates new registration and licensing pathways for eligible nonprofit and school entities, authorizes attorney general approval of online raffle platforms, and imposes new operational limits, recordkeeping duties, and participant eligibility rules. The bill also revises distributor and manufacturer licensing, including endorsements for electronic instant bingo systems, and updates the distribution of net proceeds from instant bingo, electronic instant bingo, and online raffles. In addition, it directs certain fees into the charitable law fund and authorizes enforcement and rulemaking by the attorney general.
The available voting history shows overwhelming support for the bill, with unanimous approval in the House committee and unanimous passage by the full House. That pattern suggests the measure was viewed as a practical modernization of charitable gaming law rather than a partisan issue. Because no committee transcripts were provided, there is no direct record of debate, amendments, or objections in the supplied materials.
The likely areas of contention involve the expansion of gambling-like activity into online formats and the regulatory safeguards needed to prevent abuse. Potential concerns include whether online raffles could blur the line between charitable fundraising and commercial gaming, whether the attorney general’s oversight is sufficient to prevent underage participation or improper platform design, and whether the new compliance burdens are manageable for smaller charities. The bill’s restrictions on prizes, platform themes, and participant age/residency appear designed to address those concerns, but they also reflect the main policy tradeoffs in the legislation.