Ohio legislation · 136th General Assembly
Ohio SB479: Specify that betting on elections constitutes prohibited gambling
Status: Introduced, October 13, 2026
To amend section 2915.01 of the Revised Code to specify that betting on elections constitutes prohibited gambling.
What the bill says
To amend section 2915.01 of the Revised Code to specify that betting on elections constitutes prohibited gambling.
From the introduced text, October 13, 2026:
To amend section 2915.01 of the Revised Code to specify that betting on elections constitutes prohibited gambling. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: Section 1. That section 2915.01 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows: Sec. 2915.01. As used in this chapter: (A) "Bookmaking" means the business of receiving or paying off bets. (B) "Bet" means the hazarding of anything of value upon the result of an event, undertaking, or contingency, but does not include a bona fide business risk. (C) "Scheme of chance" means a slot machine unless authorized under Chapter 3772. of the Revised Code, lottery unless authorized under Chapter 3770. of the Revised Code, numbers game, pool conducted for profit, election gambling, or other scheme in which a participant gives a valuable consideration for a chance to win a prize, but does not include bingo, a skill-based amusement machine, or a pool not conducted for profit. "Scheme of chance" includes the use of an electronic device to reveal the results of a game entry if valuable consideration is paid, directly or indirectly, for a chance to win a prize. Valuable consideration is deemed to be paid for a chance to win a prize in the following instances: (1) Less than fifty per cent of the goods or services …
Sponsors
- William DeMora (D, 25) · primary sponsor
- Nickie Antonio (D, 23)
- Willis Blackshear (D, 6)
- Casey Weinstein (D, 28)
Latest actions
- : Introduced
Subjects: Gambling
Common questions
- What is SB479?
- SB479 is a bill in the Ohio Legislature (136th General Assembly): Specify that betting on elections constitutes prohibited gambling.
- What does SB479 do?
- In its own words: To amend section 2915.01 of the Revised Code to specify that betting on elections constitutes prohibited gambling.
- What is the status of SB479?
- Introduced as of October 13, 2026. Latest action: Introduced (October 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB479?
- William DeMora (D, 25), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB479?
- On the Ohio Legislature website: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb479
Source: official Ohio record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.