Workers at Ohio’s four casinos may soon be able to play slots and place wagers at local casinos where they are not employed after Wednesday saw the Ohio State Senate approve an amendment to the Midwestern state’s gambling laws.
As written, the amendment, which is known as House Bill 32, would reportedly permit any casino operator or employee in Ohio to “PARTICIPATE IN CASINO GAMING AT A CASINO FACILITY SO LONG AS THE OPERATOR OR EMPLOYEE DOES NOT HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE FACILITY, IS NOT EMPLOYED AT THE FACILITY AND DOES NOT HAVE AN INTEREST OR EMPLOYMENT AT AN AFFILIATED FACILITY IN OHIO.” (READ SO: OHIO IT MOVES THRU FANTASY SPORTS DIRECTION)
Matthew Schuler, Executive Director for the Ohio Casino Control Commission, affirmed “Out of an abundance of caution, the prohibition was applied to include all casino facilities. After five years of regulating and enforcing the law at Ohio’s casinos, we have not had a case of employees from different casinos working in collusion to cheat. In fact, given the systems of surveillance, segregated duties and internal controls unique to each casino operator, it would be difficult to even attempt.”
“Breaking the employee prohibition against casino gambling is currently considered a first-degree misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine”
Almost all gaming jurisdictions forbid employees from gambling at their own casino in order to mitigate the risks that they would use any inside knowledge to cheat although Ohio casino employees have long been able to gamble at the state’s many racinos (a building complex or grounds having a racetrack and gambling facilities for playing slot machines, blackjack, roulette, etc..) while racino workers are permitted to place wagers at casinos and other racinos.
