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Can I offer contests that involve chance-based games in Ohio? What are the requirements?

Yes, you can offer contests that involve chance-based games in Ohio, but there are specific requirements that must be met depending on the type of contest.

For player against player contests, a casino operator may offer a contest using a previously-approved program without seeking further approval, but any substantive or material differences made to a previously-approved program or a program that has not already been approved by the commission must be submitted to the executive director for approval before the first day of a planned event. All player against player contests must be conducted using only commission-approved electronic gaming equipment, table games, and table game equipment unless otherwise approved by the executive director. Player against player contests must be conducted in a separate room or area segregated within the gaming floor, unless otherwise approved by the executive director. A casino operator may only offer a player against player contest in the manner it is described in written, dated rules that must contain, at a minimum, specific information such as the date(s) on which the player against player contest will be held or its designation as a perpetual event, required entry fee or other consideration to be paid in order to participate, formula to be used to calculate the rake, participant eligibility requirements, minimum and maximum number of participants, a description of the player against player contest, including the program, structure, equipment, guidelines, time limits, any material conditions or limiting factors, and criteria for entry and determination of winners, the prize structure, including amounts or percentages, or both, for prize levels, and procedures for event cancellation, including timely notification to entrants and refunding of entry fees or other consideration collected [2.1].

For fantasy contests, operators must obtain a license, draft written internal procedures, and comply with various requirements to protect the privacy and online security of fantasy contest players and their accounts, among other things. According to OHRC Section 3774.09, fantasy contests offered in accordance with this chapter and the rules adopted by the commission under this chapter or division (L) of section 3772.03 of the Revised Code are exempt from Chapter 2915. of the Revised Code. OHAC Rule 3772-74-07 outlines the requirements for obtaining or renewing a fantasy contest operator license, which includes applying for licensure, designating at least one key employee, complying with all instructions, and paying a non-refundable fee in the applicable amount. Fantasy contest operators must also draft written internal procedures, which shall, at a minimum, include procedures for ensuring compliance with various requirements such as complying with all applicable state and federal requirements to protect the privacy and online security of fantasy contest players and their accounts, suspending or banning the account of fantasy contest players who violate a fantasy contest operator’s internal procedures, the rules or terms of a fantasy contest, or fantasy contest law, applicable to a fantasy contest player, providing fantasy contest players with free and immediate access to information on playing responsibly and seeking assistance for compulsive behavior, establishing the maximum number of entries that a fantasy contest player may submit to each fantasy contest, verifying the identity of fantasy contest players, prohibiting fantasy contest operator employees, relatives living in the same household as those employees, and athletes, coaches, referees, and other participants in the underlying professional sports competitions from competing in any public fantasy contest offered by a fantasy contest operator, and ensuring that fantasy contest operators protect fantasy contest player funds from operational funds in a manner consistent with division (A)(3) of section 3774.03 of the Revised Code and that fantasy contest player funds are shielded from creditors other than the fantasy contest players for whose benefit and protection the segregation or reserve has been established [2.1][2.3].

Bingo games conducted for amusement only are exempt from certain sections of the Revised Code, including sections 2915.07 to 2915.15. A bingo game is conducted for the purpose of amusement only if it complies with all of the requirements specified in either division (A)(1) or (2) of OHRC Section 2915.12. These requirements include restrictions on the amount of money paid by participants, the value of prizes awarded, and the number of players participating in the game [4.1].

In summary, the specific requirements for offering contests that involve chance-based games in Ohio depend on the type of contest. For player against player contests, a casino operator must follow specific rules outlined in OHAC Rule 3772-14-01. For fantasy contests, operators must obtain a license, draft written internal procedures, and comply with various requirements outlined in OHRC Section 3774.09 and OHAC Rule 3772-74-07. Bingo games conducted for amusement only are exempt from certain sections of the Revised Code if they comply with the requirements specified in OHRC Section 2915.12.

Source(s):
Jurisdiction

Ohio