While the conversation about gambling tax rates is heating up across all of the US – Ohio is no exception.

As neighboring states like Kentucky, Michigan, and Indiana rethink their approaches, Ohio lawmakers are under big pressure to make decisions that will affect the future of the state’s gaming industry.

Right now, Ohio has a 20% tax rate on online gambling revenue – it’s one of the highest in the region, and many now are saying that it puts the state at a disadvantage.

Senator Niraj Antani, who was an important part of the group that helped legalize sports betting in Ohio, is pushing to bring the rate back down to 10%.

He says this would be very helpful for all smaller operators who can’t absorb the high costs as easily as bigger companies. Antani believes a 10% rate would make Ohio more competitive while still keeping state revenue steady.

He’s also floated the idea of matching states such as Nevada and Iowa, where tax rates sit at just 6.75%. While that’s a stretch, Antani sees 10% as a realistic middle ground that balances the needs of the industry and the state.

But since this proposal is still under discussion, it’s obvious that lawmakers and industry leaders are paying close attention to the case.

At the same time, new trends in the industry are about to take the game to a much higher level. For instance, places such as 99Bitcoins crypto poker sites are now becoming one of the most popular choices for players.

The main reason for this is that they offer you a modern, decentralized way to enjoy poker, keeping it all way simpler and private. If Ohio begins to consider this growing niche, it could open new doors for revenue while staying ahead of other competitors.

Yet, Ohio isn’t the only state wrestling with this issue – Michigan is reviewing two Senate bills that would slightly increase tax rates for online gambling. Louisiana recently dropped a proposal to raise its online sports betting tax from 15% to 51%.

While the hike could have brought in $151 million more annually, industry pushback and fears of market instability led lawmakers to back off. Louisiana’s $54 million in yearly tax revenue from sports betting remains untouched for now.

Over the same period, the online gambling industry continues to explode all around the country. Past July, total revenue from the seven states that legalized online gambling reached $623 million – recording a 26% surge from the same time last year.

As Ohio weighs its options, it seems pretty clear that the state needs to strike a certain balance. Lower taxes could help the industry grow and compete, but first, lawmakers need to make sure they don’t sacrifice any vital state revenue in the process.

What Ohio decides now will tomorrow influence its position in the U.S. gaming market and the whole future of its gambling industry.