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HB 476OHIOSession 136State Billpassed chamber

Passed

Ohio House authorizes online raffles and establishes regulatory framework for charitable gaming

Original title: Authorize online raffles under the Charitable Gaming Law

Last action · February 11, 2026: Referred to Select Committee on GamingSponsors: Meredith Craig and 38 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

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Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

Ohio House Bill 476 legalizes online raffles for qualified charitable and tax-exempt organizations, establishing a comprehensive licensing, registration, and platform-approval framework under the state's Charitable Gaming Law. The measure requires platforms to be tested and approved by the attorney general, mandates age and residency verification (participants must be at least 18 and state residents), prohibits cash or cash-equivalent prizes for online raffles, and declares an emergency for immediate implementation.

Why it matters

Charitable organizations and veteran or fraternal groups gain a new digital fundraising mechanism, while platforms, distributors, and manufacturers face strict registration, bonding, and criminal background check requirements managed by the Ohio Attorney General.

Background

House Bill 476 was introduced in the 136th General Assembly of Ohio to update charitable gaming statutes to accommodate modern digital fundraising technologies. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Charitable organizations

Must comply with new registration, licensing, and net-profit distribution mandates when conducting online raffles.

Directly affected

Distributors and manufacturers

Required to secure annual licenses, post $50,000 bonds, and submit equipment for independent testing and attorney general approval.

Directly affected

Ohio raffle participants

Must verify age (at least 18) and state residency before participating and receiving prizes, which are restricted to tangible property.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to conduct an online raffle under HB 476?

Entities exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code, along with school districts and chartered nonpublic schools, may conduct online raffles.

Can online raffle winners receive cash prizes?

No. Entities conducting online raffles are expressly prohibited from awarding cash, cash equivalents, or prepaid gift cards as prizes.

What requirements must online raffle platforms meet?

Platforms must be tested and certified by an independent testing laboratory, approved by the attorney general, require participants to verify they are at least 18 and Ohio residents, and avoid entertainment themes resembling slot machines.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

6 actions

Feb 11, 2026SenateCommittee
Referred to Select Committee on Gaming
Nov 25, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced
Nov 19, 2025HouseFloor
Passed
Nov 18, 2025HouseCommittee
Reported - Substitute (Finance)
Oct 1, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Finance
Sep 29, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced

Version history & redline

3 versions on file

Comparing As Reported by the House Finance Committee → As Passed by the House

removed addedOfficial text

hb476_01_RH hb476_02_PH As Reported Passed by the House Finance Committee 136th General Assembly Regular Session Sub. H. B. No. 476 2025-2026 Representatives Craig, Thomas, D. Cosponsors: Representatives Ray, Glassburn, Brennan, Hall, T., Gross, Hiner, Ferguson, Kishman, Robb Blasdel, Stewart, Ritter Ritter, Abrams, Bird, Brownlee, Claggett, Creech, Deeter, Dovilla, Fischer, Fowler Arthur, Hall, D., Hoops, John, Johnson, Lorenz, Manning, Mathews, A., Mathews, T., Miller, J., Mohamed, Moore, Mullins, Roemer, Sigrist, Synenberg, Williams, Young 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 […]

Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →