State lawmakers have begun planning for passage of a yet to be defined proposal to legalize sports betting. The first of several anticipated bills on the subject was introduced Thursday with neither what sports could be bet on nor the setting for permissible wagering on sports.

The entire bill states only “It is the intent of the General Assembly to develop and enact legislation legalizing sports wagering.”

The chief sponsor of the sports betting bill, SB 316, Sen. John Eklund, R- Munson Township, said he intends to soon begin a series of meetings with interested parties throughout the state. He favors action by lawmakers to control it rather than allowing outside interests to take the issue to the ballot.

Eklund believes legalized sports betting in Ohio is inevitable. “There is a lot of widespread interest in it and a desire for it. I think it is ultimately coming and I think we are better off using the legislative process for that to happen than the vagaries of an initiative process which is really not informed by facts, investigation and research as the legislative process will be,” Eklund said.