This shift towards digital identity verification in the state began in mid-2024, when Ohio launched its mobile driver's license (mDL) program, following in the footsteps of several other states including Arizona and Colorado. Initially, Ohio’s mDLs were accepted at select businesses and Transportation Security Administration security checkpoints.
According to the state, 75,000 people uploaded their IDs to their phones within the first two days. As of Jan. 13, adoption has grown to approximately 350,000 mDLs added to Apple Wallets, representing 3.5 percent of all driver's licenses in Ohio.
Ohio became the fifth state to integrate mDLs into Apple Wallets, but for Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, the focus wasn't on being first.
“We feel like we’re on the cutting edge, but not the bleeding edge of this,” said Husted, who also serves as director of InnovateOhio, in an interview with Government Technology. “We didn’t rush into it, we made sure that it worked correctly as advertised, we promoted it and we continue to talk about it. You can have the ID, but if there’s no place to use it, it doesn’t do you that much good. So we’re creating environments in which to use it, with universities, casinos.”
WHY CASINOS?
To combat this issue, the OCCC made a groundbreaking move at the end of 2024. It became the first state in the nation to approve mDLs for age verification at all four of its Las Vegas-style casinos. This decision allows not only Ohio residents, but also visitors from Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, California, Puerto Rico and New Mexico to present their mDLs at casino entrances.
While specific data on mDL use at casinos is limited, anecdotal evidence suggests early adoption.
“Casinos have shared that patrons are using it, the first day of launch one casino had 20 patrons who used their Ohio Mobile ID,” wrote Hayley Carducci, Husted’s press secretary, in an email to Government Technology.
“From a regulatory perspective, accurate, safe and secure identification for entry into Ohio’s casinos is foundational to ensuring the integrity of casino gaming,” said OCCC Chair Tom Stickrath in a press release. “The Ohio Mobile ID leverages cutting-edge technology to provide a simple and secure method for verifying age and identity.”
The system uses ISO 18013-5 compliant readers and technology from Veridocs to privately and securely verify age and identity. Users present their mDL in Apple Wallet by holding their iPhone or Apple Watch near the reader. The device displays the requested information, and only after authorizing with Face ID or Touch ID is the data released, ensuring a secure and contactless process.
“We have had great response from the casinos and a very smooth launch, they have expressed customers are familiar with the concept and starting to use it,” said Carducci.
Despite positive initial feedback from the state and apparent user adoption, the casinos themselves have remained tight-lipped about their experience with the new technology. Government Technology reached out to all four participating casinos for comment but received no response.
HOW MANY OTHER OHIO BUSINESSES ACCEPT MDLS?
While the app boasts thousands of downloads, the state admits it has no way to track actual usage. Robust privacy features prevent access to any data, and there are no plans to mandate reporting requirements for businesses. The app has 14 ratings in the Apple App Store, with an average review of 3.3 stars out of five.
WHAT ARE OHIO'S NEXT STEPS?
While 3.5 percent of the state’s driver’s licenses now exist on Apple Wallet, Lt. Gov. Husted predicted it would likely take adoption rates of 10-40 percent before state businesses might become more aggressive in using mDL identity verification. The process to expand the program to Android users is also well underway, but a date hasn’t been set for the official launch.
In the meantime, the state is focused on engaging early adopters, like Bowling Green State University, which became among the first in the nation to accept mobile driver’s licenses for age verification, including at concession stands for the school's athletic events.
“Younger people are probably going to go a lot faster than people who are older, then over time you have a new generation that will adopt this way of doing business and more and more people will do it,” said Husted.
Ohio is also currently “moving in the direction” of incorporating mDLs into Ohio State Highway Patrol operations.
“They all seem eager to lean in to get this accomplished because they see the value of it, and everybody knows this is where the world is going,” he said. “You’ve got to make sure that as you’re doing it, that you’re doing it in a way that is going to be acceptable to law enforcement at all levels in the state of Ohio. You never want to force people to do things, you have to show them the advantages and why it’s better and easier for them to do that.”
However, one area where Ohio is proceeding cautiously is the use of mDLs for voting.
“We’re not getting into that,” he said. “We want people to have as much confidence in this tool before we go there — whether we go there. I don’t have an idea, this will be up to some future secretary of state and Legislature to decide.”
Husted added that the state has no interest in pushing the public to use mDLs, centering it as a convenience, not a mandate.
“We want to make sure that the state is prepared to offer those conveniences to Ohioans and Ohio businesses,” he said. “Nobody is ever going to be forced to do this.”
However, he envisions a future where physical wallets may no longer exist.
“Now credit cards are on our mobile phones, the last piece to come along so you don’t need that physical wallet anymore is the ID,” he said.
