(A) No person, being the owner or lessee, or having custody, control, or supervision of premises, shall:
(1) Use or occupy the premises for gambling in violation of R.C. § 2915.02 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(2) Recklessly permit the premises to be used or occupied for gambling in violation of R.C. § 2915.02 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of operating a gambling house, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a gambling offense, operating a gambling house is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(C) Premises used or occupied in violation of this section constitute a nuisance subject to abatement under R.C. Chapter 3767.
(R.C. § 2915.03) (`96 General Offenses Code, § 517.03)