Sports betting in Ohio is coming soon! For sports bettors in the Buckeye State, it’s only a matter of months before they can enjoy wagering on their phones and desktops. The Ohio Casino Control Commission remains determined to roll out mobile sports betting by Jan 1, 2023.
The legalization of sports betting in Ohio began to gain momentum after a landslide House approval vote that came after the Senate passed the sports wagering bill. The House approval was then followed by Governor Mike DeWine signing into law the sports wagering bill.
Ever since then, what remains is a regulatory framework and approval for applicants for various licences. So far several operators have shown interest in operating in Ohio and submitted their applications. The state has a fair tax structure and has taken a collaborative approach with existing casino owners, sports teams, and local franchises.
A deadline set for applications
With a date already set for the big launch, the Ohio Casino Control Commission has been vigilant on applications for licences. Early July saw a number of applicants submit their applications to the commission.
This came after a July 15th deadline was set for the first application window that opened on June 15. Applicants who will meet the deadline will top the list of operators who will roll their operations on Jan 1, 2023. Among the operators who will have to meet the July 15 deadline include applicants interested in;
- Type A mobile licences
- Type B retail proprietor licences
- Type C proprietor licences for sports betting kiosks
- Suppliers
- Retail sportsbook operators
While the first application window will close on July 15, a second window will open on the same day and will run up to August 15. This will be open for Type C sports gaming hosts and second-skin mobile operators.
OH sports betting applicants so far
Oddly enough, despite the number of slots available for operators to grab, only a few applications have been made. In a state where the law provides for more than 65 operators to set up shop, only a few have applied so far.
By July 8, only 10 companies had submitted 18 applications. With sports teams being preferred for mobile sport betting licences, The Cincinnati Bengals become the first team to apply for a licence. The NFL team applied for a mobile proprietor sports betting licence that would allow them to partner with two more mobile operators. Nonetheless, partners were not disclosed on the commission’s list.
On the list was Elys Game Technology which applied to run their operations in sports betting kiosks. The public traded company has been in DC for some time now and is hoping to bring their experience to Ohio.
Hall of Fame Village is also a new entrant in the Ohio betting market having applied for a retail and mobile licence. The company is in a signed deal with Rush Street Interactive.
Premier applicants
The sports betting scene has always been synonymous with some brands in the USA. These are the top brands that provide quality gaming options and offers for their players. So far, Ohio has only witnessed 6 premier brands apply for mobile and retail licences. Of those 6 only 3 have applied for a retail licences.
Applicants include;
- BetMGM for both licences
- DraftKings for mobile sportsbook
- FanDuel for both licences
- Fanatics for both licences
- Penn National for mobile sportsbook
- PointsBet for mobile sportsbook
- Jack Entertainment for both licences
Other top brands that are yet to apply but plan to do so include Caesars Sportsbook and Hard Rock.
However, Ohioans should not despair, more operators will continue to roll out their services past the targeted launch date. This will present sports bettors with a plethora of options when it comes to sports betting.
Current legal betting options
Since Ohio sports betting online is yet to go live, sports bettors in the state don’t have plenty of legal betting options. Currently, Ohioans can engage in betting on horse racing and daily fantasy sports. Betting on horse racing is legal in most states and Ohio also betting online or via the phone.
For daily fantasy sports, Ohio first legalized it in 2018 and since then a number of operators have set camp. Major DFS sites include DraftKings, Yahoo!, FanDuel, and Fantasy Draft.
There are several off-shore sites to wager on but these don’t guarantee any security of funds nor privacy of information. Sports bettors are therefore advised to remain calm as the state works on a legal and regulated sports wagering industry.
