Ohio’s upcoming sports betting market is beginning to take shape with the first window for license applications now closed. Bet365, NFL’s Cleveland Browns, MLB’s Cleveland Guardians and William Hill are among the major names that made last-minute submissions to the Ohio Casino Control Commission last week. They now join businesses such as DraftKings, BetMGM, Penn National and PointsBet, which were among the first to apply.
Sports betting operators, pro sports franchises and state businesses rushed to submit the required paperwork to ensure eligibility before a Friday deadline. While the commission will continue to receive applications, entities submitting them after the initial window are not guaranteed a launch on January 1, 2023, which has been set as the universal market start date.
While the commission must still give the applicants and their submitted partnerships final approval before they go into effect, the current picture shows more than 20 online operators could go live on January 1. Type A (online sports betting) license applications totaled 22 in the last month.
The state’s pro sports franchises do not want to miss out on the action. The Guardians, NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, MLB’s Cincinnati Reds, NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, MLS’ FC Cincinnati, and MLS’ Columbus Crew have all submitted license applications.
Cincinnati Bengals named Betfred its official sports betting partner earlier this month
This is the list, as of last Friday, of companies applying for mobile management services provider licenses and the pro sports organizations, casinos, and racetracks with which they are planning to partner:
- BetMGM: MGM Northfield Park
- PointsBet: Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley
- DraftKings: Hollywood Casino Toledo
- Barstool Sportsbook: Hollywood Casino Columbus
- FanDuel: No partner listed
- Fanatics: Columbus Blue Jackets
- William Hill: Scioto Downs
- Hard Rock: Hard Rock Cincinnati
- BetFred: Cincinnati Bengals
- bet365: Cleveland Guardians
- PlayUP: JACK Cleveland Casino
- SuperBook: FC Cincinnati
- Tipico: Columbus Crew
- Fubo: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Instabet: Football Hall of Fame Village
- Parx Interactive: Murfield Village Golf Club
- Underdog Sports Wagering: Cincinnati Reds
- Out the Gate: SPIRE Institute
- Gamewise: No partner listed
- Bally Bet: Cleveland Browns
In addition to mobile wagering applications, the commission has accepted 24 Type B (retail sportsbook) and four Type C (kiosk) applications over the past month. The Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, FC Cincinnati, and Columbus Blue Jackets have all applied to run sportsbooks at their stadiums.
The new application numbers are well up from a week earlier, when only a handful had been filed. The state’s law allows for up to 25 online sports betting licenses to be initially awarded, with preference given to the state’s pro sports organizations and casino operators. Another 40 proprietor-level licenses are available for brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.
Even though Ohio’s first month-long window has now closed -a key deadline for those parties aiming to take bets on January 1- a new application window is now open for “second-designated” mobile management services providers and Type C applications, set to close on August 15.
Ohio's bars and restaurants are also seeking to join the market
While much of the attention has gone to the plans of big sports operators and pro sports franchises, the upcoming market also presents an attractive opportunity for Type-C hosts: bars and restaurants seeking to have lottery-related kiosks for sports gaming. These venues believe hosting sports betting could boost their sales as they seek to recover from the pandemic and the rise of remote working.
The Ohio Lottery lists 707 locations as pre-approved for such licenses. Venues seeking to be considered to start on the universal launch date need to have their applications by August 15: while missing the deadline doesn’t mean hosts won’t be able to participate, it could cause a delayed start.
Jessica Franks, Communications Director at the Ohio Casino Control Commission, told Spectrum News 1 that given this is a new space for the state, there is much to learn before launch. But this will be a new landscape for bettors as well, which is why the commission suggests enthusiasts visit beforeyoubet.org for more information.
Fewer bet types will be offered at kiosks in comparison to sportsbooks and casinos. Ohio kiosks will also have low wagering limits set on each machine. Bettors can use cash, credit, debit, and mobile payment options like Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal.
