The Ohio Professional sports teams have secured conditional approval from the Ohio Casino Control Commission to offer sports betting in the state. This is a major step forward for the teams, as they prepare for the 2023 launch of sports betting in Ohio.
The teams have been working closely with their sportsbook partners to ensure that they comply with all the necessary regulations. The newly approved operators will be able to offer online and mobile betting, as well as in-person wagering at physical locations starting next year.
Conditional Approval From Ohio Commission
Regulators just released another set of approved sports betting applications and it includes several professional teams. NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets partnered with BetFanatics, while NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers inked a deal with 2 sportsbooks – Fubo, and Caesars.
Moreover, MLB’s Cleveland Guardians also partnered with a couple of sportsbooks – Bet365 and BetFanatics while FC Cincinnati had SuperBook. All of the said teams applied for online (Type A) and retail (Type B) sports betting licenses.
There will be a specific app for online sportsbooks while retail operations are usually located in the team’s home location. This is why another Ohio sports team, Cincinnati Bengals, only applied for an online license with Betfred.
“As it currently stands, the NFL does not allow in-person sports betting at any stadium, so Betfred and the team chose not to pursue a type B license because of this,” Emma Compton, Bengals In-House Counsel, stated during a meeting.
While having a physical sportsbook with NFL stadium premises is not allowed, having a retail location near the stadium is accepted, just like the BetMGM sportsbook near the home field of NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
Other Ohio Professional Teams
Three other professional teams in Ohio obtain conditional approval earlier this month. Columbus Crew, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Reds also applied for both retail and online licenses with their respective partners. With the recent approval release, there are already a total of eight Ohio Professional Teams with sports betting licenses.
Other Approved Applications
Aside from professional teams, Ohio casinos and racinos have also secured a green light from regulators for both retail and mobile sports betting.
| Belterra Park | FanDuel |
| Hollywood Casino Columbus | Barstool |
| Scioto Downs | Caesars Sportsbook Ohio |
| MGM Northfield Park | BetMGM |
| Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway | Barstool Ohio |
After the new set of approvals, 18 of of the 25 online sports betting licenses are already taken. Meanwhile, there is more space for retail operations as there are still 23 retail licenses available.
In just a few months, Ohio will become the latest state to launch sports betting. . Once operational, sports betting will provide a much-needed boost to the state’s gambling industry.
Sports betting will give people another reason to visit Ohio, and it is expected to generate millions of dollars in tax revenue. The rules and regulations surrounding sports betting are still being ironed out, but it is clear that this is an exciting new development for the state of Ohio.
