When the first sports bets are placed in Ohio Sunday, history will be made. Why? Because in addition to the 10 physical sportsbooks opening at brick-and-mortar casinos and racinos, betting will also be available at Great American Ballpark and Taft’s Ale House in partnership with FC Cincinnati, marking the first time on a launch day that an MLS team will take part.
Ohio Sportsbook Pre-Launch Offers
BetMGM Sportsbook OH (Go-Live)
- Promo Code: HANDLE
- Ohio Launch Offer
- 21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
bet365 Sportsbook OH (Go-Live)- No Promo Code Required
- $200 Paid in Bet Credits
- 21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
FanDuel Sportsbook OH (Go-Live)- No Promo Code Required
- $200 Paid in Bonus Bets
- 21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
PointsBet Sportsbook OH (Go-Live)- No Promo Code Required
- Exclusive Ohio Offer
- 21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Caesars Sportsbook OH (Go-Live)- Promo Code: HANDLE1BET
- Up to $1500 Paid Back in Bet Credits
- 21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
While PENN Entertainment has plans to open four Barstool Sportsbook-branded locations and JACK Entertainment will open two in-person sportsbooks, MGM will open its second retail book at a ballfield and one at Northfield Park, and Superbook Sports will continue its march east across the U.S. with a new location at FC Cincinnati.
In total, a dozen physical locations are set to open and 16 digital platforms have received regulatory approval to go live. Many have plans to do so at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day or soon afterward. By the time the sun rises on the Buckeye State Sunday, consumers will be able for the first time to wager legally on the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and wide-ranging other options.
On the digital side, every major operator has plans to go live Sunday.
We’ll provide more detailed information as the launch gets closer, but here’s a look at what operators are expected to go live in Ohio Sunday.
Digital platforms
Entities that plan to have a mobile platform must get a mobile management service providers license from the Ohio Casino Control Commission. According to the agency, 16 operators have received the final regulatory approval needed to launch digital platforms. At least two others — BetFanatics and Underdog Sportsbook — have initial approval, but do not have plans to go live on Jan. 1.
All digital platforms must be tethered to a physical property, as Ohio law does not allow for stand-alone mobile platforms. Approved physical locations are each entitled to two digital skins.
Ohio, legalized sports betting is on the horizon✨
Sports fans in the Buckeye State can download @CaesarsSports, register & deposit funds w/ an early registration offer to place their first wagers as soon as legalized sports betting starts 1.1.2023 https://t.co/Sy6PGv09Gp pic.twitter.com/TmV2T4xTAm
— Caesars Entertainment (@CaesarsEnt) October 27, 2022
Here are the platforms likely to be available and their brick-and-mortar partners:
- Barstool Sportsbook (Hollywood Casino Columbus)
- Betfred Sports (Cincinnati Bengals)
- betJACK (JACK Cleveland Casino)
- BetMGM (Northfield Park Associates)
- Betr (HOF Village Newco, LLC)
- BetRivers (Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway)
- Betway (Belterra Park)
- bet365 (Cleveland Guardians Baseball Company)
- Caesars Sportsbook (Scioto Downs)
- DraftKings (Hollywood Casino Toledo)
- FanDuel (Belterra Park)
- Gamewise/MVGBet (Miami Valley Gaming and Racing)
- PointsBet (Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley)
- Hard Rock Digital (Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati)
- SuperBook (FC Cincinnati Holdings)
- Tipico (Crew SC Stadium Company)
Retail locations
Ohio law allows for a bevy of retail locations for sports betting, including casinos, racetracks, professional sports venues, bars and restaurants, and more. In addition, the law allows for lottery partners to offer kiosks everywhere from bowling alleys to bars to grocery stores.
The lottery said this month that some kiosk locations will be ready to go live Sunday, but given the sheer number — 1,000 or more when all is said and done — it’s tricky to tell where live kiosks will be available and when. Both the Giant Eagle and Kroger grocery chains have plans for kiosks, but they say they won’t be operating New Year’s Day.
https://t.co/Lgcr0xHRM1 #FCCincy – [Laurel Pfahler Twitter] FCC is granted sports betting license by Ohio CCC, partners with Superbook Sports betting app
— FC Cincy on Reddit (@r_FCCincinnati) September 21, 2022
A dozen brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, most complete with teller windows, kiosks, video walls, odds boards, and lounge-style seating, do have plans to open. According to the OCCC, the following locations, which had to apply for management service provider licenses, have gotten final regulatory approval to start taking bets Jan. 1:
- Belterra Park (FanDuel)
- FC Cincinnati at Taft’s Ale House (Superbook)
- Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati (Hard Rock Digital)
- Hollywood Casino Columbus (Barstool Sportsbook)
- Hollywood Casino Toledo (Barstool Sportsbook)
- Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway (Barstool Sportsbook)
- Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley (Barstool Sportsbook)
- JACK Cleveland Casino (betJACK)
- JACK Thistledown Racino (betJACK)
- Northfield Park (BetMGM)
- Scioto Downs (Caesars)
- The Cincinnati Reds at the Machine Room (BetMGM)
