A number of professional sports teams have been granted sports betting licenses in the state of Ohio. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
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The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has issued a number of sports betting licenses, including some of the state’s professional sports teams. Some of the popular sports book operators to get the conditional green light for its January 1, 2023 launch include Caesars Sportsbook, Barstool Sportsbook, and FanDuel.
The Columbus Bluejackets, Cleveland Cavaliers, FC Cincinnati, Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Bengals were the professional sports teams that received approval on Wednesday. The Bengals team has an online-only license, while the other teams have both online sports betting and retail licenses.
Sportsbook operators have also partnered with local casinos and racetracks
Each team already has a partnership with at least one sports operator. In addition to professional sports teams, sportsbook operators have also partnered with local casinos and Ohio racetracks for a license.
Race for licenses
There were already some licenses issued by the OCCC, including DraftKings, PointsBet, and BetRivers. Other operators, such as Seminole Hard Rock and Peter, are still waiting to see if they have received relevant approvals.
They may eventually number 50 online math books in Ohio
In total, there are as many as 25 online sports betting licenses available in the state of Buckeye. Each license holder can partner with two operators, so there may eventually be as many as 50 sportsbooks online in Ohio. There are restrictions on the number of retail sportsbooks that can be located in certain counties.
Finally, more than 300 companies have applied for another type of license that will allow them to have a sports betting booth on their property. Companies are eligible to pursue such a license if they have a liquor permit.
Market access
When Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation into law in December that finally legalized sports betting in Ohio, operators began pursuing market access opportunities. Caesars Entertainment has a deal in place with Cleveland Cavaliers that will see the retail sportsbook open at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The Cavaliers also entered into an agreement with Fubo Sportsbook.
The official date on which sports books can be launched in Ohio is January 1, 2023. The seventh most populous state in the United States and home to a passionate group of sports enthusiasts, Ohio is set to be an important legal market for sports betting.
While Guardians don’t have a retail partner yet, the team has Bet365 and BetFanatics on board as online partners. The latter is currently the sole partner of the Blue Jackets, while the SuperBook has a deal in place with FC Cincinnati and Betfred has partnered with the Bengals.
