Pete Rose will place the first bet in the history of organized sports betting in Ohio. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
ridiculous choice
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati will usher in a new era of sports betting in Ohio by convincing exiled baseball legend Pete Rose to place your first bet.
Life ban on baseball for gambling games
Rose is serving a life ban from baseball for admitted gambling in the games, many of which he participated in, during his career from 1963 to 1986. He would have been inducted into the Hall of Fame had it not been for his banishment, and his legacy remains one of the greatest debates in sports history.
The Ohio market launch was highly anticipated since the state secured the necessary legislation. Hard Rock plans to go live at 12:01 a.m. on New Years Day 2023 and Rose will place her first bet.
Pete Rose starts sports betting in Ohio
Rose, better known by his nickname “Charlie Hustle,” still holds MLB records for songs (4,256), games played (3562), bats (14,053), singles (3,215), and teams (10,328). He is best known for his time with the Cincinnati Reds, with whom he helped achieve the nickname “Big Red Machine” for their dominance in the 1970s.
Towards the end of his career, he worked as a player manager before becoming a full-time manager two years later.
In February 1989, Rose met with the commissioner to discuss his gambling habits. He was known to enjoy high stakes betting, but many believed he was betting on MLB games, which violates league policy.
Risking $8,000-10,000 ($19,000-$24,000 in today’s inflation-adjusted economy) per day on a baseball game
An IRS investigation found that Rose was risking $8,000 to $10,000 ($19,000 to $24,000 in today’s inflation-adjusted economy) per day in baseball. He was banned for life and told he could appeal after one year, but could not win his case.
Now 81, Rose ironically returns to the forefront of gambling, becoming the poster boy for a case he was forced to leave.
Unfortunately for fan favorites, there are no MLB matches on the January 1 schedule. However, there are three NBA games, led by the Milwaukee Bucks in the Denver Nuggets, along with 14 week 17 NFL Sunday games, most notably the Minnesota Vikings at the Green Bay Packers.
Market Creation
It has been a long time since sports betting in Ohio. Governor Mike DeWine signed a bill in December 2021 to legalize the state’s market, but it won’t take effect until 12:01 a.m. January 1, 2023.
The process of accepting and vetting license applications has been a long one, but Buckeye State is finally ready to open.
Sportsbooks have until December 2 for their integrity regulations to be approved by government regulators. This applies to both in-person and online sportsbooks, as Ohioans have embarked on both forms of gambling.
At the time of writing, 21 of the 23 mobile applicants and 20 of the 27 service providers have been approved. There are also 880 booth locations and this number is growing rapidly.
Increased interest and interest in the entire region
Ohio also has the privilege of joining an explosive betting scene in the Midwest. Illinois recently overtook New Jersey as the second largest betting market in America, after only New York. The result has been increased interest and interest in the entire region, benefiting Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin and all other nearby players.
