I have embarked on on a grand tour of sportsbooks in Ohio. The Buckeye State finally launched legal sports betting in Ohio at the turn of the year, something this lifelong Clevelander was anticipating heavily. My next stop along the tour was BetMGM Northfield.
MGM Northfield Park is one of Cleveland’s top casinos. Located about 20 miles southeast of downtown, Northfield attracts customers from the Greater Cleveland area as well as Akron and surrounding suburbs. Already an MGM property, it was a no-brainer to add a BetMGM sportsbook to Northfield.
Note: This review is about the physical location rather than the BetMGM Sportsbook Ohio app itself.
Ohio Sportsbook Review: BetMGM Northfield
There’s no shortage of elbow room at this BetMGM Sportsbook at Northfield Park. The space bleeds into the surrounding casino, separated only by a counter and a row of kiosks. Inside the book itself, the seating area seamlessly blends into the adjacent sports bar. Tall ceilings and an open floor plan make this book look grand.
This location might have more kiosks per bettor than any of the books I visited to so far, with nearly a dozen options right there for you. Kiosk betting is straightforward enough and doesn’t require a log-in. I placed my first kiosk bet here, a losing live ticket on the Raiders-Chiefs over in NFL Week 18.
My favorite feature of BetMGM’s Northfield location is the sprawling ticker above the entrance. It makes the space feel theater-esque, a quality further accentuated by theater-style seating. There is comfier seating options at other books, but this BetMGM has the most space for patrons in seats I’ve seen set.
Another nice touch are the low booth and tables in front of the counter. If you’re with a group and don’t prefer the theater seats, then a lounge setting at those booths is available (albeit, popular).
A look around the space pic.twitter.com/J6dZOQdLC0
— Brett Gibbons (@roadtocfb) January 7, 2023
The BetMGM Sportsbook experience
A few servers float around the seating area for drinks. Having a couple beers or a drink here won’t set you back very much. Two beers and a double Jack and coke cost a grand total of $16. It’s clear Northfield takes the Vegas approach in that they don’t want to make you budget between betting or beverages.
To no surprise, this book filled up for the final weekend of NFL action. The Raiders visited the Chiefs, followed by the Titans at Jaguars to secure the AFC South. Bet365 offered an odds boost to Travis Kelce’s Anytime Touchdown Prop from -160 to +100 — a prop many of us in the room clearly took. When Kelce was planted inches short of the end zone and failed to score his TD, the room was fairly animated.
Contrasted to Cincinnati’s BetMGM Sportsbook, which I visited on a Monday, the crowd here was mostly younger. College students and twentysomethings dominated the Saturday afternoon patronage. However, it was a diverse crowd.
If you’re looking for a spacious option with a full-service bar and restaurant, BetMGM Northfield is for you. Looking for a more subdued location to quietly lament over losses? I’d try out another spot.
Overall, Northfield’s BetMGM location is visually impressive, easily accessible, and a popular joint for Clevelanders and Akronites alike.
Be on the lookout for more PlayOhio sportsbook reviews from Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, and more.
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