As expected, the list of applicants for Ohio sports betting licenses swelled by more than two dozen on July 15, the final day for retail and online sportsbooks to apply in time to launch on Ohio’s universal start date of Jan. 1, 2023.
In total, 25 businesses threw their hats in the ring during the final week to apply for an Ohio sports betting retail or online license. Only 11 businesses had applied since the first application window opened on June 15.
Every remaining professional sports franchise in Ohio has now applied, and the casinos and racinos that had not yet filed applications are also now in.
Here’s what the landscape looks like for Ohio retail and online sportsbooks with the conclusion of the first application window.
Professional sports teams to create retail and Ohio online sportsbooks
Ohio’s eight major professional sports teams will be a major part of the state’s sports betting industry, and not just on the field.
The Cincinnati Bengals applied for an online license last week and will partner with the Betfred app. The other seven major franchises followed suit this week.
Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer only applied for an online license and will partner with Tipico on its sports betting app.
The other six pro teams applied for both retail and online licenses and are listed along with their sports betting partnerships:
- Cleveland Browns will use Bally’s for both retail and online
- Cincinnati Reds will partner with BetMGM on their retail location and Underdog Sports on their app
- Cleveland Cavaliers will partner with William Hill, which is owned by Caesars, on their retail location and Fubo Sportsbook on their app
- FC Cincinnati will use SuperBook Sports for both retail and online
- Columbus Blue Jackets will use Fanatics for both retail and online
- Cleveland Guardians will partner with Fanatics on their retail location and bet365 on their app
The Cincinnati Bengals and Columbus Crew may still apply for a retail sportsbook license. They are not guaranteed to be licensed to operate on Ohio’s universal start date becasue they missed this week’s deadline.
Related: The Latest Sports Betting Launch News And Information
Ohio casinos, racinos file sports betting applications
Hollywood Toledo Casino, Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati filed their applications, joining JACK Cleveland in the market.
Hollywood Toledo will create a Barstool Sportsbook retail location and partner with DraftKings for its app. However, Hollywood Columbus will utilize Barstool Sports for retail and online, and Hard Rock Cincinnati will use Hard Rock Digital for both retail and online.
All six racinos that had not yet applied for Ohio sports betting licenses are now in, joining JACK Thistledown.
- MGM Northfield Park will partner with BetMGM (retail and online)
- Scioto Downs will partner with William Hill (retail and online)
- Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway will partner with Barstool Sportsbook (retail; no online partner listed)
- Belterra Park (no partners listed)
- Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley will partner with Barstool Sportsbook (retail), PointsBet (online)
- Miami Valley Gaming (no partners listed)
Muirfield Village Golf Club, Cedar Downs, Phantom Fireworks also apply
The Muirfield Village Golf Club near Columbus applied for an online license and will partner with Parx Interactive on its app.
The SPIRE Institute & Academy in northeast Ohio applied for both retail and online. The multi-sport training center lists Out the Gate as its online partner.
The following businesses applied for retail locations only:
- Cedar Downs, partnered with BetMGM
- Harry Buffalo restaurant, PointsBet
- Phantom Fireworks (no partner listed)
- Ravencrest Partners, LLC (no partner listed)
Three more kiosk operators enter the Ohio market
Before July 15, Ohio had only received one application to operate sports betting kiosks in the state: Elys Game Technology, which will partner with Ohio-based Wright Bet to install and operate betting kiosks inside bars, restaurants and other businesses licensed through the Ohio Lottery.
They are now joined by Green Bear Software, Intralot and Skybox Sports Network.
Related: Map Of Ohio’s Retail Sportsbooks
Second Ohio sports betting application window now open
The window to apply for retail and online sports betting licenses in Ohio in time to launch on Jan. 1, 2023, is now closed. A second application window is now open until Aug. 15 for businesses that want to host betting kiosks.
A wide variety of Ohio businesses will add sports betting kiosks, including bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, golf courses, hotels, convenience stores, truck stops and supermarkets.
As of Aug. 12, the Ohio Lottery had pre-approved 1,254 businesses in the state to host a sports betting kiosk.
