A new sports betting location is coming to Ohio by way of DraftKings. The company — now a household name thanks to its betting presence in more than 30 states — is opening DraftKings Sports & Social at 840 N High Street in Columbus.
While traditional retail sports betting will not be permitted, the restaurant plans to highly encourage mobile betting with its bevy of big-screen TVs and sports betting odds easily visible throughout the establishment.
DraftKings to launch themed sportsbook restaurant in Columbus, Ohio
DraftKings Sports & Social will open in Columbus in partnership with Live! Hospitality & Entertainment, making its grand debut on Thursday, May 9. With online sportsbooks being the only legal type of Ohio sports betting, this establishment will be the first of its kind in the state.
This location in the Short North Arts District of Columbus previously hosted Melt Bar & Grilled. The hours for the grand opening weekend are as follows:
- Thursday, May 9: 9 pm to 2 am
- Friday, May 10: 11 am to 2 am
- Saturday, May 11: 11 am to 2 am
- Sunday, May 12: 11 am to 11 pm
Michael Kibort, Vice President of Product Operations for DraftKings, said:
“We have created a premier entertainment, sports and dining destination for fans and fun-seekers to enjoy. Columbus is a really special city, and we’re looking forward to being able to offer our customers in Ohio an exciting in-person experience with our innovative mobile sportsbook app.”
About DraftKings Sports & Social Ohio
The location features a 37-foot media wall and “state-of-the-art” AV. More than 20 TVs will show the latest sports and events in the space. A smorgasbord of food and drink is available as well, and it all looks lip-smackingly good based on the pictures.
Daily specials are listed, including:
- Tag Team Monday: $25 domestic beer tower and nachos
- Taco Tuesday: half-off tacos and $5 margaritas
- Wing Wednesday: $1 wins (traditional, minimum 6)
- Crush It Thursday: $5 Crush (signature drink)
There’s no actual retail sports betting at the location, but restaurant-goers can place bets online via the DraftKings Ohio app (or from any other Ohio sports betting site) from a mobile device while there. Odds will be peppered throughout the venue for easy viewing while customers cheer on their favorite teams and place bets online.
Additionally, the space will be available for events. Interested parties can request more information via an online form.
Columbus debut marks further DraftKings expansion
The Columbus DraftKings Sports & Social location is the third of its kind. Previously, DraftKings opened similar locations in Detroit, Michigan, and Nashville, Tennessee. This new opening makes an ongoing trend of DraftKings’ expansion into retail space beyond formal retail sportsbooks.
Moreover, if any of these states decide to legalize retail sports betting in the future, DraftKings will be ahead of the curve when it comes to having a physical location for such pursuits.
