New Year’s Eve is just days away, and in Ohio the countdown to midnight will also be the countdown to legal sports betting in the state. Along with the many sports betting apps that will launch in the new year, 12 retail sportsbooks are approved to launch as early as Jan. 1.
Hollywood Casino Toledo is still finishing construction on its new in-house Barstool Sportsbook, but the casino will still celebrate the launch of Ohio sports betting promptly at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Eve.
Sports betting at the Hollywood Toledo New Year’s Eve party will be limited to kiosks on the casino floor and through the Barstool Sportsbook app.
Celebrate with extra chances to win, live music and more
The casino will be celebrating all day long with chances for guests to win generous amounts of bonus play, a live music performance and restaurants open late.
From 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, one guest will be selected every 30 minutes to win $1,000 in bonus play at the casino. Then beginning at 6 p.m. until 10 p.m., five guests will be selected to win either $750 in bonus play or $500 in bonus play plus an entry into a drawing for a new truck that will be awarded on Jan. 7.
For entertainment, revelers will step back in time to party like it’s 1999. Toledo’s favorite cover band, the Skittle Bots, will be performing 90’s hits and their signature crowd-pleasing mashups beginning at 9 p.m. in the H-Lounge. The Skittle Bots only play songs released from 1990 to 1999. Admission to the show is free.
Guests can bet on great dining options
The top choice for dining at Hollywood Casino Toledo is Final Cut Steak & Seafood. Reservations are required on New Year’s Eve. More casual options include Scene Sports Bar and Take 2 Grill. Restaurant hours are:
Final Cut: 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
Scene Sports Bar: 11 a.m.-midnight
Take 2 Grill: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Barstool Sportsbook planning big presence in Ohio
Barstool Sportsbook’s parent company, Penn Entertainment, owns four casino/racino properties in Ohio, and all four are approved to open Barstool Sportsbook retail locations:
- Hollywood Casino Toledo
- Hollywood Casino Columbus
- Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley
- Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway
Hollywood Columbus also has a New Year’s Eve event scheduled to celebrate the Ohio sports betting launch.
In addition, the Barstool Sportsbook Ohio betting app will launch in Ohio at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. The Barstool app is one of 16 Ohio online sportsbooks ready to launch on the universal start date, though more will soon enter the market.