Bolstered by both professional and collegiate football, sports betting kiosks in Ohio nearly had their best month of 2024.
Those terminals reported $159,179 in gross gaming revenue during the month. They also handled $1.36 million in sports bets, just shy of breaking the record set in March.
These kiosks are separate from traditional online and retail sportsbooks in Ohio. And they make up a tiny percentage of the overall Ohio sports betting industry.
Revenue growth comes despite statewide closures
That tremendous growth in sports betting terminal GGR in October 2023 comes despite 67 host locations closing since July in Ohio. The state now has 873 locations with Type C sports gaming licensed machines.
At a sports betting kiosk or terminal, consumers 21 years and older can place bets without registering with a commercial sportsbook. The process is much simpler than using an online sportsbook. The host locations include convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations, social clubs, and bars, among others.
To receive a Type C license, an Ohio applicant must be a for-profit business, must also sell Ohio lottery tickets, and have an active liquor permit. In addition, the host venue is required to forge a partnership with a Type C sports gaming proprietor.
Through the first four months of the 2024 fiscal year, Ohio has reported $4.2 million in total handle from sports betting terminals. Operators won $453,575 from those bets. That’s an average of $113,393 per month.
Most of the revenue from sports betting kiosks remains with the host venue. In October, proprietors reported $123,494 in revenue from this betting activity. That’s a little more than a $50,000 increase from September’s revenue.
The State of Ohio and the Lottery Commission received $32,687 last month. Data was released by the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which regulated sports betting terminals.
October gross gaming revenue for sports betting kiosk operators
- SportsBet Ohio: $75,860
- UBet Ohio: $31,634
- BetSkyBox: $29,390
- BetIGG: $16,205
- Gold Rush Gaming: $3,090
SportsBet Ohio claimed 48% of the market share in October. That company has 741 host locations, by far the most, among the slightly less than 900 total locations in the Buckeye State. SportsBet Ohio reported the highest payout for last month, at 89.97%, according to data from the Ohio Lottery.
Not many states permit kiosks that offer sports betting, with Ohio being one of the few. Kiosks can be accessed by anyone eligible under state requirements, and it’s as simple as a touch-screen menu. But, sports betting terminals do have some drawbacks. For example, only certain types of bets are available, consumers are restricted to $700 a week in bets, no odds are offered for horse racing, and customers cannot receive Ohio sportsbook promos or bonus bets at a kiosk.
