Sports bettors wagered more than $740,000 through Ohio’s sports betting kiosks in August.
The Ohio sports betting market has both retail and online sportsbooks. But unlike other jurisdictions, the Buckeye State has a kiosk program. The state has self-service sports betting machines at more than 900 locations statewide.
According to numbers released by the Ohio Lottery, Ohio bettors wagered $742,888 through the machines last month. Operators reported gross revenues worth $58,429 on the total handle.
The kiosks are typically located in bars, social clubs and other public spaces like convenience and grocery stores. They were implemented to generate revenue for the host sites.
The tax revenue is light compared to other sports betting avenues in Ohio. In August, operators paid about $19,884 in taxes to the state from sports betting kiosks in Ohio.
Furthermore, most operators are running breakeven or slightly losing businesses every month. For example, UBet Ohio and BetSkybox combined to lose $9,317 in August.
Sports betting kiosk revenue breakdown
| Operator | Handle | Gross Revenue | Taxes Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Bet Ohio | $424,374 | $57,816 | $18,790 |
| UBet Ohio | $138,823 | -$8,886 | 0 |
| Gold Rush Gaming | $79,077 | $9,451 | $945 |
| BetSkybox | $61,616 | -$431 | 0 |
| BetIGG | $38,998 | $1,491 | $149 |
Most of the revenue was generated by machines operated by Sports Bet Ohio. The company reported gross revenue of $57,816 for August. In other words, the company accounted for 98.9% of the total sports betting kiosk profit.
The August total handle figure was $105,000 less than the July total. This represents a 12% decrease month-over-month.
How sports betting kiosks work
A sports betting kiosk does not require players to connect a funding source such as a credit card, debit card, or bank account, as they would with a sportsbook.
But kiosk players must verify their age, create a betting account, and generate a ticket for each of their wagers, similar to a lottery machine. A winning bet, up to a certain amount, can be paid by the host facility or at any licensed Ohio Lottery location. The kiosks are regulated by the Ohio Lottery, as opposed to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which oversees licensed sportsbooks.
The kiosks have limitations that traditional online or retail sportsbooks do not. But their convenience has been an attractive alternative to casual bettors.
Users are limited to $700 in weekly kiosk bets. Additionally, there prop bets and live betting isn’t available. Lastly, parlays are limited to game outcomes. Only moneyline bets, spread wagers, and over/under bets are permitted.
