Ohio’s sports betting kiosk market in April took more than $1 million in bets for the second straight month. The April handle expectedly fell short of March, when NCAA Tournament betting buoys the entire gambling industry.
April was also the first month since the launch of Ohio sports betting that the number of standalone betting kiosk locations has decreased. In March, the Ohio Lottery Commission, which regulates and licenses the sports betting kiosk market, reported a total of 940 kiosk host locations. In April that total was down to 926 — a difference of 14.
The $1.13 million in April handle represents a nearly 18.6% decrease from March. However, April ranks as the second-highest month so far for handle, revenue and prizes won by bettors.
Ohio sports betting kiosk handle dips in April
The total revenue brought in by Ohio betting kiosks in April was $129,195.
Ohio sports betting kiosk handle in 2023:
- January: $850,334
- February: $973,208
- March: $1,384,324
- April: $1,127,133
Each of the four months so far have seen big sporting events that draw bettors. Despite fewer kiosks operating in the state in January, the newly legal betting market kicked off that month during the NFL playoffs.
By February, software problems that plagued Intralot’s kiosks at 700-plus locations were solved, and proprietors added even more kiosks across the state in time for Super Bowl betting. Kiosk handle jumped in March during NCAA March Madness. And America’s pastime, Major League Baseball, was in full swing through April.
Ohio kiosk leader SportsBet lost locations in April
The number of host locations for SportsBet (Intralot) machines decreased by 14 in April, compared to the March total. The company now has their betting kiosks in 739 locations around Ohio. In March, the Lottery Commission reported 753 SportsBet locations.
UBet had a total of two fewer host locations in April than in March, for a new total of 36.
BetSkyBox, Gold Rush Gaming and BetIGG each added one new host location between March and April.
Sports betting kiosk operator April handle, revenue
| Operator | Handle | Revenue | Payout Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| SportsBet | $592,095 | $68,895 | 88.27% |
| UBet | $170,461 | $13,427 | 92.11% |
| Gold Rush | $193,796 | $22,499 | 88.36% |
| BetSkybox | $99,593 | $14,786 | 85.14% |
| Bet IGG | $71,188 | $9,588 | 86.53% |
| Total | $1,127,133 | $129,195 | 88.48% |
Can potential newcomers have any luck in Ohio’s kiosk market?
BetSkyBox is the newest kiosk proprietor to join the Ohio market. In March, with 31 host locations up and running, BetSkyBox beat out Bet IGG significantly in both handle and revenue, and they did it with fewer kiosk locations. Ditto for April, BetSkyBox’s second month of operations in Ohio.
The success of BetSkyBox could be a positive sign for two other kiosk proprietors that are licensed to operate in the state but have yet to launch. Elys Game Technology and J&J Ventures are licensed by the Ohio Casino Control Commission to operate in Ohio, and hundreds of businesses applied for pre-approval to host sports betting kiosks at their locations.
