When one door closes, another opens.
That’s the case for the BetMGM’s retail sportsbook in Cincinnati. The MGM-branded book was originally located inside Great American Ballpark, home of Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds.
However, now the sportsbook is sandwiched between the baseball field and Paycor Stadium, home of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. This area is a trendy entertainment district known as “The Banks.”
The new sportsbook opened Tuesday and is open seven days a week until midnight or 10 p.m., depending on the day.
New location brings changes for bettors
Last October, BetMGM Ohio and the Cincinnati Reds announced plans to open a retail sportsbook. But the facility couldn’t open until the Ohio sports betting market launched at the start of the year.
In June, BetMGM announced they would move the sportsbook from Great American Ballpark to “The Banks.”
The move has benefits. BetMGM added a glittering and tremendous 350-square foot video wall, more than 4o large-screen televisions, seating to accommodate up to 200 customers, a VIP lounge, three betting windows and 14 wagering kiosks for self-service sports betting.
Ohio law requires guests to be at least 21 to enter the sportsbook and place a bet.
BetMGM is the Reds’ official betting partner
The relocation is in conjunction with BetMGM’s collaboration with the Cincinnati Reds as an official betting partner.
The Reds’ regular season will conclude Sunday. The team is 2.5 games out of a playoff spot and is playing its final five games on the road. BetMGM Sportsbook served as a retail sports betting venue at Great American Ballpark for the first time during the 2023 season.
If the Reds make the playoffs, the BetMGM Sportsbook at Great American Ballpark will remain closed.
“When we were putting together our plans for Ohio prior to our January launch, building the premier sports and entertainment venue at The Banks was an integral part of delivering the BetMGM experience in The Buckeye State,” said Chief Executive Officer of BetMGM Matt Prevost. “We are thrilled to see this vision become a reality marking our next big next step in growing our relationship with the city of Cincinnati and the Reds.”
Doug Healy, the Reds’ Chief Financial Officer, called The Banks “the heart of our city’s sports and entertainment district.”
Several restaurants and pubs are in the area and within walking distance from the Ohio River and the state line between Ohio and Kentucky. It borders 2nd Street and Main and is flanked to the south by Barry Larkin Way (U.S. Highway 52).
