These Ohio Sportsbooks Still Need To Apply For Sports Betting Licenses

Written By Danny Cross on July 12, 2022 - Last Updated on July 29, 2022
Ohio Sports Betting

Only days remain before Ohio’s first application window for Ohio sports betting licenses closes on July 15.

Some of the biggest names in the industry have already filed their applications to operate sportsbooks in Ohio, including DraftKings, Fanduel, BetMGM, JACK Entertainment and Penn National Gaming.

In order to launch on Jan. 1, all online sportsbooks, retail sportsbooks and operators of sports betting terminals must submit applications by this Friday.

Still, the final list of Ohio sportsbook operators is likely to be considerably longer than it is now. Here are some of the brands and businesses likely to file their applications in the coming days.

Many retail sportsbooks still need to apply in Ohio

Ohio can award up to 40 licenses for brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, and every MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA franchise in the state is eligible, along with the state’s 11 casinos and racinos.

Only the Cincinnati Bengals have applied among pro teams

So far, only the Cincinnati Bengals have applied among Ohio’s major professional sports franchises. That leaves the following teams likely to file this week:

  • Cincinnati Reds
  • FC Cincinnati
  • Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Columbus Crew
  • Cleveland Guardians
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Cleveland Cavaliers

The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton applied for its license last week. We could still see apps come in for The Muirfield Village Country Club (home of the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament) and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (which hosts a NASCAR event).

Three Ohio casinos still missing

On June 24, JACK Entertainment applied for online and retail sportsbook licenses at its JACK Cleveland and JACK Thistledown properties.

That leaves Hard Rock Cincinnati still to apply, along with Hollywood Casino Toledo and Hollywood Casino Columbus, both owned by Penn National Gaming.

This will change soon.

Hollywood Toledo confirmed to PlayOhio that it will be opening a Barstool Sportsbook, and Penn Sports Interactive applied for a mobile management services provider license, representing the entry point for the Barstool Sportsbook app.

In all, four Barstool Sportsbooks are likely to open in Ohio, representing one of Barstool’s biggest footprints in a single state.

More racino applications on the way

Since JACK Thistledown is the only racino to have applied, the following are also likely to enter the fray this week:

  • Belterra Park
  • Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway (likely Barstool Sportsbook)
  • Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course (likely Barstool Sportsbook)
  • MGM Northfield Park (likely BetMGM Sportsbook)
  • Miami Valley Gaming
  • Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs in Columbus (likely Caesars)

Where oh where is Caesars?

Most of the biggest brands in online sports betting have already applied in Ohio, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, PointsBet, Fanatics and Barstool Sportsbook (via Penn Sports Interactive).

Caesars Sportsbook is the most notable name missing from the list so far. One of the top online sportsbooks in the U.S., the company launched its Caesars Racebook app in Ohio on June 1.

Twenty-one of the initial online betting licenses will go to casinos and sports teams. Here are some of the connections between online sportsbooks and the brick-and-mortar locations they may partner with:

  • BetMGM Sportsbook will be live through the MGM Northfield Park property
  • BetRivers Sportsbook has announced a partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame
  • Caesars Sportsbook is partnered with Eldorado Resorts, which owns Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs
  • Caesars also partnered with the Cleveland Cavaliers to operate a sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
  • Hard Rock Sportsbook will run through Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
  • The two JACK Casinos will launch the new betJACK app
  • Barstool Sportsbook and its parent company Penn National Gaming own the Hollywood Casino brand and four Ohio casino and racino locations
  • Bally Bet recently confirmed an official sports betting partnership with the Cleveland Browns
  • Fubo Gaming entered into a partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers
  • BetParx entered a partnership with the Memorial Tournament of the PGA Tour for online access

Up next: Sports betting kiosk operator applications

Ohio’s second sports betting application window opens on July 15, just as the first window closes.

Businesses looking to host betting kiosks must apply during the second window. The Ohio Lottery has already pre-approved over 1,000 businesses that will qualify to host kiosks.

Each business that hosts a kiosk will need to partner with a kiosk operator, which will install the kiosk, train employees, and assist with customer service.

The options will be robust, ranging from neighborhood bars, local restaurants, gas stations, truck stops and even bowling alleys. Businesses that operate the Ohio Lottery are eligible to apply.

So far, Elys Game Technology is the only company to apply as a kiosk operator. Elys is partnered with Ohio-based Wright Bet to provide the kiosks.

PlayOhio is tracking the most recent sports betting operator applications and the latest launch and news information.

Photo by AP
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Danny Cross

Danny Cross is the managing editor of PlayOhio, where he covers the Ohio sports betting and casino industries, including the latest news on Ohio sportsbooks and responsible gambling in the state. Cross joined PlayOhio from Pro Football Focus, where he wrote and edited articles on the NFL, fantasy football and betting.

View all posts by Danny Cross