The Super Bowl is the biggest sports betting event of the year, and exotic prop bets — or novelty props — have become one of the bigger draws for casual sports fans looking to place action on the game.
The Ohio sports betting market kicked off on Jan. 1, just in time to prepare for Super Bowl LVII. Unfortunately, Ohio bettors will not be able to bet on some of the more popular novelty props, like which color of Gatorade players will dump on the winning coach or how long the National Anthem will take.
Ohio’s current offering of Super Bowl prop bets is somewhat limited, but that could change in the future as the Ohio market continues to take shape and sportsbooks lobby for expanded betting options.
For now, here’s what Ohio bettors can expect to find in the Super Bowl LVII prop bet market.
Ohio sports betting market offers fairly straightforward options
Forgive Ohio regulators if they haven’t had time to determine the level of integrity involved with Gatorade baths or pregame coin flips.
Those types of novelty prop bets could be added to the state’s catalogue of approved sports betting options eventually.
But the Ohio Casino Control Commission just completed a yearlong licensing and regulatory process leading to the state’s Jan. 1 sports betting launch.
A total of 16 online sportsbooks and 12 retail sportsbooks opened their doors on New Year’s Day or soon after.
For now, Ohio does not permit any wager involving the following:
- The statistical actions of coaches, officials, or referees. For example, number of timeouts called, number of yellow cards issued, etc.
- Inherently objectionable outcomes. For example, will any player suffer an injury, how much time will an injured or resting player miss, will any player be ejected from a game, or similar.
- Any actions by persons participating in entertainment surrounding the sporting event, but not the sporting event itself. For example, halftime performances, cheerleading activity, band performances, etc.
- Coin flips or other random determinations.
- Clothing, equipment characteristics (sports drinks, etc.), or any other item in which the outcome is determined prior to the performance of the athletes in the event.
“As such, wagers on Super Bowl events like the coin toss, length of the National Anthem, songs played during the halftime performance, etc. are not permitted in Ohio,” said Jessica Franks, OCCC director of communications.
Similarly, Ohio does not allow betting on any events that are predetermined. That means no betting on awards shows like the Oscars or Academy Awards.
Other states, like neighboring Indiana, have been much more open to the “novel” side of betting. Indiana has in the past allowed betting on the Nathan’s Hotdog Eating Contest and celebrity boxing.
So which Super Bowl prop bets can Ohioans make?
DraftKings Sportsbook Ohio currently offers the following novelty prop bets:
- Jersey number (o/u 11.5) of first and last TD scorer
- “Octopus” — whether any player will score a TD and ensuing two-point conversion
- Kick to hit post
- MVP specials (odds by position)
In an email to media, DraftKings shows the types of additional options it offers in other states, including coin toss result, team to win coin toss, and first-challenge props.
DraftKings users in some states will also find the illustrious “Color of First Gatorade Poured on Winning Head Coach” prop.
Ohio Super Bowl bettors will find plenty of betting options
Even without the sillier props like the length of the National Anthem, Ohioans will find plenty of betting options, along with bonuses and promotions, for Super Bowl LVII.
DraftKings Sporstbook Ohio offers a list of “Super Bowl Specials” — bets you wouldn’t find for a typical game. These lines include:
- Any offensive lineman to score 1+ receiving TD (+3500)
- Either team to kick a game-winning, walk-off field goal at the end of normal time (+750)
- Any QB to have 1+ receiving TD (+4000)
- Any player to return a punt or kickoff for a TD (+1400)
- Any non-QB to have 1+ passing TD (+2200)
- Any player to have a 55+ yard reception (+250)
Super Bowl LVII lines and betting trends
The Philadelphia Eagles are currently 1.5-point favorites over the Kansas City Chiefs. Most of the money at DraftKings is on the Eagles, with 70% of both handle and bets on Philadelphia.
The moneyline is more even, however, with 52% of handle and 45% of bets on the Eagles at -125, compared to 48% of handle and 55% of bets on the Chiefs at +105.
More bettors (55% of bets) are taking the under on 49.5 points, but there’s more money (56% of handle) on the over.
21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
