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Ohio reaches 24 applicants for opening day of sports betting
Neil is a gambling industry veteran with over 15 years experience as a content writer, editor and speaker at events. He has a Masters degree in English Literature and Philosophy and has combined this analytical inquisitiveness with a passion for sports betting and casino gaming. Neil started his career with Bettingpro.com and helped build not only that site but various others such as LiveTennis.com, LiveDarts.com and numerous other sports informational sites, including GG.co.uk and RacingTips.com He then made the transition to the North American market, working both in the UK and in New Jersey to launch various sports betting and casino sites, including AmericanBettingExperts and NewAmericanCasinos. Working with regulators, Neil has helped to review sports betting sites and also test the regulated betting apps in a professional capacity. He now works almost exclusively in the US market and is one of the main reviewers and fact checkers on SportsLens gambling content. He also speaks at various gambling conferences including ICE, iGB Live and SBC Americas and has contributed to GamblingInsider, EGR Magazine and a number of others in a consulting capacity.
All posts by Neil RoartyUpdated10 hours ago on April 25, 2024
The Ohio Casino Control Commission released an update on prospective applicants for the launch of mobile sports betting, revealing a further three applications. In total, there are 24 mobile operators that hope to be live for the first day of sports betting January 1st 2023.
The three new names in the update fall under the ‘2nd mobile management services provider’ category and belong to MaximBet, Prophet Exchange and Betway. Only two Type-A Sports Gaming Proprietors do not have agreements in place with Mobile Management Services Providers, being Dayton Real Estate Ventures LLC (Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway) and Miami Valley Gaming and Racing, LLC.
The regulator for Ohio has announced, to some bemusement, that regardless of what happens, the sports betting switch will be ‘flicked on’ at midnight on Jan 1st 2023. From now until the new year, mobile operators who have secured a day one launch will have time to build the product and ensure it’s ready.
The industry has overwhelmingly criticised the decision, insisting a mobile launch for a state at non-office hours is a potential recipe for disaster, but this remains to be seen as the regulator looks to press on with the plans.
Up to 1,200 sports kiosks expected in Ohio
The other outcome of the Wednesday Ohio Casino Control Commission meeting was the first 200 retailers who wish to host sports-betting kiosks have been approved. This is likely but a fraction of the total that will launch – given the state lottery already has well over 1,000 approved locations thus far – and it’s safe to assume most will latch sports.
Ohio’s population is 11.68m and sits as the seventh-most populous state in the United States. The commercial gambling landscape sees four casino-resorts operating alongside seven racinos. The racinos generated 57.5% of 2021’s US$2.31bn statewide commercial gaming revenue. Ohio was one of seven states that passed legislation to authorize sports betting in 2021, and will see the full launch at the beginning of 2023. It’ll be intriguing to see where the legalization of sports betting puts the state in the overall rankings come the end of 2023.
