The chance to walk into a casino or racino in Ohio and place a bet on the Cincinnati Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow against the Los Angeles Rams is not happening before Super Bowl LVI, but such opportunities are in the offing.
Sports wagering was legalized in December when Gov. Mike DeWine signed HB 29 into law, but the long-awaited venture is still in development as the Ohio Casino Control Commission methodically takes a step-by-step approach toward an eventual launch.
Whenever sports betting does become a reality in Ohio, rest assured that bettors will find their way to casinos and racinos to wager at sportsbooks. With more than 11 million residents, Ohio is projected as a top market for legal sports betting.
Presently, sportsbooks don’t exist within any of the four casinos or seven racinos in Ohio or in the state’s digital space. The law states, however, that the launch of sports betting should occur no later than Jan. 1, 2023, and it’s a good bet that the casinos and racinos are making plans to partner with sportsbooks.
Ohio update: Regulator sets out sports betting application fees and how voluntary exclusion program would work, but operators could have some concerns.https://t.co/E53LcBWCzo
— Sports Handle (@sports_handle) February 3, 2022
Projecting pairings with sportsbooks
At this point, none of the 11 gambling venues has announced partnerships with any sportsbooks. As candidates for a Type A license that will allow the license holder to partner with up to two sportsbooks, negotiations for partnerships figure to be already taking place. There may also be completed deals that haven’t yet been announced.
None of the casinos and racinos responded to queries from Oh Bets about the status of such partnerships. Based on their ownership and some current market access agreements, however, here’s a look at what sportsbooks may be coming in connection with the Ohio-based casinos/racinos:
Penn National Gaming, which operates the Barstool Sportsbook, owns Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course. In addition to launching Barstool in Ohio, Penn National can use the digital “skins” of the casinos and racinos to grant partnership access to multiple other operators, as it does in Pennsylvania for DraftKings and BetMGM.
JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino are owned by JACK Entertainment, which is planning to create a website and an Ohio app for sports betting under the JACK brand. So, figure on at least a JACK brand sportsbook to be in the plans.
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati figures to align with Hard Rock Sportsbook, considering both are Hard Rock International properties.
Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs is part of Caesars Entertainment Inc., meaning to expect a Caesars Sportsbook in Ohio.
MGM Northfield Park, owned by MGM International, would be expected to use the BetMGM Sportsbook.
Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center is a Boyd Gaming property, so the racino would be expected like Boyd properties in other states to team with FanDuel Sportsbook.
Miami Valley Gaming, owned by Delaware North/Churchill Downs, would presumably use the TwinSpires Sportsbook brand of Churchill Downs.
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