The Ohio Casino Control Commission, at its May meeting Wednesday in Columbus, unanimously approved an Ohio sports betting license for Phantom Fireworks.
The five-year license would allow the Youngstown-based pyrotechnics retailer to host a brick-and-mortar book in its hometown.
Mike Podolsky, the company’s deputy general counsel, said the plan is to build an extension to the Covelli Centre, a multipurpose arena and entertainment venue that can hold up to 7,000 people.
He added that there’s no schedule yet for when the sportsbook would open.
“We’re working with our architect on some plans, and we’re working with the city to get approval,” Podolsky told BetOhio.com. “The city owns the building, so there would need to be some city involvement in the project. We’re going through that process as well.”
Currently, Phantom plans on having access to the sportsbook from both inside and outside the arena.
No Operator Selected Yet
Phantom submitted its application to the OCCC last July. At that time, it did not list an operating partner.
Podolsky said the company is in discussions with a few operators.
“Over the past couple of months, we’ve really ramped up the plans with the architect, the discussions with the city,” he added. “So, as we’ve gotten more details on that aspect, we’ve been able to share more with potential partners.”
Plenty of Licenses Available
Ohio’s sports betting law, which was passed in December 2021, allows for up to 40 brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in the state’s most populous counties. Currently, there is a cap on the number allowed in each county based on its population. Mahoning County can have up to two in-person sportsbooks, and Barstool currently operates one at the Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley racino. You can find a Barstool Sportsbook Ohio promo code right here at BetOhio.com.
Through the end of March, there are 14 brick-and-mortar sportsbooks (Type B) open in the state, compared with 17 online operators (Type A) and hundreds of kiosks (Type C) at select Ohio Lottery retailers.
Like most sports betting states, online is the preferred choice for most bettors. The OCCC reported Type A and B operators took $737.2 million in wagers in March, with Type B operators responsible for $21.9 million of that.
Sportsbooks were able to open in Ohio on Jan. 1, the same date as online and Ohio sports betting kiosk operators.
“We have somewhat of an advantage just to kind of sit back and look at the results for the from the past four or five months,” Podolsky said. “And to the extent over the next couple of months as this process works its way through, there’s no telling what we may see that may change how we see the end product.”
BetOhio.com will keep you updated on this newest player in the market as well as supply your Ohio sportsbook promo codes.
