Wednesday is a big day for Ohio sports betting and not just because the Cleveland Guardians are on the road against the Colorado Rockies. It is the first day that the window opens for sports betting license applications from Type A, B, & C proprietors, first designated Mobile Management Service Providers (MMSPs), Management Service Providers (MSPs), and suppliers. The window will be open until July 15.
Type A licenses are reserved for mobile gaming and professional sports. The state’s existing casinos and racinos, which last month took a slight drop from their revenue numbers from April, may apply for these. Type B licenses will be allotted to brick-and-mortar sportsbook facilities.
Type C licenses will go to proprietors of self-service terminals, who have D-class liquor licenses. The proprietors are the companies supplying the betting terminals and handling the wagering. The hosts are the places housing the betting terminals. The window for applications from Type C sports gaming hosts & second designated MMSPs will run from July 15 to Aug. 15.
Applications from Big Industry Players Expected
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) also plans to launch a more detailed sports gaming licensing web page on June 15. There will be a certain amount of transparency in the application process as the OCCC plans to use the website to make available a list of applicants for Type-A, -B, and -C Proprietors and Services Providers.
Applicants for other licenses should start to be available in August when the state’s eLicense system is updated for sports gaming. Confidential information in the application process will not be made available.
So applications from the big industry players have to be in by July 15 and on Aug. 1, the window will open for these applicants to submit their plans: What their facilities will look like if they’re brick & mortar, how they’ll test their equipment, how they’ll be fair and responsible gaming facilitators, how their online geolocation will work, plus their house rules and required procedures. That window closes November 2.
On Dec. 2, all equipment must be ready for Commission verification. Ohio sports betting will kick off on Jan. 1, with everyone launching at the same time.
Notable Ohio Sports Betting Partnerships
There have already been partnerships announced in Ohio between Ohio betting apps and professional teams or venues. Here are some of them:
In April, the Cleveland Browns announced a long-term partnership deal with Bally’s Interactive, making Bally Bet an official sports betting partner of the team. In March 16, betPARX partnered with Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament, which was played this month in Dublin, Ohio, just outside of Columbus. Unfortunately that was too early for legal sports betting.
Caesars Sportsbook Ohio became an “Official Casino Partner” of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 24. It announced plans to open a year-round sportsbook in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.
On Feb. 22, Rush Street Interactive entered into a partnership with Penn National Gaming, owner of Ohio’s Hollywood casinos in Dayton, Columbus, Toledo and Austintown.
Fubo Gaming secured a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, announced Feb. 9, to make Fubo Sportsbook an Official Mobile Sports Betting Partner of the NBA franchise.
In January, Tipico announced a long-term partnership agreement with the Columbus Crew, making Tipico the official and exclusive sports betting partner of the MLS franchise.
Once sports betting officially launches in the state, BetOhio will be your most trusted source for the latest Ohio sportsbook promos.
