Ohio sports betting regulators have given the nod to another pair of online bookmakers.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission conditionally approved Barstool Sportsbook and FanDuel on Wednesday for mobile management services provider licenses, which will let them take online bets on behalf of Hollywood Casino Columbus and Belterra Park racetrack, respectively.
Several other operators were previously approved for similar licenses with similar five-year terms, including bet365 and Caesars Sportsbook.
Ohio’s sports-betting law initially allows for up to 25 online sports betting licenses to be awarded to “proprietors,” such as a casino or sports team, who can partner with up to two mobile management services providers, such as FanDuel.
Buckling down in the Buckeye State
Legal sports betting in Ohio is still set to begin on January 1, 2023, the universal start date for the Buckeye State. By earning their approvals a few months in advance, Barstool, FanDuel, and the others are now on track to launch on day one of wagering.
There is, however, a lot of work to be done between now and launch day.
For instance, operators must hand in the final versions of their responsible-gaming plans, house rules, and geolocation procedures (among other things) by November 2. Missing a deadline like that could be the difference between launching on January 1 and not.
“The date is the date, the deadlines are the deadlines, and let's continue to work hard to meet them and let this operation be successful,” Ohio Casino Control Commission Chair June Taylor said Wednesday.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission is poised to approve online sports betting licenses today for @BSSportsbook and @FDSportsbook. This would put them on track to launch in the state on Jan. 1, Ohio's universal start date for legal sports betting:https://t.co/3ZhLKY8C4t pic.twitter.com/lAbJwKQg9B
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) October 19, 2022
Barstool and FanDuel were also conditionally approved on Wednesday for retail management services provider licenses, which will allow them to run brick-and-mortar sportsbook operations for their partners.
FanDuel aims to run the Belterra Park sportsbook while Barstool is in line to operate retail books at four PENN Entertainment Inc.-owned gaming properties, including Hollywood Casino Columbus. PENN owns Barstool Sportsbook.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission gave conditional approval on Wednesday to 29 additional hosts of sports-betting kiosks as well. There are more than 1,000 bars, restaurants, and other businesses in the state that are in line to host those kiosks, allowing patrons to place certain bets at those physical locations.
Moreover, the commission also conditionally approved four providers of those sports-betting kiosks on Wednesday, including Intralot Inc.
Those "Type-C" proprietors will provide the hardware that will be placed at host businesses in the state, and through which bettors will make lottery-connected wagers on the point spread, total, and moneyline of games.
