• Ohio’s sports betting business is ready to become a colossus following the state’s Wednesday approval of three professional teams to conduct various sports betting activities. They will be permitted to begin accepting wagers on their sporting facilities as early as 2023. 
• In addition to approving more than 300 licenses, the Ohio Casino Control Commission issued permission to the state’s professional teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Browns, and Columbus Crew. 
• On January 1, 2023, each of them will open a business in the state.

Class and Class B Casino and Sports Team Licenses

The Commission evaluated ten applicants for Class A or Class B casino licenses and approved eight shortlisted candidates who will have both Class A and Class B licenses:

• JACK Cleveland Casino
• JACK Thistledown Racino
• Cleveland Browns Football Company
• Crew SC Stadium Company
• Muirfield Village Golf Club Subsidiary
• Cincinnati Reds
• Hollywood Casino Toledo
• Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley

The FC Cincinnati Holdings and Cincinnati Bengals, two professional sports organizations vying for Class A and B and Class A licenses, respectively, did not have any representatives present on Wednesday, thus they did not receive an early decision. 

In addition to the professional sports team organizations, the Commission evaluated and issued 300 Class C licenses for a variety of restaurants, pubs, and suppliers that can now offer gambling kiosks on their premises.

The Commission gave similar licenses to 200 taverns and restaurants across the state in August, with the number expected to rise. 

In the meantime, according to the executive director of the Commission, Matt Schuler, at least 33 percent of applicants have failed to provide the required employee and leadership documentation.

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Every Assignment Must Be Submitted on Time

Schuler reminded them that failure to do so by the deadline of October 5 would render their applications invalid. The CEO was visibly annoyed that applicants expected the commission to handle late paperwork, which would not be possible because the Commission, according to Schuler, was operating at full capacity and lacked extra personnel.

Schuler stated that candidates whose licenses have not yet been authorized would have until November 2 to present the relevant papers. 

In both instances, the executive advised applicants to be conscientious and submit their applications in advance so that the commission’s personnel can review them.