Ohio Sports Betting May Be Fully Operational by Mid-to-Late Fall

• Ohio Sen. Kirk Schuring said sports betting will likely launch by mid-to-late fall
• License applications will open in the summer
• Ohio sports betting operators will begin on a universal start date

The Ohio sports betting timeline continues to take shape.

During an interview on 1480 WHBC with Pam Cook, Sen. Kirk Schuring, one of the sponsor’s of Ohio’s approved sports betting bill, said the state will likely launch retail and online sports betting by the mid-to-late fall if everything goes right.

Ohio will open its application window on June 15 for Type A, B, and C sports betting licenses, which will close on July 15. A second application window for Type C licenses will open on July 15 and close on Aug. 15. After which, the Ohio Casino Control Commission will announce the selected license holders.

The Ohio sports betting bill allows for three types of licenses. Type A licenses will allow license holders to operate online sports betting, Type B licenses will allow for retail sports betting, and Type C licenses allow for sports betting kiosks to be installed in retail establishments with D-class liquor licenses.

Schuring said the state will have a “universal start date” for all operators. Sixty days prior to the start date, the operators will have to submit responsible gaming plans, facility plans, equipment testing, geolocation procedures, house rules and required procedures to the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

When the processes are finished, the Ohio Casino Control Commission executive director will publicly announce a universal start date. By law, Ohio cannot launch sports betting any later than Jan. 1, 2023.

Ohio Sports Betting Details

The bill calls for a maximum of 25 type A licenses, which will allow license holders to operate online sports betting. There are currently 21 potential Type A license holders, each which will be able to partner with up to two sportsbook operators. The remaining four Type A licenses (to reach the cap of 25) are only permitted to contract with one online sportsbook operator each.  This would allow for a maximum of 46 online operators in the state.

Each Ohio casino, racino and professional sports franchise will be able to apply for a Type A license and must partner with a sportsbook operator. These entities can apply for and potentially receive a second Type A license if they meet certain requirements. In addition to the 10 professional Ohio sports teams, NASCAR could operate a sportsbook at the Mid-Ohio Speedway and the PGA could operate a sportsbook at one of two country clubs that host PGA events in the state.

Type C licenses allow for sports betting kiosks to be installed in retail establishments with D-class liquor licenses.

Online and Retail Sports Betting Linked

Type A license holders must also be a Type B license holder. Type B licenses allow for brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and a maximum of 40 licenses will be issued in the state.

There are limits for the number of Type B licenses in each county based on population:

• An Ohio county with a population of 800,000 or more may have a maximum five Type B licenses, up from three in the original bill.
• A county with 400,000 to 800,000 may have a maximum of three Type B licenses.
• A county with 100,000 to 400,000 may have one Type B licenses.

Additionally, the bills calls for each Type B license holder to offer “significant economic development” for Ohio. As to what “significant economic development” means in the bill (number of jobs created, potential revenue estimates, etc.) the commission said it will be determined at a later date.