Caesars isn’t wasting any time in readying its app for Ohio’s launch of sports wagering. Mobile wagering isn’t legal until January, but the sportsbook wanted to make its app available well before.
Those that sign up and download the app won’t be able to make any wagers but they will be able to deposit money into their accounts. They are also offering $100 bonus betting credit and entry into a Cleveland Cavaliers ticket giveaway for those that sign up early. Caesars is an official betting partner of the Cavaliers.
“Ohio’s rich tradition of sports excellence speaks for itself,” said Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital, in a statement. “Caesars Sportsbook is ready to match the pedigree and passion of Ohio sports fans with a sports wagering experience that treats them like royalty.”
The list of sportsbooks that applied for licenses include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and BetRivers. DraftKings has announced they are offering up $200 in free bets for first-time customers, while FanDuel is offering $100 in free bets. The operators will be taxed 10 percent of gross gaming revenue, one of the lower rates in the country. For example, New York taxes sportsbooks 51 percent.
In August, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) held a meeting to determine the exact day and time sports betting would be legal in the Buckeye state.
“Once the ball drops in Times Square, sports gaming can commence,” OCCC Executive Director Matthew Schuler said at the meeting.
Sports betting on in-state teams will be allowed and there are several professional teams besides the Cavaliers. There are two NFL teams, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns, two MLB teams, the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians, and one NHL team, the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The team that might get the most action, however, could be the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. They are currently ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 and could be playing for a national championship just as betting is legalized in Ohio.
