Ohio offers a maximum of 40 Type B sports betting licenses for in-person venues, from pro teams to casinos to restaurants. The venues feature either betting windows or terminals. A total of 28 counties qualify for these retail sportsbooks based on population and economic requirements.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission received 26 applications and approved 17, according to OH Bets.
The three largest counties—Franklin, Cuyahoga, and Hamilton—may carry five sportsbooks each. Franklin County, which includes the Columbus area, received approval for Hollywood Casino Columbus, Eldorado Gaming at Scioto Downs, Muirfield Village Golf Club, the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, and the MLS’ Columbus Crew.
Cuyahoga County’s five are also awarded: JACK Cleveland Casino, JACK Thistledown Racino, the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, MLB’s Cleveland Guardians, and the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers have received approval. Two other applicants, Ravencrest Partners and Harry Buffalo, are shut out.
Hamilton County received applications for four of the five available Type B licenses. The MLB’s Cincinnati Reds, MLS’ FC Holding (Football Club of Cincinnati), and Belterra Park Racino are approved for retail licenses. Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati has applied but has not been approved.
Both Mahoning and Warren counties can have two sportsbooks each. Hollywood Gaming & Mahoning Valley Racino received approval. Phantom Fireworks applied but has not received consent.
Among the 20 counties that are eligible for a single brick-and-mortar sportsbook, only three applied: the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Hall of Fame Village) in Stark County, SPIRE Institute (Geneva Sports) in Ashtabula County, and Lori’s Roadhouse in Butler County. None have received approval.
On July 1, the Pro Football Hall of Fame became the first sports organization of its kind in the U.S. to apply for a sports betting license. SPIRE Institute, a sports-focused prep school located 50 miles east of Cleveland in Geneva, is recognized as the most unusual applicant for a sports betting license, and Lori’s Roadhouse is a music and entertainment venue near Cincinnati that features country music.
Not a single applicant came from these counties, each eligible for a single retail license: Allen, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Columbiana, Delaware, Fairfield, Greene, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Miami, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Trumbull, Wayne, and Wood.
