On June 15, BetMGM and PointsBet were the first sports wagering platforms to apply for licenses in Ohio, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), which expects 3,000 applications from casinos, racinos, professional sports stadiums and lottery retailers. On-site sportsbooks and online platforms all must launch on January 1, 2023, according to approved legislation.
BetMGM is expected to partner with MGM Northfield Park Casino in Cleveland, owned by parent company MGM Resorts International. If approved, BetMGM will pay a fee of $2 million for a 5-year license.
BetMGM also applied for a Management Service Provider license, allowing it to partner with a Type B license holder to operate a brick-and-mortar sportsbook; that fee is $140,000.
PointsBet previously secured a partnership with Penn National Gaming, which owns several Ohio properties that would qualify for a Type A license.
The first application window will close July 15, the same day the second application period will open and run through August 15. OCCC officials said any incomplete applications or applications received after a window closes may not be considered in time for the launch.
Although betting hasn’t launched, sportsbooks already are signing up customers with special promotions. For example, Hard Rock Digital Chief Marketing Officer John Koller said Hard Rock Sportsbook is offering a deal that declines in value as it gets closer to the launch date.
