Sorry, Great American Ball Park (GABP), but the sportsbook in your midst has been ousted. Not to a desert island somewhere but to an upscale corner in the trendy area of Cincinnati known as the Bank.
But two other factors come into play. First it was not a money maker. According to the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), the sportsbook had a net loss of over $8,000 through the first four months of the year, making it the only Ohio retail sportsbook not profitable.
Then there’s the matter of the betting scandal, the one that involved the University of Alabama and the GABP book, where phone calls were placed.
“There was suspicious activity and behavior that the BetMGM staff noted and that triggered a notice from BetMGM to both U.S. Integrity and to the commission. That’s how it started,” Matt Schuler, executive director of the OCCC, told WCPO. “Using the tools available, BetMGM gave us substantial information that was credible enough for the commission to very quickly decide to cease all betting activity on Alabama baseball.”
The new sportsbook will be yours to enjoy at the corner of Second Street and Joe Nuxhall Way and will include Cincinnati’s fourth Nation Kitchen & Bar restaurant, which will be open to anyone. But sorry kids, the sportsbook section is limited to those 21 and over.
“We are thrilled to expand BetMGM’s offering in Ohio,” Matt Prevost, the chief revenue officer of BetMGM, said in a press release. “The Reds and Nation Kitchen & Bar are great partners, and together we’re building a premier entertainment venue that we can’t wait to see filled with fans.”
Doug Healy agrees. “This adds another exciting destination to our vibrant downtown,” said the Reds’ chief financial officer.
The failure of GABP has not deterred the iconic Wrigley from following a similar model of opening in a stadium. DraftKings sportsbook opened June 27 along the left-field wall at Addison and Sheffield. The sportsbook operates year-round but has no entry to the stadium from there.
There is one small catch. Food and drink will be available from the get-go, but not wagering. DraftKings’ application to operate the sportsbook is pending, with no idea when that may no longer be pending.
And no one would dare bring scandal to the venerable stadium.
But it looks good, with two levels of seating and bars, wrap-around TVs for easy odds checking. Levy Hospitality will provide the libations and the food.
“This is going to be the most top-notch location to grab a bite to eat prior to a game or post-game,” said Jeff Denlea, the Levy vice president. “The experience here and ambiance is unprecedented to any location we have in the Wrigley area.”
The sportsbook will stay open year-round, and all customers must be at least 21 years old to enter. Unless someone makes calls to a university coach about the game in another state, Wrigley-DraftKings could launch a new era for retail sportsbooks. Then again, there’s the Great American Ball Park.
