The Ohio Slate is a weekly look at developments in Ohio’s gaming industry – including betting angles – as the state prepares to launch legal sportsbooks on Jan. 1, 2023.
With only two of the four casinos and two of the seven racinos in Ohio receiving approval for mobile sports betting licenses on Wednesday, more than half of the brick-and-mortar gambling establishments are still in need of approval from the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC).
JACK Cleveland Casino, JACK Cleveland Thistledown Racino, Hollywood Casino Toledo, and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Racino were approved for Type A and B sports betting licenses. Apparently, they’re the only current gambling venues that have submitted all the required information to the OCCC in order to meet the commission’s approval.
Hollywood Casino Columbus and Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati are the two casinos awaiting approval, while Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, Belterra Park Racino, MGM Northfield Park Racino, Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs Racino, and Miami Valley Gaming and Racing Racino also need approval for Type A and B licenses.
OCCC Executive Director Matt Schuler has expressed concern about applicants not providing all of the information requested, although he did not specify that as the case with any of the racinos or casinos. Nonetheless, the OCCC has contacted applicants and notified them they have until Oct. 5 to submit all of the needed information in order to be guaranteed consideration for the universal launch of sports betting on Jan. 1, 2023.
Should they not meet the deadline, Ohio’s entry into the sports betting industry might not be as grand as many are expecting it to be.
LPGA Tour still in Ohio
For the second straight week, the LPGA Tour is in Ohio.
The inaugural Kroger Queen City Championship is taking place Thursday-Sunday at Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati.
BetRivers is offering the shortest odds of +300 on Hyo Joo Kim to finish at the top of the leaderboard. BetRivers has odds of +350 on Lexi Thompson and Atthaya Thitikul topping the field and +400 on Jessica Korda.
Caesars Sportsbook is featuring a bet on Lexi Thompson vs. Hannah Green, with odds of -135 on Thompson and +105 on Green. Until the Jan. 1 launch of legal sports betting, however, Ohio residents must go across state lines into neighboring states to place a bet.
No. 3 Buckeyes looking to go 2-0
Third-ranked Ohio State (1-0) enters its second game of the season facing Arkansas State (1-0) in Columbus.
The Buckeyes outlasted No. 5 Notre Dame to post a 21-10 victory, which proved to be much closer than many had predicted. Ohio State entered the game as a 17-point favorite.
Ohio State is, naturally, an even bigger favorite against Arkansas State. FanDuel and DraftKings list the Buckeyes as 44.5-point favorites over the Red Wolves. Whether Ohio State star quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Buckeyes offense get going against Arkansas State is the obvious question heading into Saturday’s contest.
Also, Ohio University is playing at Penn State. DraftKings has Ohio as a 25.5-point underdog, while FanDuel has a tighter point spread at 24.5.
The University of Akron is on the road at No. 14 Michigan State. FanDuel and DraftKings have the Zips as 34.5-point underdogs facing the Spartans.
ICYMI: What happened in Ohio gaming this week
Ohio’s Casinos, Racinos Register Record August For Revenue
Browns, Crew Among First Applicants Approved For Sports Betting Licenses
Iron Gate Gaming Working To Supply Bars, Restaurants With Self-Service Kiosks
Image: Blundell Design
