JACK Entertainment last week unveiled two retail sportsbooks that cap $100 million in capital improvements at the company’s Cleveland Casino and Thistledown Racino locations. Based in Cleveland, JACK Entertainment this year launched its betJACK mobile platform as a free-to-play app that will become a live wagering site on Jan. 1, 2023, when Ohio regulators launch retail and mobile sports betting.
The sportsbooks feature giant video walls in addition to teller windows, self-service kiosks, and viewing areas. In both locations, the sportsbooks are adjacent to the casino gaming floors. The sportsbooks will function as sports lounges for the next month, until wagering is live in Ohio.
Construction began this year, though company officials previously told OH Bets that it had been working on the retail locations and digital app for 24 months.
Books will have recliners, booths
According to a press release, the company sought to create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere in each of the sportsbooks, which will be outfitted with theater-style recliners with phone-charging outlets, as well as banquette-style booths. A 12-seat video poker bar and nine-table table-game pit are located inside the Cleveland Casino’s sportsbook.
“We are excited to debut our state-of-the-art sportsbooks, which will offer unparalleled experiences to Northeast Ohio and quickly will become fan-favorite destinations to watch all the action,” Brian Eby, president of JACK Entertainment, said via press release. “We owe it to our fellow Ohio sports fans to deliver something great, and we are confident they will not be disappointed. Our sportsbooks at JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino will set the standard in Ohio.”
Ohio law allows for the live sports betting to go online as early as 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day — just after the stroke of midnight — and JACK Entertainment is among the sportsbooks planning to launch at that time. Hard Rock Cincinnati previously announced that Pete Rose will place the first bet at its retail operation just after midnight and that its digital platform will also go live at that time.
So far, 22 operators have been approved for digital platforms and 21 brick-and-mortar locations have been licensed. Besides JACK Entertainment and Hard Rock, Bally’s, Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, and PointsBet are among the platforms that have been approved.
Photos: JACK Entertainment
