On Friday, BetMGM and PointsBet became the first two sportsbook operators to apply for sports betting licenses in Ohio, according to a post by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The commission received a total of three applications, as BetMGM filed for two different types.
BetMGM, which has market access through the company’s MGM Northfield Park racino, submitted sports betting applications for mobile management services provider and management services provider licenses on June 15, while PointsBet Ohio, which has market access through an existing deal with Penn National Gaming, submitted a mobile management services provider application on June 16.
BetMGM is one of the three largest mobile sportsbooks in the U.S., along with FanDuel and DraftKings. All are likely to be operating in Ohio when sports wagering becomes available on the universal start date of Jan. 1, 2023.
The commission plans to release an updated list of applicants each Friday afternoon.
No venues, casinos have applied yet
No Type A, B, or C sports gaming proprietor applications were received by the commission during the first week that they were eligible to be accepted. But that situation is expected to change soon.
DraftKings Sportsbook figures to apply through an agreement with Penn National Gaming, which owns Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, and Hollywood Gaming at Mahooning Valley Race Course. FanDuel has market access in Ohio based on a deal with Boyd Gaming, which owns Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center.
Type A proprietors include professional sports teams and events, each of which will have the opportunity to have two skins. Type B proprietors are brick-and-mortar establishments, such as the 11 total casinos (4), and racinos (7). The commission can issue up to 25 Type A licenses, each of which would be allowed to have two skins, accounting for a possible total of 50 digital platforms.
BetMGM and PointsBet are the first to apply for an Ohio online sports betting license, the Casino Control Commission announced this afternoon.
MGM Resorts owns a casino in Cleveland that should give its app market access. It's unclear who PointsBet will partner with.
— Sam McQuillan (@sam_mcquill) June 17, 2022
OCCC offers guidance on applications
The application window for sports gaming proprietor or services provider applicants or licenses will last until July 15 for those wishing to operate by the state’s sports betting’s universal start date.
OCCC Executive Director Matt Schuler expressed earlier in the week the importance of applying during the designated application window. The second application window, July 15-Aug. 15, is for applicants seeking Type C sports gaming host and second designated service provider sports betting licenses.
Furthermore, the commission noted earlier on Friday that it is encouraging applicants to request a provisional license to mitigate any timing constraints prior to the universal start date. It was also noted that applicants shouldn’t submit provisional and plenary application fees.
