More than two months before Ohio’s highly anticipated sports betting launch, Caesars Entertainment released its mobile sports betting app in the Buckeye State on Thursday.
Caesars Entertainment announced that the Caesars Sportsbook app is available for download in the state immediately. It is available across the state on iOS and Android, Caesars noted, with a separate sportsbook platform available via desktop.
“Ohio’s rich tradition of sports excellence speaks for itself,” said Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital, in a statement. “Caesars Sportsbook is ready to match the pedigree and passion of Ohio sports fans with a sports wagering experience that treats them like royalty.”
Early sign-up rewards
Starting Thursday, Caesars allowed new customers to register and deposit funds with the company’s Ohio sportsbook. Caesars is among the first major operators to announce a creative Ohio sports betting bonus: Customers who deposit at least $20 into their Ohio account before Jan. 1, 2023, will receive a $100 bet credit for the day that mobile wagering goes live, according to Caesars.
Caesars, an official betting partner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, is among a number of prominent sportsbooks that applied for market access in Ohio through a so-called mobile management services provider license. The list also includes industry heavyweights FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, PointsBet, and BetRivers. The Cavs, who have started the NBA season by winning three of their first four games, have odds of -400 at Caesars to make the playoffs. Cleveland, which acquired All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in the offseason, has odds at Caesars of 12/1 to win the Eastern Conference.
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In June, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) designated Jan. 1 as the universal start date for legal sports wagering in the Buckeye State. The OCCC clarified an exact time for rollout at a subsequent meeting in August.
“Once the ball drops in Times Square, sports gaming can commence,” OCCC Executive Director Matthew Schuler said at the meeting.
The timing opens up the possibility that Ohio State fans could place an in-game wager on the CFP semifinals if the Buckeyes are scheduled for the late game on New Year’s Eve. If the Buckeyes advance to the national title game, Ohio State backers could place a pre-game wager on the local team in the wee hours of the new year.
Ohio State remained the top choice at Caesars on Thursday to win the 2023 CFP National Championship. The No. 2 Buckeyes had odds of +180 at Caesars on Thursday morning to win the national title, just ahead of top-ranked Georgia (+190).
Photo: David Wallace/USA TODAY
