More than 1,400 applications have been submitted for Type C gaming host sports betting licenses in Ohio.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) announced a few weeks back a list of the first 300 applicants to receive approval for the type of sports betting license that allows sports bars, restaurants, or any establishment with D-1, D-2, or D-5 liquor permits to house self-service or clerk-operated betting kiosks.
The law states that a maximum of 20 Type C proprietors will be allowed to place betting kiosks at an unlimited amount of Type C gaming hosts. With that in mind, the number of kiosks to be installed in sports bars, restaurants, etc., across the state figures to total in the thousands on the universal start date of Jan. 1, 2023.
A diverse list of applicants for Type C licenses were either still awaiting word on approval as of Monday or had been notified of approval of a sports betting license and a guarantee to launch on the universal start date.
Still looking to receive approval
A search of approvals for Type C sports gaming host betting licenses on the eLicense Ohio Professional Licensure website shows that many of the applicants have at least received conditional approval while plenty are still under review for approval. The OCCC is working to stay on schedule with its Sports Gaming Implementation Timeline.
“The commission is continuing to work through the many sports gaming applications,” replied OCCC Director of Communications Jessica Franks, via email, to an inquiry from OH Bets concerning whether the commission was still waiting on application information from the casinos and racinos that had not been approved for sports betting licenses.
The OCCC announced during the commission’s monthly meeting last Wednesday that four of the state’s 10 professional sports organizations eligible for Type A and Type B licenses had been approved.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission released a list Wednesday of casinos and sports venues that have received conditional approval to allow sports betting on Jan. 1, 2023.https://t.co/L2XBzmTiRw
— Ohio 24/7 Now (@ohio247now) September 7, 2022
A close look at the list of establishments that have expectations of offering sports betting revealed that those that have actually applied for Type C licenses aren’t all sports bars and restaurants. Grocery stores, bowling alleys, and golf courses are also in the mix of applicants.
Breaking down the applicants by business, Giant Eagle and Kroger grocery stores combine to make up just under 10% of the applicants looking to install sports betting kiosks. A total of 64 Giant Eagle and 52 Kroger stores have applied for licenses. The Giant Eagle stores are located primarily in the Columbus and Cleveland areas, while the Kroger establishments are much more spread out across the state.
Approximately 50 bowling centers and roughly a dozen golf courses have also applied to have sports betting kiosks in their facilities.
Plenty of interest found in the cities
When it comes to cities across the state that total the most applicants, it’s not a surprise that Columbus and Cincinnati — two of the state’s largest metropolitan areas — rank at the top of the list. There are nearly 100 establishments within the Columbus city limits (not counting Columbus suburbs) that have applied for Type C sports gaming host licenses while another 80 establishments that are listed with Cincinnati addresses have submitted applications for licenses.
Some 30-40 applicants for Type C licenses are listed within the city limits of each of Cleveland, Akron, and Toledo, while the number of applicants within the city limits of Dayton and Canton total just under 30. The number is just under 20 each from Youngstown, Hilliard, and Parma.
Put-in-Bay, a village on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, is a tourist destination frequented by many during the spring and summer months. Four establishments on the island have applied for licenses to house sports betting kiosks. Topsy Turveys, Round House, Beer Barrel Saloon, and Tippers make up the list of applicants listed in the Ohio Lottery Commission’s Type C Sports Gaming Host Pre-Approval list.
Among the foursome, Topsy Turveys is the only one that has received conditional approval at this time.
Photo: Shutterstock
