DraftKings is offering the first six-figure promotion since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in 2018 and sports betting began to proliferate across the U.S. The company has unveiled a promotion in which five customers will each be awarded a $100,000 “free bet” in the Buckeye State.
Any Ohio-based customer who creates a new DraftKings account will get $200 in bonus bets (eight $25 bets), and be entered into a drawing to win one of the biggest prizes. The promotion is one of a handful now available in Ohio, where retail and digital sports betting will go live just after the stroke of midnight welcoming 2023.
So far, the Ohio Casino Control Commission has issued conditional licenses to seven operators and their proprietor partners: Barstool Sportsbook (Hollywood-Columbus), Bet365 (Cleveland Guardians), Betfred (Cincinnati Bengals), Caesars Sportsbook (Scioto Downs), FanDuel (Belterra Park), PointsBet (Hollywood-Mahoning Valley), and SuperBook (FC Cincinnati).
When the OCCC meets Wednesday, DraftKings will be one of five mobile management service providers under consideration for a provisional license. The company has market access through a partnership with the Hollywood Casino Toledo.
Plenty of offers already available
While DraftKings is offering the flashiest promo, consumers can already cobble together $600 in promotional offers in Ohio. BetMGM Tuesday announced its “pre-registration special,” where customers can sign up and get $200 in free bets. No deposit is required. Caesars, which announced last Thursday that its app is live in Ohio, is offering new customers a $100 bet credit for opening day with a $20 deposit, while FanDuel is offering a $100 risk-free bet. As has been the case in other states, it’s likely that operators will offer additional promotions as launch day approaches.
To get Ohio sportsbook bonuses, bettors are required to create an account and are often required to make a deposit ahead of the go-live date. The expectation is that every major operator will offer promos ahead of and on launch day. Among those expected is Barstool’s $1,000 risk-free bet plus $10 deposit credit, which the company has offered in other states.
Wednesday marks a significant date in the process as operators must submit compliance plans including responsible gaming plans, house rules, geolocation procedures, facility plans, required procedures, and equipment test reports by then in order to ensure clearance to launch Jan. 1.
While many of the requirements are applicable for both retail locations and digital platforms, some are more specific. For example, geolocation will only be used for mobile wagering, and facility plans only apply to brick-and-mortar locations.
The next key deadline will be Dec. 2, when all equipment must be ready for verification.
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