The Ohio Slate is a weekly look at developments in Ohio’s gaming industry — including betting angles — as the state prepares to launch legal sportsbooks on Jan. 1, 2023.
Ohio State moved up a spot in the national poll without even playing last week. The Buckeyes, coming off a bye week, will take their No. 2 ranking and 6-0 record into a meeting with Iowa (3-3) on Saturday looking to extend their winning ways.
The sportsbooks list Ohio State as decisive favorites over Iowa, which has dropped its last two contests. FanDuel lists the Buckeyes as 29.5-point favorites over the Hawkeyes, while DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook recognize Ohio State as 30-point favorites. All three sportsbooks list the over/under at 49.5 points.
Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud is the midseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, having thrown for more than 1,700 yards and 24 touchdowns.
numbers don’t lie 📈#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/alpSsxGlGO
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 18, 2022
The Buckeyes offense has been a major problem for every defense Ohio State has faced this season. Wideout Emeka Egbuka is among the nation’s leading receivers, with 35 receptions for 655 yards, including six TDs. Marvin Harrison Jr. has hauled in 31 passes for 536 yards, including a team-best nine TDs. Running back Miyan Willams leads the Buckeyes ground game with 497 yards on 54 carries, including eight rushing touchdowns.
Something has to give on Saturday, as Ohio State is averaging 48 points per outing but Iowa’s defense has allowed only 9.8 points per game.
Cavs only pro team in Ohio without mobile partner
FuboTV’s announcement this week that it has decided to shut down Fubo Sportsbook and Fubo Gaming came at a bad time for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who struck a deal earlier this year to make Fubo Sportsbook the Cavs’ mobile sports betting partner.
The Cavaliers now find themselves as the only professional sports team in Ohio without a mobile management services provider (MMSP) — a company that handles taking online bets for other entities such as casinos, racinos, or professional sports organizations.
The Cincinnati Bengals (Betfred Sports), Cincinnati Reds (Underdog Sports), FC Cincinnati (SuperBook), Cleveland Browns (Bally’s), Cleveland Guardians (bet365 Ohio), Columbus Blue Jackets (Fanatics), and Columbus Crew (Tipico) have partnerships in place with MMSPs and appear to be on course to take part in the Jan. 1, 2023 launch of sports wagering in Ohio.
The shuttering of Fubo Sportsbook comes at a suboptimal time for the Cavaliers, who had partnered with the brand.
Online wagering launches in Ohio on Jan. 1.
(@hoosier3232 for @BetsOhio)https://t.co/rOdIb8NEiI— Sports Handle (@sports_handle) October 19, 2022
Failure to meet the OCCC’s Sports Gaming Implementation Timeline can result in delay of an entity’s approval to participate on the universal start date. The Cavaliers have until Nov. 2 to find another MMSP in order to meet the commission’s deadline for submission of all final responsible gaming plans, facility plans, geolocation procedures, house rules, and required procedures.
The Cavaliers have not announced any new potential partnerships yet. The next several days should reveal plenty about whether Ohio’s lone NBA franchise will be a participant at the outset of sports betting in the state.
DraftKings, FanDuel promos for Ohio pre-launch
DraftKings is offering $200 in free bets to anyone signing up for its sportsbook product in Ohio prior to the universal launch of sports betting on New Year’s Day. Additionally, DraftKings is planning to randomly select five customers to receive a $100,000 free bet on launch day. Entry requires signing up with DraftKings Sportsbook or logging into an existing DraftKings Sportsbook account and opting into the sweepstakes.
FanDuel Sportsbook, meanwhile, is offering $100 in Ohio sportsbook free bets on launch day to anyone who signs up in the state prior to the start date.
ICYMI – what happened in Ohio gaming this week
Commission Approves First Group To Receive Type C Sports Betting Proprietors Licenses
Ohio State Quarterback Gathers More Momentum To Win Heisman Trophy
Image: Blundell Design
