August 15 marks the deadline for sport gaming hosts and second designated Mobile Management Services Providers (MMSP) to apply for Type C sports betting licenses in Ohio.
Type C sports gaming hosts include sports bars, restaurants, and supermarkets that plan to install sports wagering kiosks in their establishments to allow for patrons to place bets. More than a thousand host locations have received the Ohio Lottery’s recommendation and have been pre-qualified to apply for a Type C sports gaming host license, based on having prior history as a host for the Ohio Lottery’s traditional lottery games. On the long list of pre-approved hosts are 63 Giant Eagle and 42 Kroger supermarkets.
Ohio Casino Control Commission on how grocery stores can get sports gambling kiosks- My husband said he will now grocery shop! 🤣😂 https://t.co/xV4IJO0oVa
— Lisa (@GingerLady99) August 12, 2022
A total of 20 stakeholders have applied for MMSP licenses, including sportsbook newcomer Underdog Fantasy, sports merchandise company Fanatics, and Betr, the micro-betting company backed by celebrity boxer Jake Paul that was previously branded as Instabet. Betr and the Pro Football Hall of Fame recently announced a 10-year partnership in which Betr will be the official mobile sports betting partner of the Canton attraction.
The opportunity for patrons of sports bars and restaurants in Ohio to place a sports wager will not occur until Jan. 1, 2023, which has been announced as the universal launch date for sports betting in the Buckeye State. Ohio Casino Control Commission Executive Director Matt Schuler recently stated that sports betting will go live once the New Year’s ball drops in New York’s Times Square.
The commission has stated that any applications submitted outside of the designated windows are not guaranteed to receive approval for a sports betting license in time to be up and operating by the universal start date.
Meeting the deadline
Coaches Bar & Grill owner Pat Leonard said he’s already applied for a Type C license in order to be able to offer sports betting kiosks in his Columbus-based sports bar, and his was among the bars and restaurants that has received pre-approval.
Yet Leonard expressed reservations about whether or not he will eventually go through with having the sports betting kiosks installed in his establishment. He’s concerned about potentially needing to have enough money on site in order to be able to cover big payouts. He also doesn’t like that there’s little known about the MMSPs he’ll need to choose from to install and service the kiosks.
“I’m already pre-approved for a license,” Leonard told OH Bets. “I’ll just have to see how things are looking.”
Frogtown Johnnie’s Sports Bar & Grill owner Robert Kelm has also applied for a Type C sports betting license in order to have sports betting kiosks installed and available at his Toledo establishment.
“I’ve already submitted my stuff,” Kelm said. “We’re pre-approved, so I’m not worried about it. The main thing is picking a company that will service us.”
The next date on the on the commission’s Sports Gaming Implementation Timeline is Nov. 2, the submission deadline for all final responsible gaming plans, facility plans, geolocation procedures, house rules, and required procedures. Also, all standard sports gaming employee applications must be submitted by that date.
Finally, all sports gaming equipment must be ready for commission verification by Dec. 2. After that, it’s waiting for New Year’s Day to arrive and the ball to drop in Times Square.
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