Ohio: Around 1,000 businesses register for sports betting

The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, home to the Ohio General Assembly. – CC BY-SA

The State of Ohio is accepting applications from restaurants and bars that are planning to have a sports gambling kiosk, and approximately around 1,000 establishments have already begun the process.

Ohio has legalized sports gambling and allows several ways to place bets, including physical sportsbooks, mobile apps, and kiosks. People can find them in restaurants, bars and even bowling alleys starting from January 1, 2023.

However, the kiosks will be mostly under the purview of the Ohio Lottery Commission. For the “Type-C” licenses, businesses will need approval from the Ohio Casino Control Commission, but only after the Lottery Commission gives them a recommendation.

If a business wants its kiosk on January 1, it is advised to submit an application to the Casino Control Commission by August 15.

Over 1,000 establishments in Ohio have passed the early stage by the Lottery Commission so far, as per a list released on Friday. Around 130 have upgraded their application process to the Casino Control Commission.

A total of 27 bars and restaurants in Cleveland applied and were preapproved by the Lottery Commission as of Friday. Businesses are also required to pay a $1,000 application fee.

A business can only apply if it has a lottery retailer license alongside a D-1, D-2, or D-5 liquor permit. The permit is reserved for businesses that sell and serve alcohol on their establishments. The license holder also has to be a for-profit. So if a business had a VFW post or an Eagles Club, it wouldn’t pass the requirements.

The Casino Control Commission will reportedly still accept the applications after August 15, but submitting an application prior to the deadline would place your business for review before sports gambling starts next year, spokesperson Jessica Franks said.

In order to check if your business has been preapproved for a sports gaming kiosk, you can use the searchable chart to see it. You can search by city, but you can also search by business name, zip code and address.