wolterke – stock.adobe.com
The Ohio Casino Control Commission has declared that sports betting will begin in Ohio on January 1, 2023. Governor Mike DeWine has already ratified the legislation; all that is needed now is for the regulatory framework to be established before the deadline in January 2023.
Governor DeWine signed the measures allowing sports betting in Ohio in December 2021. The proposal has a deadline of January 1, 2023, so completely legal retail and internet sports betting is on the way.
As well as defining how licenses will be distributed, work is presently being done to create the regulatory framework for Ohio’s new sports betting market, which some estimate could be worth $1 billion annually.
Current situation on Ohio sports betting
Before lawmakers finally made progress with House Bill 29, which was enacted by a wide margin on December 8, 2021, efforts to allow sports betting in Ohio had been stalled as far back as 2019. Exactly two weeks later, Gov. Mike DeWine signed HB 29 into law, with many anticipating full statewide implementation prior to a required start on January 1, 2023.
Finally, on January 1, 2023, residents of the Buckeye State will be able to legally wager on their preferred teams and sports, joining residents of 31 other states (as well as Washington, D.C.). That includes betting on home-state college football teams, which is now against the law in a few states, including New York and New Jersey.
To the dismay of Ohio sports fans, that hasn’t happened, but the year-long rollout has given sportsbooks plenty of time to get ready for the launch next month, which is much anticipated. There were 16 licensed sports betting companies as of Tuesday, and more are anticipated in the upcoming weeks, including PickBoss.com, which is giving promos and discounts for Ohio bettors.
That occurred one day after Ohio State’s College Football Playoff semifinal matchup with defending champion Georgia and less than a year after regulated sports betting was approved in the state.
Almost a thousand licenses for kiosk-style betting with stricter restrictions have already been granted. Numerous of those will not be operational until later in 2023, although there are hundreds of kiosks at well-known grocery stores that are included in that.
Ohio’s dream waits
Ohio is one of the few states with teams in all four major professional sports leagues, making it one of the best states for legalized sports gambling. It has a sizable population and is one of the few states with teams in each of these leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL). It comes as no surprise that some think the state’s gambling industry may one day generate more than $1 billion in revenue yearly.
Just consider how well-liked it has been in nearby states who have already legalized sports betting and have seen enormous success. In fact, the states of Pennsylvania and Illinois, which are close by, each generated more money from sports wagering last year than Nevada, while Michigan also finished in the top five.
Is it legal to bet on college sports?
Even though the specifics of Ohio’s legalized sports betting are still being hammered out, players will be able to wager on college sports. This implies that fans will be able to gamble on the renowned Ohio State Buckeyes once sports betting is completely allowed in January 2023.
The college market in particular may set Ohio apart from the competition as it is on schedule for a comparable debut. Unlike in some states, local teams like Ohio State and Cincinnati, who have participated in the College Football Playoff over the past two seasons, will be available for wagering.
When the sports betting laws were passed in December 2021, Matt Schuler, the executive director of the Ohio Casino Commission, confirmed this.
Hi! I’m Bryan, and I’m a passionate & expert writer with more than five years of experience. I have written about various topics such as product descriptions, travel, cryptocurrencies, and online gaming in my writing journey.
