After sports betting was approved in the state of Ohio last year, a countdown clock began. The law the state adopted indicates that sportsbooks have to be taking bets by January 1, 2023. That means lawmakers and regulators have had to speed up their timeline in selecting who to do business with.
Originally, the state’s Casino Control Commission expected to begin taking applications for licenses by early fall. A new timeline published last week shows that the first application window is now set to open next month.
The first window opens on June 15 and closes and July 15. The second window opens immediately after and closes on August 15.
Ohio is leaving the field wide open. Every casino, racino, pro sports team and pro sports organization that operates in the state will be eligible for a mobile license. If regulators believe a second skin could provide additional economic benefit to Ohio, the state will grant licenses for those as well. That means there is a potential for 42 mobile sportsbooks in the state.
