BetMGM, PointsBet Among First Movers in Ohio Online Sports Betting Market 

(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

Ohio online sports betting has taken another step towards going live as they are now taking applicants for licenses in order to legally bet within the state. So what does this mean? Sportsbooks will begin to apply for betting licenses in Ohio, so as of January 1, 2023, sports fans can officially start placing wagers. Ohio was a little late to the online sports betting industry as many other states have already launched this market, including New York. However, now that Ohio sports betting is moving forward, they are ready to join the game.

Reminder: The Ohio Casino Control Commission will release its first initial batch of sports betting license applicants tomorrow.

The first license application window is currently open. It will close on July 15.

Ohio will kick off sports betting on Jan. 1, 2023.

— RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl) June 16, 2022

Ohio Sports Betting Announces BetMGM, PointsBet

Every Friday, The Ohio Casino Control Commission will release a list of license applicants, which started on June 15th and running all the way through mid-August. Now that the first week has passed since the start of the application process, we have our first group of license applicants. Sportsbooks such as BetMGM and PointsBet are among the first movers in Ohio online sports betting.

BREAKING: Ohio Casino Control Commission has begun to reveal the initial applicants for sports betting licenses. So far, two applicants for online sports betting service provider licenses have been submitted. These are:

-BetMGM
-PointsBet

— RLinnehanXL (@RLinnehanXl) June 17, 2022

BetMGM and PointsBet being the first movers into Ohio is no surprise, they were one of the first Ontario online sports betting sites to launch on April 4, 2022. PointsBet Ontario recently announced a partnership with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, the ownership group for both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors.

Both BetMGM and PointsBet have submitted applications to be Mobile Management Service Providers. What this means, is that BetMGM and PointsBet will be able to partner with Type A license holders.

Apart from the Mobile Management Service Provider, BetMGM has also submitted a Management Service Provider application which will allow them to operate for a Type B license holder. This means that apart from betting online, bettors can go to physical locations in order to place their wagers.

Other Sportsbooks Expected to Launch in Ohio 

Although Ohio’s sports betting days don’t start for a few more months, they have promised sports bettors a wide range of options when it does come to launch time. Ohio will be offering more licenses than many other states as well as announcing even more sportsbooks that will begin operating in January.

When sports betting became legalized in Ohio, the law split the sports betting licenses into three separate categories. The Type A category is where bettors can place their wagers at casinos or at professional sporting events.

BetMGM and PointsBet are just the first of many sportsbooks to be announced, and there are many more to be expected. A few of the sportsbooks expected to go live in the Ohio sports betting launch include DraftKings Ohio, Caesars Sportsbook, BetRivers, FanDuel, and so many more to follow.

Along with Ohio, Kansas sports betting is expected to launch at some point during the 2022 NFL season.