The Ohio Casino Control Commission unanimously approved the second round of Ohio sports betting rules this morning, with a sports betting launch still expected for later this year.

The second of five necessary rounds of Ohio sports betting rules were approved, setting details for Ohio type A and B licenses, sporting events and wager types, and license fees. The approved rules were then filed with the Ohio CSI after the commission meeting.

Ohio sports betting launch late 2022

The state is still on target to launch sports betting later this year. Ohio sports betting must be launched by Jan. 1, 2023, as per the approved sports betting bill.

Ohio sports betting will allow for three types of licenses. The bill calls for a maximum of 25 type A licenses, which will allow license holders to operate online sports betting. Each type A license holder will be able to partner with up to two sportsbook operators, which could allow for a maximum of 50 online sportsbook operators in the state. However, representative for the Ohio Casino Control Commission said there likely will not be 50 operators in the state.

Each Ohio casino, racino and professional sports franchise will be able to apply for a Type A license and must partner with a sportsbook operator. These entities can apply for and potentially receive a second Type A license if they meet certain requirements. In addition to the 10 professional Ohio sports teams, NASCAR could operate a sportsbook at the Mid-Ohio Speedway and the PGA could operator a sportsbook at one of two country clubs that host PGA events in the state.

Application submissions for Type A and Type B licenses likely won’t begin until the summer or fall of 2022.

Online and retail sports betting offered

Type A license holders must also be a Type B license holder. Type B licenses allow for brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and a maximum of 40 licenses will be issued in the state.

There are limits for the number of Type B licenses in each county based on population:

  • An Ohio county with a population of 800,000 or more may have a maximum five Type B licenses, up from three in the original bill.
  • A county with 400,000 to 800,000 may have a maximum of three Type B licenses.
  • A county with 100,000 to 400,000 may have one Type B licenses.

Additionally, the bills calls for each Type B license holder to offer “significant economic development” for Ohio. As to what “significant economic development” means in the bill (number of jobs created, potential revenue estimates, etc.) the commission said it will be determined at a later date.