Ohio Equipment Deadline Looming for Sports Betting Sites

The latest deadline in Ohio comes ahead of the fast-approaching start of legal sports betting on Jan. 1, 2023, in the Buckeye State.

Nov 28, 2022 • 14:51 ET • 2 min read
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Another major deadline is looming this week for companies that want to offer sports betting in Ohio.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission reminded companies earlier this month that they have until December 2 — this Friday — to ensure their planned operations for retail and online sports betting sites are ready to be inspected by regulators.  

“All proprietors must have their already lab-tested and Commission-approved sports gaming systems and equipment installed and ready for Commission verification by December 2,” the regulator said in an email. “This includes remote system verification access and remote systems report generation capabilities, as approved by the Commission in the sports gaming compliance website.”

Only weeks to go

The latest deadline in Ohio comes ahead of its fast-approaching start of legal sports betting on Jan. 1, 2023. On that universal start date, all forms of event wagering will go live in the Buckeye State, including retail and online sports betting. 

Ohio law initially allows for up to 25 online sports betting licenses to be awarded to proprietors, such as casinos and professional sports teams, which can partner with up to two mobile management services providers, such as bet365 and Caesars Sportsbook. The services providers can offer mobile wagering on behalf of the proprietors. 

The same law permits up to 40 proprietor licenses to be issued for brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in Ohio, in addition to more than a thousand businesses that could host lottery-linked sports-betting kiosks.

Precious cargo

With the start date just weeks away, the work for operators and regulators continues. But, according to the casino control commission's rough timeline, there are no major deadlines before January 1 once the December 2 equipment-verfication requirements are met. 

There are more specific requirements for the hopeful operators of brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in the state. Those gaming facilities must be ready by Friday for commission staff to show up in person at the venue to verify all the necessary equipment and systems. 

“For safety purposes, the proposed sportsbook area must be free of material construction activities prior to the Commission staff onsite visit,” the commission said. “All proprietors and services providers not launching on January 1 must have the relevant compliance materials Commission approved 60 days prior to launch and then ready for verification 30 days prior to launch, as described in their licensing resolution.”

Ohio Casino Control Commission Executive Director Matt Schuler noted the “material construction” requirement during a meeting earlier this month, telling commissioners that there have been times in the past when regulators arrived with construction still going on. 

“We have had moments before without hard hats where two-by-fours were coming by and people had to duck,” Schuler said. “And… the guys are precious cargo, we can't afford to have them get hit in the noggin.”

Schuler then added, jokingly, “at least not until January 1.” 

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