Ohio Commission Announces Sports Betting Start Date, Same as Legal Deadline

• Ohio Casino Control Commission Announces Sports Betting Will Start January 1, 2023
• Start Date is Same as Legal Launch Deadline Included in the Recently Signed Law
• Ohio Sports Betting Applications will be Accepted Starting June 15, 2022

Ohio Casino Control Commission Announces Sports Betting Will Start January 1, 2023

Ohio sports gamblers were finally given a launch date for that state’s legal sports betting market, with the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) announcing a planned start date of January 1, 2023, just over a year after Governor Mike DeWine signed it into law last December.

Now the Buckeye State will join the over thirty other U.S. states that have taken advantage of their right to legalize, regulate, and tax a sports betting market to replace whatever black market options resident gamblers had been forced to use prior to place their illegal action on games.

More importantly, with its legal sports betting market launching in January, Ohio joins its multiple state neighbors that have launched a similar market where many Buckeye gamblers used to travel to place bets, like Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania and counting.

Last December, both the Ohio Senate and House passed the sports betting bill HB 29, and it was signed into law shortly thereafter, and ever since the OCCC has been checking items off its regulatory to-do list in order to assure a clean launch of that market.

That January 1, 2023, launch date is no accident.

Start Date is Same as Legal Launch Deadline Included in the Recently Signed Law

As we recently reported, by law, Ohio has until January 1, 2023, to launch its legal sports betting market, a date set by lawmakers in the original bill to ensure a timely start to this new operation, though it makes sense that all of that time will be utilized by the OCCC.

Many lawmakers and industry insiders were hoping for a fall launch for the Ohio sports betting market, which would have allowed bettors to place wagers on the upcoming NFL season which starts in September and runs through February, a big win if that could have happened.

As it stands, Ohio punters will get to bet on the NFL playoffs in January and the Super Bowl, plus they will be able to wager on the March Madness Tournament where the best NCAA basketball teams compete to make a final four tourney where a national champion is decided.

Next up, it’s application time.

Ohio Sports Betting Applications will be Accepted Starting June 15, 2022

A January launch date means all the regulatory steps must take place in the next half a year, including issuing and accepting sports betting applications to potential operators, a critical step that takes time to process, with Ohio looking to start accepting applications on June 15, 2022.

Don’t bother trying to get a head start on that process – applications submitted before that date will be ignored – but make sure to keep an eye on all the Ohio based sports teams that will now partner up with sportsbooks, yet another lucrative part of this entire operation.

Gambling revenue will be taxed at 10%, and Ohio residents will be happy to know that money is earmarked for state public schools K-12, a new income stream that will help educate children, a potential win-win for everyone involved.

The pre-launch of this Ohio market will continue to unfold, so keep checking back for all the latest news and updates regarding this story.