Monday night’s battle between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills is no big deal just because the two teams are vying for top spot in the AFC ahead of the playoffs. He’s also one of the first professional sporting events Ohioans can legally bet on.
Legalized sports betting went into effect statewide on Sunday.Given that legalized betting is just getting started, hard data on the first day of sports betting is scarce, but Cincinnati sportsbooks The operator says its start is promising.
Bryan Bennett, Chief Operating Officer of Betfred USA, told The Enquirer:
Betfred currently operates in eight states and has partnered with the Bengals to offer mobile sports betting.Ann NFL policy prohibits face-to-face betting Stadium on match day.
Kickoff for sports betting has arrived near the end of the NFL season, but operators say the start of New Year’s Day coincided perfectly with a busy day in professional football.There are 14 games on Sunday, according to the NFL’s website. was scheduled.
“Football is king in America when it comes to betting,” Bennett said, adding that the Bengals’ game against the Bills is likely to be a big draw for sports betting. “It’s definitely going to be a massive game here in Southern Ohio,” he said.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 29 in December 2021, legalizing sports betting in the state. The surge in sports betting in Ohio comes 13 years after he approved a constitutional amendment allowing the construction of his four casinos in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.
The state is expected to become one of the nation’s largest markets for sports betting. Ohio budget officials estimate that the sports betting market will cost him $3.35 billion, and by mid-2024 he will have $24 million in taxes. Gambling news organization PlayOhio predicts that 2023 stakes will put him at $8 billion.
But some observers are skeptical of the projected benefits to taxpayers, as casino revenues generated for states, schools, and local governments have fallen short of projections. Since 2012, Ohio casinos have generated $2.7 billion in tax revenue. This is well below his $7.1 billion from the estimated $5.2 billion in 2009.
Casinos, racinos, bars, bowling alleys and grocery stores have become one-stop shops for those betting on their favorite sporting events. Online betting is the primary way people bet on sports, but he 70% to 90% of sports betting is done online.
During the midnight sale of the Hard Rock Casino Sportsbook, lines were forming at betting kiosks and betting windows, said George Goldhoff, president of Hard Rock Cincinnati. Another line had formed when the sportsbook reopened at 10 a.m., he added.
Goldhoff described the launch as “really successful and organized”.
FanDuel Sportsbook, an online and retail sportsbook operator with 27 locations nationwide, opened its only physical store on Sunday in Belterra Park, Ohio. Karol Corcoran, general manager of his sportsbook online at FanDuel, said the location is projected to be one of the operator’s most popular.
Online, operators are already seeing huge numbers of app downloads and heavy betting, Corcoran said. “We expect Ohio to be one of the largest states, and early indicators suggest that will be the case.”
Sports betting is expected to be popular, but the dozens of sports betting licenses offered to operators in Hamilton County alone means that competition is likely to be fierce, Goldhoff said. said.
In Cincinnati, local sports icons are in action. Pete Rose, who was banned from professional baseball for betting on his team as manager of the Cincinnati Reds, made his first bet at the Hard Rock Casino Sportsbook just after midnight on Sunday.
“He bet the Reds $100 to win it all in 2023,” Goldhoff said.
Former Reds outfielder George Foster made one of the first three bets at BetMGM’s sportsbook grand opening Sunday at the Great American Ball Park. Also, former Bengals wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh will make a ceremonial first bet at his FanDuel sportsbook at Belterra Park on Thursday.
Experts warn legal sports betting will increase rate of problem gambling in state However, it remains below the national average. Just under 1% of adults in Ohio, or about 76,400, are problem gamblers, compared to 2.2% of Americans, according to the latest 2017 survey.
However, sportsbook operators say their staff are trained to spot signs of risky or problem gambling and take action.
BetMGM East Retail Sports Director Johnny Grooms said: “We understand that our business can negatively impact those people.”
Goldhoff said Hard Rock Casino has hired 40 new employees to staff its sportsbook. He said all casino staff are trained to identify irresponsible betting behavior.
Some operators, such as FanDuel, offer online customers the option to add deposits, wagers and time limits to their accounts.
Matt Schuler, executive director of the Ohio Casino Commission, said last month that online betting could help detect gambling addictions more quickly.
“[Ohioans]have been betting on sports for decades, only now they can bet legally and responsibly,” Goldhoff said. “There’s never been a better time to start it.”