Ohio opened up for legal sports betting once the calendar flipped to 2023 and residents have jumped straight in to sign up with the legal and secure sportsbooks on offer.
More than 2.25 million new accounts were registered across 16 different online sports betting sites in Ohio in the month of January, according to Cleveland.com. This came off the backs of a very successful opening weekend in the Buckeye State, which saw GeoComply Solutions Inc. process an incredible 11.3 million geolocation transactions in the first two days.
Whenever an app is opened, GeoComply tracks the location of where the app is opened. One “check” is registered when a person opens the app and if they place a bet, another "check" is made.
Cincinnati has been the most active with 38 million geolocation checks for sports betting in Ohio in January with Cleveland just behind at 31 million. Columbus came in third at 25 million, followed by Toledo with a little less than 12 million.
A deeper dive
All sports including college sports, esports, and the NFL Draft are legal to bet on in Ohio. Residents will have full access to betting on sports in-state, across the country, and worldwide.
It’s not just Ohioans enjoying the new laws on legal sports betting. Kentucky’s inaction of sports betting has led residents to make the drive across the border, just as Ohio residents were seen to do in Michigan prior to the launch.
More than 2,000 accounts had been set up in Kentucky and the same ones then pinged up in Ohio shortly after. Three types of sports gambling are legal across Ohio, with Las Vegas-style sportsbooks, mobile-betting apps, as well as gaming kiosks — which are found around the state in different locations such as bars and grocery stores — all taking bets as of January 1.
There are 16 online sportsbooks live and in operation in the Buckeye State, with each offering tempting welcome bonuses. The Ohio Casino Control Commission has issued sports wagering licenses for 22 mobile operators.
We'll have to wait till the middle of February to get the full financial breakdown, which will include handle, revenue, hold, and more. Sports betting companies will not need to report their earnings until the 15th of each month.
