Sports Betting News From Ohio and New York

With 2021 nearing an end, all sports betting industry eyes will be turning to 2022. In what is looking to be an exciting year for sports bettors throughout the U.S., several states figure to be in the sports betting news early and often. Two of those states will be Ohio and New York.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Village to Get Sportsbook

In Early December 2021, the Ohio state legislature passed a bill that legalized sports betting in Ohio. The bill was subsequently signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. Within moments of the bill signing, prospective sports betting licensees were fast at work to start aligning themselves with the top sports betting operators doing business in the U.S.

It should come as no surprise that Rush Street Interactive (BetRivers brand) was one of the first operators to strike a deal, and what a deal it was. Through CEO Richard Schwarts, the company inked a deal to open a retail sportsbook in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio. This will be a 10-year deal that permits BetRivers to run retail sports betting operations in an entertainment complex that includes the Hall of Fame Museum, a retail promenade, indoor waterpark, stadium, and hotel.

In a press release, Hall of Fame CEO Michael Crawford stated, ”We are thrilled to work with RSI to bring a retail sportsbook to the Hall of Fame Village’s Fan Engagement Zone and provide guests and fans a new and enhanced way to interact with their favorite sports, all conveniently from our campus.”

When the sports betting bill was signed, Gov. DeWine expressed his desire to see sports betting go live in Ohio in January of 2023. That will be the target date that Rush Street will be looking to meet.

New York Remains on Target for Online Sports Betting Launch

Earlier this year, the New York legislature agreed to permit online sports betting going forward. Subsequently, the state's Gambling Commission was able to approve online sports betting licenses to nine operators in two combined groups. At the time the licenses were approved, the powers to be stated they expected to see online sports betting go live in New York before the 2022 NFL Super Bowl.

According to NY Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, everything looks on track, though there are still a few details that need to be resolved. With any luck, New York sports bettors could be wagering on NFL Conference Championship games in late January 2022.

The only hold-up at this point is confirmation that all nine of the aforementioned operators have secured a server hosting deal with one of the state's four retail casinos located in upstate NY. While there is nothing in the legislation that states all nine operators need to be ready for launch at the same time, NY Sen. Joseph Addabbo is definitely pushing to get everyone online at the same time. For the bettors, it's time to start handicapping for the NFL Super Bowl.