Not All Ohio Sportsbooks Will Be Ready to Launch On Jan. 1

With the countdown getting lower for Ohio sports betting, people can’t wait for things to finally be made legal in the Buckeye state. This is something that has been in the works for a while now, and we’re right around two weeks away from things being showcased. However, not all Ohio sportsbooks will be ready to launch on Jan. 1, which has a lot of people out there a bit concerned. That’s because not all the licenses are ready to move forward.

Countless folks have had the Jan. 1 date circled on their calendars, as they can’t wait to check the NFL betting odds and drop some serious coin on their favorite teams. With kiosks ready to be open at authorized bars and restaurants too, it’s only going to make the user experience that much better for people. However, some locations will have to remain patient on getting sports betting up and running. That much has been made clear over the past week.

“There are some operators that are not yet prepared,” chair of the casino control commission June Taylor said at a recent panel. “We also know that there are about five to seven operators that control 85% of the market. So I think we have to realize what the stats really are.”

Despite the unknown sportsbooks not being given the green light, that doesn’t mean that several others won’t have the top betting odds ready for people to not only look at, but also bet on come midnight on Jan. 1. The expectation is that people aren’t going to waste a second in dropping their bets in Ohio. Again, this is something that people have been waiting on for a while, and the big moment is almost here.

College football betting will be hot in Ohio to start

It goes without saying, but college football betting will be hot in Ohio to start. Despite the majority of bowl games already wrapping up, we have the College Football Playoff semifinals coming on Dec. 31. Unfortunately for Ohio sports fans, the launch won’t arrive in time for the Ohio State game. However, if the Buckeyes go on to win that one, then so many folks will be ready to bet on them for the National Championship Game.

The NCAAF betting odds are hot right now and there’s still some New Year’s Day bowl action to be taken a look at as well. This only has people even more excited for Jan. 1 to get here. Not only that, but don’t forget that the college basketball season is in full swing too. With this, hoops fans are also jacked up about being able to bet not only on the college game, but some NBA action too.

Every single year, March Madness is one of the most heavily-bet sports events out there. With people in Ohio, they’re of course going to be interested in Ohio State basketball, but the Cincinnati Bearcats are also going to be a team to watch. Once late March and early April arrives, it’d be a complete and total shock to see low betting numbers for college basketball. With spring practices arriving for college football too, it’s going to lead to early futures bets.

The exciting thing for Ohio State specifically too is that Ryan Day and Co. are also expected to be major contenders for the CFP next season as well. This team has a dynamite recruiting class on the way for the 2023 season, only adding major talent at key positions. This is something that the bettors are 100 percent going to keep in mind when they check the odds and then get ready to put money on the table.

Don’t forget about NFL betting for Ohio as well

On top of all that, don’t forget about NFL betting for Ohio as well. The No. 1 squad for local citizens is without question going to be the Cincinnati Bengals, as Joe Burrow and Cincy are coming off a Super Bowl campaign last year. Despite things being a little slow for them this season, they sure have turned things around and now they’re looking like serious threats in the AFC as well. This team has what it takes to get back to the big game.

With Burrow, he has solidified himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the AFC. This is something that the bettors have strong eyes on, as they’ll surely love to place prop bets on him once Jan. 1 hits. Also, Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Mixon are also going to be great players to watch for the rest of the season.

With all of that said, the rest of the NFL campaign is set to be an exciting one, and come Jan. 1, people in Ohio are going to have their eyes on the betting big board. The Bengals will be a popular team, as will the Cleveland Browns. Just like college football betting, look for the NFL to post some impressive betting numbers this winter once things get rolling.

Chris Boline

Chris Boline is a renowned sports journalist with a lifelong passion for the industry. Originally from Reno, Nevada, he is a key business development figure in college athletics, with over a decade of experience with the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and Mountain West Conference. Boline holds an MBA from the University of Nevada. He has received MVP and "Best of" honors from the NBA/Sacramento Kings, Nevada Press Association, and more. His work has been showcased statewide and nationally. Boline has established himself as an expert in MLB and legal sports betting developments. When he's not immersed in the world of sports, Chris finds joy in exploring nature's wonders.