Sports betting starts soon

All bets are on for the start of sports gambling in Ohio. To ring in 2023, legal sports betting begins in the state on Sunday. In the leadup to the start date, Ohio regulators have laid out the framework for state businesses to host online betting through mobile sportsbooks, like FanDuel and DraftKings, as well as in-person, brick-and-mortar regulated establishments, according to the Statehouse News Bureau. Here's a question-and-answer piece of how it will work with information provided by the Ohio Casino Control Commission and Ohio Lottery Commission. These agencies share oversight of different facets of Ohio's new sports gaming industry: Q: Can you explain the Jan. 1 start date and what that will entail? A: This date was chosen to give all stakeholders time to start offering sports gaming on the same date, including businesses looking to offer online and brick-and-mortar sports gaming as well as kiosks in bars and taverns across Ohio. Leading up to (Jan. 1), prospective licensees will be completing buildings, distributing kiosks, hiring and training employees, obtaining partners and making all other necessary arrangements to begin offering sports gaming from the same starting line. The casino control commission is aware that some stakeholders, specifically many online operators, have fewer preparations to make leading up to launch and could start sooner. However, pursuant to state law, all forms of sports gaming must have the opportunity to launch on the exact same date. Jan. 1 will represent the largest expansion of gaming in Ohio's history and the largest-ever simultaneous launch of sports gaming in the U.S. It's expected about 3,000 licenses will be issued statewide ahead of Sunday. Q: What types of sports gaming will be offered? A: There are three types of sports gaming that will be offered in Ohio. • Type A for mobile or online sports betting • Type B for standalone sports books at places like Ohio's casinos, racinos and professional sports venues • Type C, at select Ohio Lottery retail host locations, such as at terminals at certain liquor permit establishments Q: What will sports gaming kiosks (Type C) look like? A: Each proprietor will offer their own full-service solution to individual host locations based on requirements and guidelines set forth by the Ohio Lottery Commission, however, each proprietor will be able to provide their own unique terminal equipment, prize payment capabilities and field service support. Q: Will all sports gaming kiosks offer the same wagers and odds? A: State law limits lottery sports gaming to wagers on sporting events approved by the Ohio Casino Control Commission in the following manners: • Spread wagers • Over-under wagers • Moneyline wagers • Parlay wagers with no more than four components While the Ohio Lottery Commission does not set the odds for each proprietor, we encourage players to look at each proprietor's website with odds, house rules and other information to determine where they'd like to place their wagers. Q: How can I claim a winning wager? A: Players have several options for claiming depending on the proprietor including: • Cashing prizes at the host location where the wager was placed or at an affiliated host location • Mailing claims to the proprietor for payment • Claiming at an Ohio Lottery office • Crediting the winnings to a credit card, debit card, or electronic payment account used to place the wager • Placing the winnings back on the terminal as a credit voucher to play again • If utilized by the proprietor, cashing winnings using the Ohio Lottery Mobile Cashing App Q: Are hosts required to pay all prizes in cash? A: No. Hosts are able to pay prizes in cash on-site but are not required to pay all prizes immediately in cash upon validation. Each proprietor will have multiple options for prize cashing as part of their overall solution to hosts. Q: Is there a limit placed on wagers? A: For Type C sports gaming, there is a $700 wager limit per transaction and a weekly wagering limit of $700 per person. Q: How long is a winning ticket valid? A: A winning ticket is valid for 180 days from the close of the event. Q: Are 18-year-old players allowed to make sports wagers? A: No. Although traditional lottery allows 18-year-old players to participate, you must be 21 years old to place sports gaming wagers. Q: What types of wagers are, and are not, allowed under the new law? A: Wagers that are generally approved include wagers based on: • An outcome or outcomes determined because of an event or events sanctioned by a sports governing body approved by the Ohio Casino Control Commission • Statistical results which can be proven by a box score, aggregation of box scores or other statistical analysis • The performance of a single or group of rostered or otherwise registered athletes • The result of an outcome on the field of play, including the virtual field of play for e-sports Wagers that require specific approval from the state casino control commission include: • Awards which are voted on by league referees, officials or athletes or members of the news media, fans, etc. or that are not exclusively based on statistical results • League drafts, combines or other player evaluation or selection events. Wagers not allowed under state law include: • The statistical actions of coaches, officials or referees; For example, the number of timeouts called, the number of yellow cards issued, etc. • Inherently objectionable outcomes; For example: — "Will any player suffer an injury? — "How much time will an injured or resting player miss?" — "Will any player be ejected from a game?" — Or something similar to the aforementioned • Any actions by persons participating in entertainment surrounding the sporting event but not the sporting event itself; For example, halftime performances, cheerleading activity, band performances, etc. • Coin flips or other random determinations • Clothing, equipment characteristics — such as sports drinks and the like — or any other item in which the outcome is determined prior to the performance of the athletes in the event • Events that are pre-recorded or in which the outcome has been otherwise previously determined • Events for primary or secondary school students, whether conducted or sponsored by a primary or secondary school or by another person or the individual performance statistics of athletes or participants in such an event • Events in which more than 50% of the participating athletes are under the age of 18. Coming soon: An overview of sports betting locations in the Firelands region.