Miami Valley Gaming’s Sportsbook in Warren County opens at racino

The casino located on Ohio 63 near Interstate 75 opened the Sportsbook on Thursday. The hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p. m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a., 11 and 11.30 p., on Saturdays and Sunday. Ohioans have been able to legally bet on sports since Jan. 1.

New Ohio law allows betting on sports by anyone at least 21 years old. Players can bet on professional sports, college sports and esports. They can also bet against international contests such as the Olympics.

Ohio legislators wrangled for years on whether or how to legalize sports betting. The General Assembly approved it and Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill Dec. 22. Miami Valley Gaming’s Sportsbook in Warren County opens at racino.

The legislation authorizes three types of sports gaming licenses. Type A licenses allow sports gambling on mobile apps, and Type B licenses allows it at up to 40 brick-and-mortar locations. The Type C licenses would allow up two gaming machines in kiosks at lottery sales locations and in bars, restaurants and bowling alleys that hold alcohol licenses, but they are limited to five years.

All 22 Fricker's locations in Ohio will have betting kiosks. Frickers' will encourage guests to download a mobile phone app to place their bets.

Fricker's has had an "exceptional relationship" with the Ohio Lottery and offers sports gaming kiosks as an extra entertainment value. Fricker's offers game viewing for all sports seasons. The company started offering the lottery and keno as soon as those were legal for restaurants.

As of Dec. 21, a dozen retail sportsbooks at existing casinos and racinos were fully licensed. 16 online sportsbook started taking bets in the first seconds of January 1.

Ohio estimates sports betting will be a $1.1 billion industry in its first year of operation. It will grow to $3.35 billion within a few years. The legislation legalizing sports gambling imposes a 10% tax on those gaming receipts. 98% of the revenue will go to fund public and nonpublic education. 2% will help combat gambling addiction.