Ohio Sports Betting: Poll Shows Only 15% of Voters Plan to Wager

Emerson College poll taken last week found that just 15% of voters are planning to place a bet via a legal sportsbook in Ohio when they go live on January 1, 2023. The intention to bet legally is higher among male voters. Pew Research Center found last month that 19% had placed sports bets within the last year via an online betting app, in person at a casino or other retail outlet, or with friends or family.

Ohio is the seventh-most populous state in the U.S. with almost 12 million residents. It is home to seven professional sports teams and professional fantasy sports leagues. DraftKings and FanDuel are primed to take advantage of their existing daily fantasy sport customer base in Ohio. The only other sportsbooks cited in more than 2% of responses were Barstool and FOX Bet.

Ohio legalized sports betting on December 22, 2013. Several professional sports teams were approved to offer sports bets as of January 1. 300 Type-C licenses were also issued to restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, golf courses and other venues that want to operate betting kiosks. Hollywood Casino Toledo, partnered with DraftKings, and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley were already approved. $9.6 million in non-refundable sports betting application fees have already been collected by the state.