Ohio to likely see surge in sports betting revenue from football
With Thursday night's NFL kickoff, the first full football season of sports betting is underway in Ohio.
CLEVELAND — The Ohio Casino Control Commission expects football to increase the state's revenue from legalized sports betting.
In January, the Ohio Casino Control Commission reported more than $209 million in revenue from the first month of legalized sports betting in the Buckeye State.
However, the revenue has decreased since the first three months of the year.
- January - $209.6 million
- February - $81 million
- March - $94 million
- April - $63 million
- May - $57 million
- June - $32 million
- July - $37 million
Jessica Franks, the communications director for the commission, tells 3News that they expect the revenue to increase with the first full season of football here.
"Based on the performance of other states, football is a major driver," said Franks.
In 2022, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported that revenue from legalized sports betting eclipsed $75 million in September. From September to December, the board reported roughly $278 million in revenue from sports betting.
While revenue from sports betting went down during the summer in Ohio, calls to the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio went up.
"We got into the thousands right after sports betting started, but now you can see throughout the entire summer and early fall we're in the 700's," said Michael Buzzelli, associate director of the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio.
Since January, the number of sports betting platforms has increased in Ohio. There are now 19 mobile betting platforms and 16 in-person betting sites, according to Franks.
"We'll start to see some additional increases in advertising being sent to consumers," said Franks.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission watches the sports betting operators closely to ensure they're following the rules. Advertisements need a 'help line' in clear site and they're also ensuring that promotions are allowed.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, you can call 1-800-589-9966 for help.
