What Ohio's midnight sports betting launch will look like at casinos

The Caesars Sportsbook-branded corner of Scioto Downs was empty last Thursday. A temporary construction tarp concealed the area where the Barstool Sportsbooks will be. Construction began in August and is scheduled to finish in early February.

Sports gambling becomes legal in Ohio on January 1st. Construction of the Barstool Sportsbook at the Hollywood Casino began in August and is scheduled to finish in early February. The Caesars Sportsbooks at Scioto Downs and Hollywood have undergone training to staff the sportsbooks. The new offerings will draw in unfamiliar customers. Some enthusiasts want the start of sports betting to be earlier. However, the midnight kickoff is codified. It doesn't put a damper on proprietors.

Both central Ohio casinos will offer in-person retail gambling starting Jan. 1. The Columbus Blue Jackets will take Nationwide Arena's rink on Jan 5, but details about on-site sports betting will be announced after the beginning of the year. A few businesses, such as Roosters, are not ready to go all in. Online sportsbooks are raring to start on January 1st. They are licensed differently than both retail venues and kiosks. About 90% of wagers will probably be placed online. It is a new frontier for the regulation and enforcement of them.

One in four Ohioans who participated in sports gambling was at risk in 2017. The state is preparing a baseline for when sports betting becomes legal. The Ohio Problem Gambling Hotline is at 800-589-9966. Do you believe you have a gambling problem? Call the Ohio problem gambling hotline at 888-539-966 or visit the website here.