A wide-ranging deal

Bally’s Corporation now has sports betting market access in Ohio after entering a long-term partnership with the Cleveland Browns NFL team. Bally’s Interactive, the online division of Bally’s Corporation, announced the new deal on Tuesday.

Bally’s intends to develop a sports lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium

Pending the relevant regulatory and licensing approvals, Bally’s intends to develop a sports lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium. The partners are yet to confirm where they will locate the lounge within the stadium. The exact plans are set to be finalized over the next few months.

The new agreement will also see the launch of an online Bally Bet Sportsbook in the state, as well as the addition of free-to-play games for Ohio fans. Finally, the two partners will also work together to provide a variety of fan experiences and engagement activations, such as a free-to-play predictor game and digital content.

Welcoming the news

Haslam Sports Group is the owner of the Cleveland Browns. In a Tuesday press release, its chief operating officer and executive vice president Dave Jenkins said the organization looks forward to working with Bally’s to provide “innovative opportunities” to Ohio sports fans.

Bally’s Interactive chief operating officer of North America Adi Dhandhania also welcomed the new deal. He said: “The Browns’ stadium and gameday atmosphere provide a great opportunity for us to showcase our Bally Bet Sportsbook app and Bally Play products in Ohio.”

Betting is on the way in Ohio

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine legalized sports betting by signing bills in December 2021. However, authorities are still in the process of finalizing the rules and regulations of the sector. Officials expect sportsbooks to open for business in January 2023.

The legislation permits sports teams, casinos, and racinos in Ohio to apply for one online sports betting license initially. They will then have the option to go for a second license if they can show that it would make sense financially to the state.

Ohio has many major league professional sports teams. The Cleveland Cavaliers have proven the most active when it comes to sports betting. The NBA team entered a deal in February with Fubo Gaming. The same month, the Cavaliers revealed that Caesars Entertainment will open a retail sportsbook at the team’s home venue.