Fifteen different entities yet to carry through on state-licensed plans to be involved in offering Ohio sports betting have been granted a reprieve until June 30 to do so.
After that, they could have their licenses revoked by the Ohio Casino Control Commission if they don't launch.
That's the result of a vote taken by the commission last week to extend a year-long deadline given to licensees to begin their operations, according to commission spokeswoman Jessica Franks. In most cases, the original deadline for startup would have been Jan. 1, 2024 — one year from the date when legal sports betting began in the state.
The OCCC approved the six-month waiver almost simultaneously with starting the process of fixing a drafting error in what are known as “use it or lose it” regulations. The regulations and deadline are designed to ensure that those who obtain sports gaming licenses in Ohio carry out their roles in furthering the industry, which in its first nine months generated nearly $700 million in revenue from betting.