Sportsbook newcomer Underdog Fantasy and sports merchandise giant Fanatics are looking to make their names known Ohio.
The pair are among a big group of entities that filed wagering applications ahead of a July 15 deadline that should position them to go live on the Jan. 1 universal launch date.
Underdog’s application is only its second anywhere in the U.S. – the company, which is planning a move into sports betting, is already licensed in Colorado and has plans to launch in both states in early 2023. Fanatics continues make inroads in sports betting though it doesn’t yet have a platform. The company has also applied for a license in Maryland, is among the major backers of a California digital sports betting initiative, and tried to get into New York earlier this year.
Underdog will partner with the MLB Cincinnati Reds on a digital platform, while Fanatics applied for three licenses – as partners in retail and online sportsbooks with the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets and as partners with the MLB Cleveland Guardians for a brick-and-mortar sportsbook.