The first day of legal sports gambling in Ohio is in the books. And while there was a lot of buzz about it, the results won’t be known for a while.
One of the first bets was a $19,000 wager for the Browns to beat the Steelers from former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar.
Pete Rose, the former Cincinnati Reds player and manager banned from the MLB in 1989 for betting on his team, also placed one of the state’s first bets, for the Reds to win the World Series.
The Casino Control Commission said 29 proprietors started accepting bets on New Years Day just after midnight, at casinos and racinos, at kiosks and online.
Nearly 1,500 establishments have preliminary approval to set up sports gaming from the Ohio Lottery Commission, which will oversee it.
The vast majority of bettors are expected to use mobile apps, which have been bombarding Ohioans in the weeks leading up to the statewide sports gambling launch.
The amount of money wagered on the first day is unknown – the first report won’t be available till the end of February.
