Fanatics Betting and Gaming (FBG) has announced the opening of its latest retail sportsbook in the Arena District of Columbus, Ohio.
The venue is operating in partnership with National Hockey League franchise the Columbus Blue Jackets. The sportsbook is located near to the team’s Nationwide Arena home.
On-site facilities include four betting windows, 14 self-service betting kiosks, a giant LED video wall and 20 TV monitors. Customers can place bets on a range of major sports such as football, basketball, hockey and baseball.
“A great day to be a Buckeye at the Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus”
At a special opening event held yesterday (24 August), Ohio sports legends former NFL star Ryan Shazier and long-time Blue Jackets player RJ Umberger placed the ceremonial first bets at the new sportsbook.
The launch comes a month after FBG announced its partnership with the NHL team.
“It was a great day to be a Buckeye at the Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus,” FBG chief business officer Ari Borod said. “Having Columbus sports legends like Ryan and RJ come out and place the first bets shows that we plan to be the premier sports viewing and betting destination in the Arena District when we open our doors to the public on Friday.
“The Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus will be a great complement to our online sportsbook experience for sports fans living and visiting Ohio.”
Fanatics’ presence grows in Ohio
The new sportsbook comes after FBG last week also opened another retail betting venue in the state of Ohio.
Located at the Cleveland Guardians’ Progressive Field, it is its first facility at a Major League Baseball (MLB) ballpark. Progressive Field is located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and has a capacity of more than 38,000.
The sportsbook features two betting widows, four self-service betting kiosks and seven TV monitors.
Online betting also live in the state
The two new retail sportsbooks will complement FBG’s online offering in Ohio. Earlier this month, FBG launched its online sportsbook in a number of states, including Ohio.
Fanatics’ online sportsbook is also now live in Maryland, Massachusetts and Tennessee.
The online sportsbook includes live scores, plus lines and odds for teams and athletes. Also included are moneyline bets, spread bets, over-unders, player props, live-in-game betting markets and same-game parlays.
Fanatics approved in Kentucky
This week, FBG was also approved for a new online sports betting licence in Kentucky.
The state is due to launch regulated retail sports wagering on 7 September, with online to follow on 28 September. Pre-registration for online accounts will open next week.
FBG was granted a temporary sports betting licence ahead of the launch. Bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, Circa, DraftKings, FanDuel and Penn Sports Interactive also secured licences, while Kambi was approved for retail operations.
