Not all aspects of Ohio sports betting launch rolled out on time

CLIFTON — Ohio’s launch of sports activities betting got here simply in time for the NFL playoffs. Whereas it provides one other stage of pleasure for followers, a part of the launch continues to be delayed, inflicting frustration for some companies.

Matt Esterkamp is a lifelong Bengals fan.

“I genuinely go into each recreation pondering the Bengals are going to win,” he mentioned.

With the launch of sports activities betting in Ohio, he is been placing his cash the place his mouth is, inserting bets on issues like Ja’Marr Chase having the primary landing in final week’s Bengals vs. Payments recreation.

Esterkamp principally locations his bets on apps on his cellphone, however in Ohio, there are additionally retail sportsbook places and sports activities betting kiosks.

Because the Bengals are headed again to the AFC championship, companies like Martino’s had been hoping to be someplace followers can watch the sport and place bets, however their sports activities betting kiosk nonetheless is not up and operating.

“The kiosk, it was imagined to be downloaded January first and nonetheless as of right now it isn’t downloaded,” Marty Anguilli, the supervisor of Martino’s mentioned.

The bodily kiosk is there, however the sports activities betting software program is not on the machine but.

The Ohio Lottery Fee mentioned testing at pilot places started yesterday. If it goes properly, they mentioned kiosks in different places will go stay within the coming weeks.

It is nonetheless attainable to put bets at Martino’s and different companies with kiosks, although, by means of the Sportsbet Ohio app. You select your wager on the app, then it provides you a QR code which an worker scans beneath the machine behind the bar.

However Anguilli mentioned most individuals do not wish to wager that method.

“Individuals once they understand the kiosk is not up and operating resolve they will go away,” he mentioned.

Esterkamp appears to agree with the bulk on this. He is been utilizing solely a sports activities betting app because the launch of sports activities betting in Ohio, one thing he views as probably the most handy approach to wager.

Whereas he would possibly attempt betting in particular person sooner or later, one factor that will not change is his confidence within the Bengals. He already has cash on the Bengals successful the Superbowl.