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As Ohio sports betting continues to expand, Fanatics Betting and Gaming announces the opening of its newest physical sportsbook location. Fanatics Sportsbook officially opens today in partnership with the NHL franchise, the Columbus Blue Jackets, in Columbus’ Arena District.
In a Thursday press release, Blue Jackets Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cameron Scholvin said:
“Tomorrow will be an exciting day for Blue Jackets fans and for sports fans in Ohio as we officially open the Fanatics Sportsbook in the shadow of Nationwide Arena. I’d like to thank RJ and Ryan for joining us today, as well as extend our gratitude to our partners at Fanatics and the many others that worked very hard to make this remarkable facility a reality.”
After holding a special opening event on Aug. 24, the brand-new Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus officially opened on Aug. 25 for local sports fans. The newest Ohio sportsbook is located at 401 North Front Street, just outside Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Ohio sports legends Shazier and Umberger placed ceremonial first bets
At a special preview yesterday, Ohio sports legends Ryan Shazier and RJ Umberger placed the ceremonial first bets at the new sportsbook:
- Shazier, a former Pittsburgh Steelers and Ohio State University linebacker, placed a $20 wager at +700 odds on the Buckeyes to win the 2024 college football national championship.
- Umberger, a former center for the Columbus Blue Jackets, also placed a $20 bet at+475 on the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the AFC North Division in the upcoming season.
Ari Borod, Chief Business Officer, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, 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.”
What will the new Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus offer?
As the press release reveals, the 5,000-square-foot Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus features:
- Four betting windows
- 14 self-service betting kiosks from Suzohapp
- LED video wall and 20 TV monitors
- The full-service restaurant operated by Delaware North
The viewing experience is complemented by betting on all major sports like professional and college football, basketball, hockey and baseball.
The brick-and-mortar sportsbook in Columbus runs seven days a week, from 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on weekends.
Fanatics now offers two retail sportsbooks in Ohio
Fanatics opened its other 600-square-foot retail location in Ohio last week at Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Guardians.
Although getting approval to launch on day one in Ohio (Jan. 1), Fanatics decided to take time to enter the market fully. Instead, it opened the app for a privileged group of customers.
Players can earn up to 5% back in FanCash on every bet, with the sportsbook available for download on iOS and Android. Fanatics says the app boasts fast signup, easy betting and transparent withdrawals.
Fanatics Sportsbook is now live in four states after months of beta testing. Apart from Ohio, the sportsbook is available to players in Maryland, Massachusetts and Tennessee.
