Bengals Apply for Ohio Sports Betting License, Announce Official Sportsbook Partner
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The Cincinnati Bengals want a slice of the sports betting pie.
The NFL franchise and last season's Super Bowl runner-up has applied for an online license in the state of Ohio, where sports betting will be legal on Jan. 1 of the new year.
The Bengals named Betfred as its primary sportsbook partner on a multi-year deal.
"This is an exciting opportunity to partner with the Bengals as we continue to expand Betfred across the US and into Ohio with the launch of sports betting in the near future," Mark Stebbings, Betfred Group COO, said in a statement released by the NFL franchise.
"The Bengals are a premier franchise with a passionate fanbase and a history of innovation that aligns with our brand. We look forward to engaging with fans across the state as we introduce them to unique betting promotions and content throughout the year."
This move makes all the sense in the world for a state like Ohio, which has seen neighbors such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia and others take lift-off in the betting space.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine green-lighted sports betting in late 2021. It felt inevitable, especially after the state produced record-breaking casino revenue figures during that year.
There was a glimmer of optimism that sports betting in Ohio would arrive in time for the upcoming NFL season, but to no avail. Regulators a few months ago tabbed late December as the optimal time to launch.
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