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Fireworks and sports betting, a match made in heaven. The Ohio Casino Control Commission granted Phantom Fireworks a Type-B Ohio sports betting license, with the fireworks company planning to build a brick-and-mortar sportsbook in downtown Youngstown.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission unanimously granted the license to Phantom Fireworks. The license holder has yet to announce a sports betting service provider for their planned sportsbook.
Non-traditional Ohio sports betting license application
Michael Podolsky, Deputy General Counsel for Phantom Fireworks, thanked the commission before its ruling and noted the uniqueness of the application.
“We understand that this is a non-traditional application for this type of license. We are a consumer fireworks retailers, with 85 brick-and-mortar showrooms across 15 states, but our corporate headquarters is located in Mahoning Country in downtown Youngstown,” he said.
Phantom Fireworks is planning to construct a sportsbook at the Covelli Centre, an arena for the Youngstown Phantoms USHL hockey team. It’s unknown if a new facility will be constructed at the arena or if an existing space will be used for the sportsbook.
Phantom Fireworks is a “family-owned business” and a dedicated member of the Mahoning County community, Podolsky said.
“We are heavily involved in the community and we think this is an interesting opportunity to bring something new to downtown Youngstown, bring additional jobs to the city, and bring something new to the area,” he said.
Podolsky did not reveal when the sportsbook would be ready to open.
Illegal Ohio fantasy contests on blast
Ohio Casino Control Commission Executive Director Matthew T. Schuler warned the commission that regulation is needed for player vs. house fantasy sports prop contests. Operators that offer “prop wagers against the house” are illegal and masqueraded as games of skill in the state.
“There’s an army of these out there,” Schuler told the commission.
Daily fantasy sports contests are simple, he said. Players choose a roster of athletes on a pre-determined fantasy budget and compete against other player rosters in a fantasy game of skill. Operators who offer “player props” and describe them as fantasy contests are illegal in Ohio.
“I feel like we’re at the ramparts on the wall with all these folks trying to come into Ohio,” Schuler said.
Staff at the Ohio Casino Control Commission are currently scanning the state for such illegal contests. If one is identified, legal action through a cease-and-desist letter is usually taken, he said.
“Once they start to vary off that path, they automatically run afoul of the way. The time consuming part is convincing them and their attorney that is the case,” Schuler said.
Robert is an expert on sports betting in the United States, specifically the legalization process and regulation surrounding the industry.
