A sportsbook is coming to the Arena District
On January 1st of 2023, sports betting became legal in Ohio, and it has taken the state by storm. Earlier this year Barstool Sportsbook opened a physical location inside the Hollywood Casino Columbus, located on the westside of the city. Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs, on the South side of town also has a sportsbook, Caesers Sportsbook.
The Columbus Crew, who play just a short walk down Nationwide Blvd are also licensed to open a sportsbook, partnering with Tipico. They have an active license with the state to operate a sportsbook inside Lower.com Field. Tipico became the exclusive Sports Betting Partner for the Crew in 2022.
Now it seems that the Columbus Blue Jackets are getting into the sports gambling business. They have partnered with Fanatics Betting and Gaming to operate both an online, and a retail sportsbook location. Per the Ohio Casino Control Commission, they have an active license dated 7/13/22.
The location, currently under construction will be located at 401 North Front Street Suite 150, and it will in the old Three-Legged Mare, a bar that closed in 2019. The owners of The Three-Legged Mare closed it to focus on another bar they own, RBar, the hockey themed bar just a few feet from Nationwide Arena that is always packed with hockey fans before and after games.
It’s unclear at this time whether Fanatics will operate any betting kiosks inside Nationwide Arena. Other NHL arenas are embracing sports betting and have opened or plan to open sportsbooks inside the arenas, but it seems in the case of Nationwide Arena, you’ll have to take a 50 yard walk down Ludlow St to get the full sportsbook experience.
Whether you like to bet on sports or not, you should take a visit when it’s open. Sportsbooks are a fun place to hang out and watch sports regardless of whether you gamble or not. And this location will provide a year-round place for you to visit in the Arena District for some fun.