Caesar’s Sportsbook Strikes Deal With Cleveland Cavaliers
Ohio: On The Clock to Legalize Sports Betting
“Building upon our already established roots with Scioto Downs in Columbus, we’re excited to announce our partnership with the Cavaliers at an exciting time in their franchise’s history,” said Co-President of Caesar’s Digital, Chris Holdren. “As we prepare to launch sports betting in Ohio later this year, this wide-ranging partnership enables us to connect with the Cavs’ passionate and highly engaged fanbase. Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will be a first-class venue providing an exciting atmosphere for sports betting and more.”
Sports betting is currently prohibited in the state of Ohio but Ohio sports fans won’t have to wait too much longer to place bets at Rocket Mortgage. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a bill to legalize sports betting in December of 2021 that suggested a 2022 launch. On Jan. 1, 2022, commercial operators could begin applying for licensing in Ohio through the Ohio Casino Control Commission. April 1, 2022 is the earliest that the state can begin awarding licenses to sportsbooks, and you can bet that Caesar’s will want to be at the top of that list.
Once legal, Ohio sports fans will finally be able to bet on their favorite Ohio sports teams without crossing the border into Pennsylvania or Indiana. Cleveland is a lucrative state for a launch with so many favorable teams to bet on – Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and the Cincinnati Reds, to name a few.
The Details
The deal between Caesar’s and the Cleveland Cavaliers plans for a retail sportsbook to be built on the street level inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Admission to the game itself is not required to place wagers – in fact, people can place bets in the retail sportsbook inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse even when there is no game. This retail location will include betting windows, wall-to-wall TV’s, a full bar and menu, and tons of amenities to make the Cleveland-loving sports fans’ experience better. Caesars Entertainment will also have access to the Cavaliers’ digital and broadcast mediums as well as TV-visible signage at all of their NBA games.
Caesar’s Rewards, which is one of the cornerstones of Caesar’s Entertainment, will have exclusivity perks at this lounge. Rewards members will be able to earn tier and loyalty credits when they place bets, and will have access to VIP experiences and events in the lounge.
Caesars Expanding Its Reach
While the two organizations are still straightening out the details, the Caesar’s Sportsbook lounge should be up and running by the end of 2022, depending on the legal status of the activity within Ohio. All should go according to plan though, as this is not Caesars Sportsbook’s first professional sports team partnership. In May of 2021, they opened up a retail sportsbook at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. and became the first sportsbook to do so in the U.S. Since, they have become the official casino partner of the Indianapolis Colts and many others, and are on their way to becoming the official partner of the Arizona Diamondbacks.