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YOUNGSTOWN -- The request for an in-person sports betting license by Phantom Fireworks Inc. is "nontraditional," a company official said, but it's also an "interesting opportunity" to bring a new business to the downtown.
"The family business is interested in sports, but more importantly, they are interested in the community of Mahoning County and we see this as an interesting opportunity to bring a business to downtown Youngstown," Michael Podolsky, deputy general counsel for the national consumer fireworks retailer, said. "The location of the sports book would be in conjunction with the Covelli Centre, which is an arena that has a hockey team that plays there, which we are involved in."
Podolsky on Wednesday addressed the Ohio Casino Control Commission before it approved the Youngstown-based company's request for a Type-B gaming proprietor license, which allows the holder to offer sports wagering at a qualified gaming facility.
"We are heavily involved in the community, and again, we see this as an interesting opportunity to bring something new to downtown, bring jobs to downtown and business to the area," Podolsky said.
He was there with Alex Zoldan, vice president of Phantom Fireworks. Zoldan did not speak before the commission.
The approval is the first step of many Phantom Fireworks must take before any sort of bet can be placed; the most important is selecting the company that will operate the sports book. That company, according to a commission spokeswoman, would have to be licensed in Ohio, if not already, and be in compliance with rules before given the OK to start accepting wagers.
Phantom Fireworks in December was granted a provisional license by commission Executive Director Matthew T. Schuler. It was good for three months and could be extended for another three months.
William Weimer, vice president of Phantom Fireworks, said the plan remains for the sports book to be at the Covelli Centre.
The company should be ready "to talk turkey with the city rather than just generalizations" on a plan within the next couple weeks, he has said.
The commission also approved a Type-C license for Wright Bet of Dayton, private equity backed sports wagering solutions company. The license allows for sports betting kiosks at retail establishments with class D liquor licenses.
"Each of these applicants submitted complete and timely applications which allowed staff to conduct thorough reviews appropriate to each … after completing thorough probative reviews, staff did not uncover any material derogatory information that would render either of them ineligible or unsuitable for a license to conduct or participate in sports gaming in this state," Anna Marin Russell, director of licensing and investigations / senior legal counsel for the commission, said.
Sports betting became legal in Ohio on Jan.1 under House Bill 29, which lawmakers approved in December 2021 to allow sports gaming through licensed operators of online sportsbooks and brick-and-mortar establishments.
It also created the Ohio sports gaming lottery operated by the Ohio Lottery Commission through terminals at certain liquor permit establishments.
Meanwhile, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Austintown, part of PENN Entertainment Inc., is operating in-person sports betting at the facility operated by Barstool Sportsbook.