Grocery store chain Kroger will reportedly not be rolling-out its sports betting kiosks across Ohio when the state launches on Jan 1.
As reported by Cincinnati Business Courier, Kroger is delaying its launch of retail sports betting kiosks until later in 2023, missing out on the highly anticipated statewide launch as the clock strikes midnight.
Kroger was one of over 1,000 organizations to be awarded a Type C license in Ohio, allowing it to have sports betting kiosks at its premises. Type C licenses allow venues such as restaurants, bars and grocery stores to install kiosks in their establishments.
In order to obtain a Type C license, Kroger had to meet several requirements – including having a license to sell alcohol, being an Ohio Lottery sales agent, and receiving recommendations from the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
Having satisfied those requirements, the grocery chain was set up to launch with the rest of the state on Jan 1.
However, it has since come out that this will no longer be the case, and Kroger is temporarily shelving its plan to install sports betting kiosks.
This is due to the firm, which has 42 locations in Ohio, not finalizing its sports betting strategy in time for execution, despite being approved for licensure some months back.
Ohio is expected to be a big player in the US sports betting market, with one early estimate projecting an annual handle of $9bn to $12bn by the end of the market’s third year.
Some of the mobile operators that have been awarded a Type A mobile and online sports betting license include FanDuel, DraftKings, Barstool, Betfred, BetMGM, BetRivers, Hard Rock, PointsBet, Superbook, and Tipico.
