If the casinos receive approval from the Ohio Casino Control Commission, sports betting will come to both Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and the Covelli Centre.
According to its website, both Phantom Fireworks Inc. and Youngstown Real Estate Ventures LLC (Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course) submitted sports gaming proprietor, services provider and supplier applications to the commission.
Vice President William Weimer of Phantom Fireworks said its application would be used for the downtown Youngstown arena. He also credited Phantom Fireworks President Bruce Zoldan with the idea.
Weimer commented: "He came up with the idea of getting one of these gaming licenses for the Covelli Centre. The idea is to put kiosks in the concourse (for sports betting) and do some remodeling at the Huntington Club on the second floor to provide for a betting area and TVs."
He continued: "Youngstown, like many cities, has seen a lot of decline downtown… It seems to be turning into an entertainment place. Adding this dimension to the Covelli Centre would help the entertainment aura of the downtown area."
Zoldan owns the United States Hockey League franchise the Youngstown Phantoms, which plays its games at the Covelli Centre. Weimer stated that there is "no intention under any circumstances" to bring sports betting to USHL games.
Part of Penn National Gaming, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course received its racing license and opened in 2014. Penn operates 44 properties in 20 states, online sports betting in 13 jurisdictions and iCasino in five.
The deadline for applications was set for July 15 but applications postmarked by that date will still be considered by the commission.
