CENTERVILLE — If you want to place a bet on the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night game against the Buffalo Bills, you can do so legally now in Ohio. Sports betting officially became legal on Sunday.
The Buckeye State has joined more than 30 other states where fans can bet on sports.
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News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis went to Bargos Grill and Tap on Miamisburg Centerville Road on Sunday. It’s one of the places in the Miami Valley that now offers sports betting.
People told Lewis it’s about time sports betting is legal here in Ohio.
“Came here to watch the game, hang out, have a drink, play pool,” said D.J. Dennis, a Moraine native.
Lewis said Dennis is glad he can add sports betting to that list.
“I’m excited,” he said. “You can sell cigarettes. You can sell alcohol, why can’t you bet on sports?”
The sports bar had a poster on its wall explaining how people can place a bet on their phones.
Miami Township resident Mark Landers told Lewis he’s all for it.
“I think it’s something they should have had quite a while ago,” he said. “I’ve already downloaded a couple of apps. I’m a Bengals fan so I already downloaded that Betfred app plus a few other ones.
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Lewis reports some are worried about the legalization of sports betting.
Public Health- Dayton & Montgomery County posted on its Facebook page Saturday that it will increase, “the chance that more Ohioans will become addicted to gambling.” It is offering resources for gambling disorders.
“Hopefully most people will put limits on how much money they spend,” said Landers. “They don’t start spending their milk money and their rent money on gambling so hopefully that’ll be the case.”
Lewis called around other establishments in the area and they told him they hope to have their kiosks and machines up and running very soon.