DraftKings Sports & Social in Columbus set to become Ohio's fourth on-site sports betting location

Columbus, Ohio, is gearing up to welcome its fourth on-site sports-betting venue with the opening of DraftKings Sports & Social in the Short North neighborhood, slated to take place May 9. Collaborating on this venture are sports betting giant DraftKings and Live! Hospitality & Entertainment, which recently opened another venue in Ohio, the PBR Cowboy Bar at Easton Town Center.

Situated at 840 N. High St., in the former location of Melt Bar & Grilled, the 5,500 square feet DraftKings Sports & Social venue will be a mix of sports bar, sportsbook, and restaurant. There will be a 37-foot LED media wall and an array of 20 high-definition TV sets.

Patrons aged 21 and above will have the opportunity to engage in sports betting through the DraftKings Sportsbook app, as well as participate in daily fantasy sports contests via their mobile devices. This will be the third DraftKings Sports & Social property in the US and the first in Ohio, following openings in suburban Detroit and Nashville.

On game days for local teams such as Ohio State, the Columbus Crew, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, DraftKings Sports & Social will host watch parties complete with local celebrities, DJs, in-game entertainment, fan cams, audio-visual effects, and giveaways.

Michael Kibort, Vice President of Product Operations for DraftKings, said: "We have created a premier entertainment, sports, and dining destination for fans and fun-seekers to enjoy. Columbus is a really special city, and we’re looking forward to being able to offer our customers in Ohio an exciting in-person experience with our innovative mobile sportsbook app."

In terms of culinary offerings, the menu at DraftKings Sports & Social offers sports bar basics with a selection of burgers, sandwiches, wings, tacos, flatbreads, salads, and shareable appetizers.

Operating hours for the sports bar will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays through Wednesdays and from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. The doors will open to the public at 9 p.m. on May 9.

The establishment's launch follows Ohio lawmakers' decision to legalize sports betting in 2021, with the legislation officially taking effect on January 1, 2023. Presently, sports betting in Ohio is available at Hollywood Casino, Eldorado Scioto Downs, and the Fanatics Sportsbook located outside Nationwide Arena.