Fanatics and Columbus Blue Jackets Open Retail Sportsbook

• Fanatics and the Columbus Blue Jackets opened their retail sportsbook located in the downtown Columbus Arena District.
• The retail sportsbook offers legal sports betting and viewing of all major sports.
• Former Ohio professional athletes Ryan Shazier and RJ Umberger placed the ceremonial first bets.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Fanatics Sportsbook and the Columbus Blue Jackets opened their retail sportsbook at noon on Friday. The Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus is located in Columbus’ Arena District, where fans can place their bets just outside Nationwide Arena.

A press release by Fanatics claims that Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus will offer legal sports betting for all major sports. This includes professional and college football, baseball, basketball, hockey, tennis, soccer, golf, MMA, and boxing. At the special event preview on Thursday, Columbus sports legends Ryan Shazier and RJ Umberger placed the ceremonial first bets.

Shazier, a former linebacker for Ohio State University and the Pittsburgh Steelers, placed $20 college football betting on Ohio State to win the national championship with +700 odds. Former Columbus Blue Jackets center RJ Umberger placed $20 on the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the AFC North.

Shazier and Umberger are the first to utilize the legal Ohio sports betting options offered at Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus.

“Having Columbus sports legends like Ryan and RJ come out and place the first bets shows that we plan to be the premier sports viewing and betting destination in the Arena District when we open our doors to the public on Friday,” said Ari Borod, Chief Business Officer of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “The Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus will be a great complement to our online sportsbook experience for sports fans living and visiting Ohio.”

The Blue Jackets’ partnership with Fanatics gives their brick and mortar sportsbook an edge by offering up to 5% cash back in FanCash. That FanCash can be used to buy Fanatics’ sports memorabilia for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the stadium.

The Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus officially opened at noon ET on Friday. Doors open from 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on weekends.

News tags: Columbus Blue Jackets | Fanatics | Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus | Ohio | Ohio State University | Pittsburgh Steelers | RJ Umberger | Ryan Shazier