On Monday morning, the Cleveland Cavaliers unveiled something that has been in the works for quite a while.
To coincide with sports betting’s legalization within the confines of the state of Ohio, the Cavaliers unveiled their venue that they built in collaboration with Caesars Sportsbook. The new, 10,355-square-foot sportsbook accepted its first legal sports wagers on New Year’s Day, January 1 but the ceremonial grand opening marked the first time the sportsbook was operational during a Cavaliers home game, when Cleveland hosted the Chicago Bulls. The venue also features state-of-the-art Vegas-style sportsbook will feature wall-to-wall flatscreen televisions, five betting windows, and 15 betting kiosks. The second level of the sportsbook includes an elevated lounge-like atmosphere with sofas, chairs and cocktail tables. Both the lower and upper levels will have bars and feature an extensive menu for fans to enjoy.
The event itself featured remarks from Caesars and Cavaliers representatives, appearances by Cavaliers Franchise Legends, a ceremonial first bet, and a combined donation of $40,000 from Caesars Sportsbook and the Cavaliers to Seeds of Literacy, a nonprofit organization that provides free GED and HiSET preparation and basic education to adults in the greater-Cleveland area.
Caesars Sportsbook is easily accessible in the heart of the Gateway District in downtown Cleveland. Its location within the FieldHouse glass atrium offers an incredible view of the Cuyahoga River and allows for natural sunlight to shine throughout the space. It also provides a seamless connection to the more than 200 ticketed events hosted at the venue each and every year, including Cavalierss and Cleveland Monsters, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, games. The sportsbook features wall-to-wall flatscreen televisions, five betting windows, and 15 self-service betting kiosks with an extensive food and beverage menu and an elevated lounge-like atmosphere across two stories.
“We expect Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to be a go-to entertainment destination for sports fans in Ohio,” said David Grolman, Senior Vice President and Chief Retail Sportsbook Officer at Caesars Sportsbook. “This unique retail sportsbook anchored to a franchise with tremendous pedigree provides potential customers with a rewarding experience they can’t find anywhere else.”
“The launch of legalized sports betting in Ohio and the grand opening of Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is a historic moment for our franchise, Northeast Ohio and the entire state,” said Cleveland Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Rock Entertainment Group CEO, Nic Barlage. “It is with great pride and responsibility that we open the first Sportsbook in a sports venue in Ohio. Located within the heart and fabric of downtown Cleveland and connected to the over 200 events that the FieldHouse hosts each year, this Sportsbook will be an asset and amenity for our community, and we’re excited to bring it to life alongside our great partners in Caesars.”
Caesars Sportsbook is an “Official Sports Betting Partner” and Caesars Entertainment is the “Official Casino Partner” of the Cavaliers, unlocking experiences for bettors available through its industry-leading customer loyalty program Caesars Rewards. In addition to discounted getaways and world-class culinary experiences at Caesars destinations across the U.S., customers can also enjoy special access to Cavaliers tickets, merchandise, experiences with Cavaliers Legends, and more.
Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is Caesars Entertainment’s third sportsbook at a U.S. professional sports facility, adding to the industry’s first in-arena sportsbook – Caesars Sportsbook at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., home to the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals, as well as Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field in Arizona, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The opening adds to Caesars’ legacy in the Buckeye State, where it just opened another Caesars Sportsbook location at top horse racing and gaming destination Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs in Columbus.
Sports fans that are eligble are welcome to visit the sportsbook year-round, which is now open on both event and non-event days Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to midnight, Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to midnight.
In addition to in-person wagering at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs, Caesars Sportsbook is now live on desktop and available for download on iOS and Android for eligible Ohio customers. Caesars Sportsbook treats every customer like royalty with intuitive features, faster payouts, and new functionality, including expanded in-play markets and high-speed in-app streaming of select marque sporting events. The Caesars Sportsbook app also has tools in place to encourage responsible play, including Deposit Limits, Spending Limits, Daily Time Limits, and Cool Off Time Limits.
Evan Dammarell is a sports journalist covering all things Cleveland right off the shores of Lake Erie. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. You can also email him at [email protected] He can also be found three to five times a week on Locked On Cavs, a part of the Locked On Podcast Network.
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