Oddin.gg is proud to announce that it has secured a full 3-year sports betting license in Ohio, further strengthening its standing as the esports betting solutions provider with the most licenses in North America. With this latest addition, Oddin.gg now holds four US licenses—New Jersey, Colorado, West Virginia, and Ohio—and a total of five across North America, including Ontario, Canada.

The Ohio license is a strategic milestone, as the state is set to become one of the most active betting markets in the American Midwest. According to projections from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, the state’s sports gaming market is expected to reach approximately $3.35 billion annually as it matures. By securing this license, Oddin.gg is well-positioned to support operators in tapping into this significant potential.

Obtaining the Ohio license also demonstrates Oddin.gg’s ability to meet the state’s comprehensive regulatory standards, which include arduous assessments of financial stability, operational integrity, and adherence to state laws. This achievement reinforces Oddin.gg’s reputation for compliance and reliability, enhancing its capability to deliver full-service esports betting solutions tailored to a growing market.

Ohio’s sports betting legislation imposes a 10% tax on sports gaming receipts, contributing to public education and initiatives supporting veterans in the state. Oddin.gg’s entry into this regulated environment reinforces its role as a leader in shaping the future of esports betting in the US while offering operators a pathway to engage with a new generation of bettors in a secure and exciting way.

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Vlastimil Venclík, CEO of Oddin.gg, shared his enthusiasm about the news: “Securing a license from the Ohio Casino Control Commission is a significant step in our North American journey. Ohio is poised to become one of the most dynamic betting markets in the US, and gaining this
approval aer meeting the state’s rigorous standards is a true reflection of our commitment to integrity and excellence both in Ohio and beyond. However, this license isn’t just about expanding our reach; it’s about ensuring our partners have access to market-leading esports betting solutions that fully align with all local regulatory requirements.”

He continued, “Ohio’s market is gearing up to be something special, and we’re excited to help operators tap into that potential. As esports betting continues to evolve, Oddin.gg is ready to provide the expertise, technology, and support to make sure our partners succeed.

Esports betting in the United States is a yet to be fully tapped, and with more regulatory progress the total market and opportunity in esports continues to grow.

It’s why at PandaScore, we recently acquired our first license in the lucrative American market, in the esports-friendly state of Colorado. The move is a strong signal of our ambition in the US, but it also sets out our methodology for solving the uncertainty problem that US esports betting currently suffers from.

Supplier licensing should lead the way

The unknowns about what markets and lines can be offered are a key piece of the puzzle in many jurisdictions. Uncertainty around the legislation means operators are tentative to jump in with both feet. At PandaScore, we’re helping operators navigate US esports betting regulation on a state-by-state basis, so they can make business led decisions in markets with right balance of stability and opportunity.

Except for a few states, esports betting regulation is relatively  new: there’s not a great deal of precedent to work from, and its quickly evolving nature means there’s likely more work to be done in the future. We plan to be at the forefront of making sure that esports betting works for the whole ecosystem: operators, suppliers, regulators and the betting public.

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The regulatory framework across the country may be shifting at different paces, but almost all states are going in one direction: expansion.

Esports suppliers have a duty to show operators the way and give them the tools, knowledge and expertise to make the right decision. We don’t believe in going all guns blazing, but entering markets with some certainty around esports in a considered fashion.

We can be more confident that those specific markets are built for esports, with Colorado being PandaScore’s first step for several reasons.

Why Colorado

When deciding which market to enter, we consulted heavily with our customers and whittled it down to states that had the right mix of commercial opportunity, solid regulatory environment and straightforwardness in licensing.

Since regulating esports, Colorado has had a friendly framework for esports. The catalogue for regular betting includes a wide range of esports titles based on approved games and tournaments by the publisher or regulator – which follows some similarities to how traditional sports betting is structured.

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The process itself was simple and clear, with clear terms and commercials that promote investment, entrepreneurship and innovation – all key ingredients for growing new markets and ambitious organisations to build new audiences.

Colorado is the natural next step in PandaScore’s service-minded, client-first approach. There’s already a generation of bettors who are seeking out esports betting products, esports suppliers need to be the source of knowledge and expertise that helps guide and amplify the esports ambitions of their clients.

Service-minded approach, client-led growth

We bring operators into the licensing conversation from the outset, exploring the licenses most valuable to them and then leveraging our lean, efficient operating model to get it done.

We’ve proven we’re serious about the US market, and that we can get a license efficiently, so if an operator desires a specific jurisdiction, we base our decisions on the revenue potential, give them a clear, no-spin picture of the market, and put in the hard work of licensing to provide our services in the US.

Player age verification as a mandatory service

A huge part of that no-spin picture is addressing the concern and risk around player age verification in esports. Compliance is paramount for suppliers and operators alike, so knowing the requirements from state to state is essential.

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PandaScore has been offering player age verification for years and is well established on this front thanks to years of servicing jurisdictions like Australia and Sweden. We already have an API that clients use for peace of mind, and are beefing it up as a standalone service intended to support regulators and governing bodies to ensure compliance, confidence and growth.

Suppliers need to lead from the front for US esports betting to succeed. It’s not just about having the best product – they need to be an expert on relevant regulation, genuinely serve the expansion interests of clients and be a truly safe pair of hands that actively supports and serves operators, bettors and regulators alike.

Author: Oliver Niner, Head of Sales at PandaScore.

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Max Level, a holistic marketing and PR agency built by gamers, has been awarded the public relations mandate for CyberPowerPC India, a premier US-based gaming PC brand, who debuted in the Indian market earlier this year. CyberPowerPC, known for its high-quality custom and pre-built gaming PCs, has chosen India as its first Asian market through a collaboration with Creative Newtech Ltd.

CyberPowerPC has been a trailblazer in the gaming industry, becoming the #1 OEM in the US during 2014-2015 with over 100,000 Microsoft Windows sales, and achieving the distinction of Amazon’s Choice for Gaming Desktop PCs in 2018. In 2022, the brand further solidified its reputation by being the only non-MNC to rank in the top 10 for desktop units sold, with five of the top 10 best-selling gaming desktops.

Widely available across major retailers like Best Buy, Costco, and Walmart in the US and Canada, CyberPowerPC has consistently led the gaming PC segment. Its presence at major events like Anime Expo and its expansion into licensing has further established its brand credibility.

Commenting on the new partnership, Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer, CyberPowerPC India, said, “The India launch marks the first Asian market for CyberPowerPC. With the rise of the gaming sector in India, our objective with the launch was to contribute to this growth and bring top-notch experiences for Indian gamers. Max Level’s deep-rooted understanding and extensive experience in the Indian gaming and esports ecosystem make them an ideal partner to elevate our brand presence in the country. Their holistic approach to PR, founded on the principles of passion and expertise in gaming, aligns perfectly with our mission to provide gamers with the best possible immersive experiences. Together, we aim to make CyberPowerPC a household name among Indian gamers.”

The addition of CyberPowerPC to its diverse portfolio of brands underscores Max Level’s growing influence in the Indian gaming, esports and tech market. With clients like NODWIN Gaming, SuperGaming, KRAFTON, Saudi Esports Federation, ESL Faceit Group, The Esports World Cup, ASUS ROG, Jio Games, TVS, and HyperX, Max Level continues to diversify its client base while maintaining a focus on delivering tailored B2B services that resonate with gaming and esports audiences.

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Siddharth Nayyar, Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Max Level stated, “Being entrusted with the India PR mandate of the number one Gaming PC manufacturing brand in North America is a testament to our expertise and understanding of the Indian as well as global gaming market and media landscape. Our success with national and international gaming brands reflects the collective passion of our team to craft the right stories that matter for brands looking to reach out to the gaming and esports audience. We are excited to contribute to CyberPowerPC’s growth journey as it aims to elevate the Indian PC gaming landscape.”

As CyberPowerPC embarks on this exciting new chapter in India, Max Level will be instrumental in driving its communication strategies, ensuring that the brand resonates with India’s burgeoning gaming community.