PlayUp has come to a resolution with the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) in which the Australian-based operator will forgo applying for a gaming license in the state for the next four years and pay approximately $120K in penalties. The agreement was officially ratified during the OCCC meeting in Columbus on Wednesday.
This settlement was the result of months of discussion between PlayUp representatives and state officials, including those in the state attorney general’s office, rather than a hearing which was originally requested when the denial of the company’s application for a sports betting license was announced.
The agreement not only prevents PlayUp from obtaining a license denial on its record, which could have led to consequences in other states where it is currently licensed and active, such as New Jersey and Colorado, but it also stipulates that the operator must notify OCCC at least 90 days prior to submitting a license application after the four-year ban is up, allowing officials to review any product PlayUp plans to offer in Ohio.
Additionally, the arrangement requires PlayUp to reimburse Ohioans for any losses incurred from the slot-like game the operator ran in the state, estimated to be around $30K, and a $90K fine to the state.
The decision to settle the case rather than deny the license application results in a longer prohibition period from PlayUp pursuing licensure in Ohio. The initial denial would have banned the company from reapplying for three years.
Neither JACK Entertainment, which was expected to be an online partner for PlayUp, nor PlayUp responded to requests for comment following the meeting. The denial of the license in December was due to PlayUp promoting its Slots+ product, which includes online slots and scratch-off games, as a legal game in the state despite it being prohibited.
This story will be updated.
