Kroger Sports Betting Kiosks Installed at 20 Grocery Store Locations in Ohio

20 Ohio grocery stores to install Kroger sports betting kiosks

Kroger shoppers can now place sports bets while shopping for groceries at select Ohio locations.

The Cincinnati Business Courier reports that the Cincinnati-based supermarket chain has installed Sports Betting Kiosks at 20 locations in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton. The self-service sports betting machines are operated by UBET Ohio, a B2B sports betting company formed after Ohio lawmakers passed a law in 2021 allowing retail and online sports betting.

The new feature allows Kroger to join other retailers in Ohio that already offer the service. "The launch of these kiosks will provide customers with a new and convenient way to participate in a variety of sports and teams through sports betting," the grocery retailer said in a statement.

At Kroger sports betting kiosks, anyone 21 years or older can put in cash and place a bet. Winning tickets are redeemed by Kroger employees, similar to cashing out lottery tickets.

Lottery Sports Betting

Ohio's Sports Betting Law allows casinos in the state to offer both in-person and online sports betting. The law also allows lottery operators to exercise sports betting privileges.

There are more than 900 businesses in the Buckeye State offering retail sports betting kiosks managed by the Ohio Lottery. Betting terminals are located in restaurants and bars, grocery stores, gas stations, bowling alleys and student clubs.

The weekly betting limit at the ticket booth is $700 per person. Customers must present a valid ID for age verification before placing bets. The ID component allows the Ohio Lottery Commission to ensure that individual weekly wagering limits do not exceed $700.

Although there were 843 locations with sports betting kiosks as of the end of December, the majority of bettors in Ohio (and in states across the country that allow online and in-person sports betting) place bets over the Internet.

In December, for example, sports betting kiosks accepted about $1.21 million in bets. The machines deducted $127,417 from the handle.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has not yet released casino and online sports betting data for December, but in November, Online Sports Betting accepted more than $621.3 million in wagers and retained more than $80.1 million Betting.

Live betting at the state’s 14 brick-and-mortar sportsbooks totaled $17.7 million. Oddsmakers kept just under $900,000.

Kroger Locations

Kroger is Ohio's largest grocery chain with approximately 200 stores in more than 100 cities. The grocery retailer is the go-to place for many Ohioans to do their weekly shopping, which could make Kroger a major player in the lottery sports betting market.

Kroger has high brand recognition and trust, which may give bettors a greater sense of security when placing sports bets at kiosks than at bars or gas stations.

Kroger was founded in Cincinnati in 1883 by Bernard Kroger. Kroger is considered a pioneer in the grocery industry in introducing self-service shopping as an alternative to delivery, and has since become known for its philanthropy through significant donations to hospitals, medical research and parks.