TV personality Bobby George and the Browns are joining forces to “open a new sportsbook” in downtown Cleveland that will be part of a “new entertainment concept” opening within a year, according to Sean McDonnell of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The Browns said that its sports-betting partner, Bally Bet, would “also be involved and that it would be called the Bally Bet Sportsbook." McDonnell noted initially, George and the Browns “planned to open their own, separate sportsbooks,” but the partnership “lets both of them get around some obstacles.” Cuyahoga County is "limited to just five sportsbooks" and existing casinos and racinos and sports teams “got precedence.” With the Browns, Cavaliers and Guardians all getting licenses, and JACK Casino and Jack Thistledown Racino getting licenses, George was “sixth in line.” Partnering with George also helps the Browns “get around NFL rules about gameday bets at stadiums.” According to NFL policy, teams “can have a retail sportsbook at the stadium, but they can’t be open on days when the home team is playing there.” By putting the sportsbook away from the stadium, the Browns’ betting operation “can open during home games” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 9/11).
