betJACK Review

betJACK Sportsbook Review

Editor's Note: An official rating will be made once the sportsbook goes live for online betting - currently it's a free to play site only.

JACK Entertainment, a widely recognized brand in the Ohio entertainment scene has made betJACK available for download in the Ohio market and allows future bettors in the state to get a sense of just what legal sports wagering will look like. Instead of betting real money on the site, users bet tokens.

What betJACK lacks in financial gain, more than makes up for with its focus on social gambling. Keep reading to see just what the provider offers the Ohio bettor and its a right fit for you.

betJACK Quick Facts

betJACK Locations

betJACK is located in Ohio only. It is unclear at this point if there are any designs on expanding outside of the Buckeye State.

Sports Leagues to Bet On

For a company that is new to the sports betting industry, betJACK has managed to assemble an impressive list of sports for which you can make a free-to-play wager. Assembling a big, comprehensive list is a boon for current free-to-play bettors on their site and will definitely benefit the company as it moves toward a real-money sports betting platform in the future.

NFL Betting

betJACK is rightly focussing on the NFL with free-to-play wagering opportunities on the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and the entire league. Use tokens to bet the moneyline, straight bets, parlays, teasers, props, totals, futures, and live betting.

NBA Betting 

betJACK, as a homegrown Ohio brand has a strong focus on hometown teams for NBA betting. That means that the Cleveland Cavaliers are front-and-center for the site’s moneyline, straight bets, parlays, teasers, props, totals, futures, and live betting free-to-play wagering opportunities.

College Football 

The state of Ohio takes college football seriously. The Ohio State Buckeyes are an obsession while the Ohio Bobcats, Kent State Golden Falcons, and Cincinnati Bearcats are also well-supported. betJACK offers its full suite of free-to-play gambling options on College Pigskin - moneyline, straight bets, parlays, teasers, props, totals, futures, and live betting.

College Basketball 

College basketball is and will continue to be a popular betting option in Ohio — especially in March — and betJACK offers its full menu of bet types for college hoops betting aficionados.

NHL Betting 

betJACK has a focus on their home-state NHL franchise, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and provides puckline, straight bets, parlays, teasers, props, totals, futures, and live betting opportunities on the team and the NHL overall.

MLB Betting 

The MLB's Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians are huge draws in Ohio, especially during the dog days of summer. All of the betJACK free-to-play wagering opportunities are available, with a heavy focus on live betting.

Other Sports Leagues 

For a new sports betting destination, betJACK’s menu of “other sports” is pretty impressive. From major international soccer leagues such as the Premier League, rugby, and overseas volleyball, betJACK has you covered. The menu of sports rivals any wagering destination in any jurisdiction in the U.S. market.

Online Betting Experience

betJACK is able to deliver a strong online gambling platform right away. Not only does the site offer free-to-play, or social sports betting, but it also has a PlayJACK Casino betJACK Pick ’Em Lobby, Leaderboards, and Sports News to keep the bettor engaged. 

betJACK has obviously taken some cues from the most successful sportsbooks in the business and provides a simple, pleasurable online wagering experience right out of the gate. Signing up is simple, directions on how to access a desired sport or bet type are well laid out, and a handy search function is prevalent, right on the main screen.

The “Training Camp” feature provides bettors updates on relevant wagering news, as well as guides on how to place a wager on your favorite sport. The “News” tab on the main page links bettors to relevant industry stories and information on an event that bettors are interested in.

Along with a strong menu of sports, the provider’s “Bets Leaderboard” is a nice feature. It provides some social interaction with other bettors in the Ohio market, allows for people to connect with other users, and sets up a friendly competition in a race to be the top bettor in Ohio.

Generally, I was impressed with how fast the wagering offer got up to speed on the gaming industry and the overall social betting experience they provide.

Mobile Betting and Betting App

I was happy to see the betJACK app available not only for desktop users but also mobile, for those wanting to experience this on their desktop or from their mobile device.

Downloadable versions are available from the betJACK site itself, or at the App Store and Google Play Store.

Once I accessed betJACK, I was greeted by a sleek and modern mobile betting interface. While not as flashy as others in the market, I give it a pass with regard to its visual appeal with the hopes that they spice things up as they mature. Everything was very well laid out, easy to follow, and as complete as any established wagering provider in the U.S. scene.

Overall, the betJACK mobile betting app is surprisingly good, considering the infancy of the brand. The company has done a good job in creating and maintaining a solid mobile betting experience in advance of the launch of real-money betting in Ohio. Partnering with established, world-class online gambling provider Kambi was a smart and shrewd move – one that has paid off right away for betJACK.

Live Betting

Live betting has become an essential aspect of any legal sports betting platform globally. I was happy to see that the company identified in-game wagering as a focus while writing this review. Although just a free-to-play site (for now), betJACK has established a solid live betting base, offering action of multiple global sports and multiple events at a time.

I found the live betting odds were fair and updated in a timely fashion, and all of the relevant real-time stats necessary were readily available.

Casino, Poker, & Other Gaming Options

JACK Entertainment is no stranger to casino gaming, and while it’s not a strength of betJACK their online casino is respectable. PlayJACK offers gambling enthusiasts in Ohio a chance to play their favorite casino games from home. PlayJACK offers a Vegas-style casino experience, complete with a healthy amount of slots and table games action.

I noticed that the company’s casino options were lacking just a tad, when compared to some of the competition they will be facing when Ohio’s legal sports betting officially launches. While it’s adequate, my hope is that the menu of sports is expanded, and the overall casino experience is upgraded to match the expectations of Jack Entertainment’s retail casino facilities.

betJACK History

A Cleveland-based gaming company, Jack Entertainment operates 14 bars and restaurants and generates more than $400 million in revenues. Its two main casino locations are JACK Cleveland and JACK Thistledown.

On April 6, Jack Entertainment forged a relationship with both Shape Games & elite global sports gambling provider Kambi Group PLC in the formation of their free-to-play wagering option. These relationships will be key when Ohio's legal sports betting platform does indeed go live in January 2023.

betJACK Customer Ratings & Reputation

Jack Entertainment is an institution in Ohio and generally carries a sterling reputation. Their status in the community is evident in the way that people view the betJACK brand. The App Store gives betJACK a strong 4.5/5 rating – Google Play gives it a similar rating.

Hopes are that the company can carry this reputation into the real-money legal sports betting world. Reputation and name recognition carry a lot of weight in the legal sports betting game, especially in new jurisdictions like Ohio.

betJACK Customer Service

betJACK does offer a pair of options but in my opinion, the company needs to step up its game before real-money wagering goes live in Ohio. For now, there is a decent FAQ section available to address any questions/queries that customers could have. There is also an email address provided for customers of the site.

It is essential for sports betting providers to adopt a 24/7 chat function at a minimum. A phone option is also recommended as is a presence on social media. I hope that these options are coming to betJACK soon, or they risk being left behind by competitors.

betJACK Contact

• Email: helpbetjack@betjack.com
• FAQ section

betJACK Legal Betting

The Ohio Casino Control Commission is responsible for ensuring the integrity of casino gaming, sports gaming, skill-based amusement machines, and fantasy contests by licensing, regulating, investigating, and enforcing state laws.

Responsible Gambling

Despite being a free-to-play-only site currently, betJACK still has a focus on Responsible Gaming. The company provides information regarding support, treatment, resources, and assistance programs – for bettors themselves and their loved ones that may be worried about someone with addiction issues.

Phone numbers and links are provided on the site itself, as is a betJACK contact number that users can access if further help is needed.

Here are a few other resources to help ensure you are gambling responsibly.

• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG): The NCPG has over 50 years of experience assisting people and families affected by problem gambling. You can call or text them (1-800-522-4700) or join their 24/7 Live Chat.
• Center for Problem Gambling: The Center has been funded by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) since 1996. They are committed to serving anyone affected by a gambling addiction. Treatment is confidential and provided regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Their gambling counselors have significant experience working with problem gambling and include therapists who are Nationally Certified Gambling Counselors.
• BeGambleAware.org: Offers free, confidential help and support to anyone worried about gambling for themselves or others.
• Gambling Therapy: A global service provided by Gordon Moody offering free emotional support and advice to anyone affected by gambling.

Why Choose betJACK?

betJACK Sportsbook is certainly a respectable sports betting destination in the yet-to-be-launched real-money sports betting industry in Ohio. Considering that it is a free-to-play-only site at the moment, JACK Entertainment is proving that they are taking the launch of their real-money site in January 2023 seriously.

Getting a head start in Ohio is a smart move as the company attempts to capitalize on its status in the community. Building a strong sports betting and online casino brand ahead of its launch is even more shrewd, and they’ve created a modern, sleek, intuitive, user-friendly sports betting platform that will only get better as the Ohio market matures and the brand evolves.

I’d like to see BetJACK work on its customer service and they could spice up its visual appeal. Overall, I enjoyed my BetJACK experience and recommend that bettors in the state give it a try.