YOUNGSTOWN — Phantom Fireworks Inc. has been approved by the state for a provisional in-person sports betting license, the first of many steps the company must take before actual wagering can happen.

It won’t be until sometime in early 2023 when representatives from the Youngstown-based fireworks distributor and Youngstown’s Covelli Centre begin in earnest to formalize the project planned for the downtown entertainment venue.

“We went through some application hurdles successfully, and they (the Ohio Casino Control Commission) issued the provisional license,” said William Weimer, vice president of Phantom Fireworks. “We still do not have the plans. The plans are going to have something to do with the Covelli Centre, and we’re struggling a little bit coming up with the exact formulation of what we are going to do with the Covelli Centre.”

“Everybody is on board, and we’re all agreed that we are going to work toward some end here, and now the provisional license has been issued, this gives us the incentive to all parties to actually start making commitments and get moving on trying to formalize and finalize the project,” Weimer said.

Phantom Fireworks was informed Wednesday the provisional license had been granted by commission Executive Director Matthew T. Schuler.

Being a provisional license, it is good for three months and can be extended once for another three months.

“In the meantime, the commission will continue its background investigation that we have ongoing for the company, and once that investigation is complete, then they will come before the commission for a full plenary license like our other applicants have,” commission spokeswoman Jessica Franks said.

Franks added Phantom Fireworks has yet to inform the commission of its services provider — the company that will operate the sports book.

“It’s progress,” Franks said of the provisional license. “But there are still a number of steps needed to be completed before they can start accepting wagers.”

In July, Weimer said the plan was in the “embryonic stages,” and a loose outline of the concept was included in the request to the state.

The idea then was to put kiosks in the concourse for sports betting and remodel a portion of the second floor for a betting area with televisions. That plan, however, didn’t work out.

“Logistically it didn’t quite make sense,” Weimer said. “It made sense for us talking about it, but when we got architects involved and actually looked at the whole thing, we realized that it wasn’t just quite what we needed for this.”

He said a couple of scenarios have been discussed, but he would not give details until they come together more.

Sports betting becomes legal in Ohio on Sunday under House Bill 29, which lawmakers approved in December 2021 to allow sports gaming through licensed operators of online sportsbooks and brick-and-mortar establishments.

It also created the Ohio sports gaming lottery operated by the Ohio Lottery Commission through terminals at certain liquor permit establishments.

Meanwhile, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Austintown, part of the massive PENN Entertainment Inc. will be ready to accept wagers at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, according to a PENN spokesman. Its sports book will be operated by Barstool Sportsbook.

Guests will be able to place wagers at kiosks or at the counter, with managers available to help.