Plannatech Gets Approval to Operate Prime Sports in Ohio
Plannatech purchased online sportsbook that filed for Chapter 11 reorganization
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Prime Sports will soon be back up and running in Ohio. That’s thanks to state regulators approving a mobile sports betting license for the Prime’s new owner on Wednesday.
Plannatech received its license during the Ohio Casino Control Commission meeting. The company served as the platform provider for Prime, which also operates in Kentucky and New Jersey. Regulators in those states have already approved the new buyer’s application.
Plannatech also operates Betcris in Arizona.
Prime Offline for a Month
While Prime Sports continued operations in New Jersey and Kentucky, it was forced to pause taking bets in Ohio last month as the OCCC did its due diligence.
Plannatech CEO Adam Bjorn told Gambling Insider after Wednesday’s meeting that only a few Ohio bettors pulled their funds.
“There’s people who still have funds in their accounts,” said Bjorn, who notified bettors of the pause through his account on X. “It was an unusual situation, but I believe that’s where we started to build up that trust in what we’re trying to do.”
Bjorn initially hoped to have all the license approvals in place for the FIFA World Cup. Despite missing out on all but this weekend’s final games, he said the Ohio move was “perfect timing” with the first football games just a few weeks away.
Bjorn has decades of experience in gaming on both sides of a bet. He told the Ohio commissioners he’s worked for most of that time trying to replace unregulated operators.
“My goal, having been in this industry for a very long time, has always been pretty much the same,” he said. “Build a place where players, customers, as myself, have a place to be able to wager freely and openly without the restrictions that many operators around the world give. I believe regulation should channel customers in safe, transparent markets and not inadvertently push them away.”
Commissioner Scott Borgemenke told Bjorn he realizes the financial incentives “are not always there” for regulated operators. He added that he appreciated Prime trying to protect both itself and its customers.
“You’re not just a corporate entity coming in, trying to strip the top off the player,” he said.
‘Meat-and-Potatoes’ Sportsbook Growing in Ohio
Prime filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Delaware last November, citing estimated assets between $1 million and $10 million and liabilities between $50 million and $100 million. The court approved the reorganization plan calling for Plannatech to take over the operations on May 21.
The online sports betting operator will celebrate its third anniversary in Ohio this September. While still one of the Buckeye State’s smaller sportsbooks, Prime has seen its share of the handle grow. It took nearly $4.5 million in wagers in December 2023. In December 2025, Prime accepted more than $22 million. That ranked ninth among the state’s 13 licensed operators, but that total was comparable to Hard Rock Bet and pushing closer to Caesars and theScore.
Bjorn said Prime’s goal is not to take on FanDuel or DraftKings, but give bettors a “meat-and-potatoes” option that offers a better customer experience.
“It’s a hard message to get across because 99% are recreational players, and they don’t run into those things anywhere else,” Bjorn said. “But I think we’re also more of a community-based structure, where you have access to the CEO.
“Any issues you may have, get attention. You’re not on your live chat for 65 minutes waiting for somebody to get back to you.”
Gambling Insider delivers the latest industry news, in-depth features, and operator reviews that you can trust. Our team combines rigorous editorial standards with decades of specialized expertise to ensure accuracy and fairness. We are committed to delivering clear, impartial, and dependable coverage across the global gambling sector.
