The owner of the Phantom Fireworks and the Youngstown Phantoms Hockey team hopes to move a step closer this week to bringing a sports betting venue to the City of Youngstown.

Among the items on Wednesday’s Ohio Casino Control Commission Meeting is a measure that would upgrade Phantom’s Type-B Sports Gaming License from provisional to permanent, according to Phantom Vice-President Bill Weimer.

According to Weimer, under the terms of the current provisional license, Phantom can offer a sportsbook.  Weimer says the goal is to eventually make a proposal to the city to create a brick-and-mortar gaming venue in, or near the Covelli Centre downtown.

Weimer says Phantom is still working on architectural drawings and other parts of a proposal that would be acceptable to city officials.

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Racecourse in Austintown received approval for both Type A and Type B sports betting licenses and has been open for business since earlier this year.

Weimer tells 21 News that right now his company’s focus is on winning Friday night’s game against the Fargo Force, which would bring the USHL Clark Cup championship trophy to the Phantoms.