By The Buckeye State is famous for its love of sports. Until early 2023, none of it could be legally bet. However, that’s all changed and Ohio has become a force in the legalized sports betting market. Force, we say!
You’re going to want to keep reading for the most comprehensive look at betting in Ohio. What’s on the table? What’s off-limits? What are the best betting sites? We have answers to all these pertinent questions in this guide so don’t go anywhere.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Ohio?
Sports betting went live in Ohio in January 2023. However, it was legalized as far back as December 2021 HB 29 passed. It took a year for the state to set up the infrastructure, but boy have they done so now.
Get this, there are 25 legalized betting apps in the state. 25! This far exceeds what most states license. But hey, we’re all for a healthy, competitive market. Of course, offering this many apps could feel overwhelming to an Ohio bettor getting started. That’s why our next section is meant to help you sift through the noise and pick the best Ohio sportsbook.
International Online Sportsbooks Available In Ohio
While sports betting is legal in Ohio, bettors should know that certain wagers remain off-limits at state-regulated sportsbooks. The Buckeye State offers a robust legal betting market, but some popular bet types are only available through international sportsbooks. Ohio's legal books are prohibited from offering bets on political events and may have restrictions on in-state college teams.
For those interested in these types of bets, international sportsbooks provide a wider array of options. These offshore sites accept wagers on political events, a full range of college sports without restrictions, and numerous specialty markets not found at legal Ohio books. By expanding your options to include these international sportsbooks, you can access a truly comprehensive range of betting markets.
While using offshore sportsbooks comes with some risks, the sites we promote have been thoroughly vetted for safety and reliability. Our team has personally used these platforms for years, ensuring prompt payouts and fair treatment of customers. We only recommend trusted operators with long track records of integrity in the online betting space.
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Legal Online Sportsbooks Available In Ohio
Pretty much every betting app you can think of is available in Ohio. Here's the most popular options though:
| Name of Bookmaker | Available? |
|---|---|
| DraftKings | ? Available |
| FanDuel | ? Available |
| BetMGM | ? Available |
| Caesars | ? Available |
| BetRivers | ? Available |
| Fanatics | ? Available |
| ESPN Bet | ? Available |
| WynnBet | ? Available |
Ohio Online Sportsbook Comparison
Twenty-five licensed sportsbooks in the state is no joke. However, all of this competition means each app really has to step up its game to stand out. That’s most visible when it comes to promotions. So below we’ll be naming the sportsbook that does promos the best, but other things too like betting options or mobile wagering. That way you can choose a sportsbook that best does the thing you want most out of a platform:
Best sportsbook for bonuses: BetMGM has the best deal in terms of dollar value — going up to $1500. Not a typo, it’s really that high. The deal works like this: a bettor gets a first bet completely risk-free. That’s because BetMGM will refund the loss dollar-for-dollar up until that $1500 mark. No downside and all upside when making your first bet on the platform.
Best sportsbook for betting options: Let’s get one thing out of the way: most of these sportsbooks offer near-identical betting options and odds. Variety is tough to find, however, you do find some at FanDuel. That’s because this platform is big on giving out boosted odds. Those line changes end up creating a lot of long-term value for bettors.
Best sportsbook for live betting: We’re giving DraftKings the nod here. They are very much a tech-driven platform and you see this first-hand with in-play betting. Its AI system updates lines in real-time without issue. Line changes also keep up strikingly well with live games. It all works together to create a thrilling in-play experience for bettors.
Best sportsbook for rewards: Fanatics Sportsbook has one big advantage over other platforms: they can reward merchandise. That’s because Fanatics is the number-one sports merchandise seller in the world, all of which are integrated into the sportsbook’s reward programs. It’s a nice change of pace from just offering free-play rewards like every other app out there.
Best sportsbook for user experience: Here again, FanDuel wins out for us — and millions of Ohio bettors too. This is because FanDuel has the highest percentage of the Ohio market, and the United States as a whole. That wouldn’t be the case if FanDuel wasn’t providing a killer user experience, which they are. All of FanDuel’s platforms work exceedingly well.
Ohio Quick Facts
| Fact | Ohio |
|---|---|
| Launch date: | 2023 |
| Legal age: | 21 Years Old |
| Online sports betting | ? Yes |
| Number of licenses | 25 |
| Remote registration | ? Yes |
| Retail sportsbooks | ? Yes |
| Retail casinos | ? Yes |
| Online casino sites | ?No |
| Online poker | ?No |
| Betting on college sports | ? Yes |
| Betting on esports | ?No |
| State population | 12 million |
| State regulator | The Ohio Casino Control Commission |
| Last verified | ? September 3 |
What You Can’t Bet On In Ohio?
As open as Ohio’s betting market is, there are some things closed to the betting public. The following things can NOT be wagered on:
Collegiate player props: in March of 2024, Ohio amended its rules to disallow player prop bets on college athletes. It initially launched with this allowed, but not anymore.
Politics: Elections are off-limits to Ohio bettors too. This counts as a non sports bet per regulators, which they don’t allow in any shape or form. Politics isn’t the only non-sport category not allowed, the next two count as the same:
Award shows: No Grammy betting. No Oscars betting. This has become popular as of late as bettors throw many on award outcomes, but not in Ohio.
WWE: as athletic as many WWE wrestlers are, the scripted format means it’s not a real sport. Not a sport means no betting.
Ohio bans betting on non-sports but so does every state. Regulators across the board are in agreement here. Only offshore sportsbooks readily take in bets on these markets. Most of these offshore sites work perfectly fine in Ohio too.
Who Can Legally Bet In Ohio?
From what’s not allowed to what is, let’s quickly cover the do’s of betting inside Ohio:
Legal age: 21 years old is the minimum sports betting age in Ohio and all states for that matter. However, lottery-style gambling is available to 18 years old and up.
Mobile betting: Most of Ohio’s betting goes through mobile apps. These apps allow bettors to bet anywhere and everywhere within state borders.
Retail sportsbooks: Physical sportsbooks are indeed a thing in Ohio. A few casinos house them. These retail sites are great for catching the game you’ve just bet on in their lounges.
Remote registration: You can sign up for Ohio betting apps straight from your phone. The entire verification process can be done online — no in-person requirements.
Taxable winnings: Winnings are taxed in all states, including Ohio. Per the IRS, profit made from betting should be reported in your year-end taxes. These winnings will be added to your income and taxes at the appropriate tax rate you qualify for.
Latest Ohio Betting News
Ohio Sportsbook & Casinos
Ohio is home to 11 casinos and racinos. There are four casinos, and seven race tracks with casino gambling also available dubbed the name Racinos. None of these casinos or racinos are tribal casinos.
| Casino | City | Type | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belterra Park Cincinnati | Anderson Township | Racino | 513-232-8000 |
| Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs | Columbus | Racino | 614-295-4700 |
| Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati | Cincinnati | Land-based | 513-250-3150 |
| Hollywood Casino Columbus | Columbus | Land-based | 614-308-3333 |
| Hollywood Casino Toledo | Toledo | Land-based | 419-661-5200 |
| Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway | Dayton | Racino | 844-225-7057 |
| Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course | Austintown | Racino | 877-788-3777 |
| Jack Cleveland Casino | Cleveland | Land-based | 216-297-4777 |
| Jack Thistledown Racino | North Randall | Racino | 216-662-8600 |
| MGM Northfield Park | Northfield | Racino | 330-908-7625 |
| Miami Valley Gaming | Turtlecreek Township | Racino | 513-934-7070 |
Ohio Sports Betting Timeline
It took some back-and-forth to get Ohio betting across the goalline. Here's a play-by-play breakdown of the "drive" to legalize:
2018-2020: Ohio Makes Slow Progress
Two separate gambling bills were introduced in Ohio in 2019. One in the Senate and another in the House. They would have to reconcile things like tax rates and where exactly gambling can take place. These bills mainly died in committee, after receiving months of hearings.
New bills were introduced as well as the old bills continuing to work their way through committees. While the Senate bill is stuck, the House bill finally moved out of committee, and got approved by the full chamber the very next day!
2021: Almost There!
With neighboring states passing sports betting legalization, Ohio is starting to feel the pressure. The Senate finally passed their own version of sports betting legalization by a whopping margin: 30-2.
However, the two bills that have been passed are slightly different, so they still need to reconcile the differences. This should happen relatively soon, allowing Buckeye bettors to get started in 2022.
2022: Touchdown
2022 finally saw the approval of sports betting licenses in Ohio. However, it would not be until the start of 2023 that online betting would go fully live.
How To Bet On Sports In Ohio?
Ohio doesn’t hide its love of sports. Not one bit. Knowing that, Ohio sportsbooks offer the full gamut of betting options for sports big and small. Here are the most popular categories in Ohio though:
How To Bet On Football In Ohio?
Football is king in Ohio. Both the pro and collegiate game draws the most betting attention by a mile. In-state sportsbooks cater to this by offering a bevy of odds on every matchup, including those that feature Ohio-based teams.
How To Bet On Basketball In Ohio?
During the LeBron James era, basketball was practically on par with football in terms of interest and betting (though all this was done offshore, not through licensed means). While it may not be at those levels right now, basketball still has a strong place at Ohio sportsbooks. March Madness, in particular, is one of the biggest periods of the whole year.
How To Bet On Baseball In Ohio?
No sport offers more opportunities to bet and make money than baseball. This is due to the MLB’s 162-game playing schedule, which dwarfs other sports. For opportunistic Ohioan bettors, baseball should be the sport you try to master most.
How To Bet On Fighting In Ohio?
Combat sports are often weekend attractions for Ohio gamblers. The UFC hosts a fight night every Saturday, and every few months, boxing will host a mega fight on a Saturday. Every major fight across MMA and boxing will be easy to find at Ohio sportsbooks.
Betting On Ohio Sports Teams
Ohio has two big-time cities — Cleveland and Cincinnati. This luxury means they have multiple sports franchises in each city. Here’s how you can get in on betting all this:
Betting On Ohio NFL Teams
Ohio has two NFL franchises — the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. Neither has given their fanbases much to cheer about most of their existence, but both are on the up and up. The Ohio teams play in the same AFC North division too, which makes their two annual meetings must-bet attraction in the state.
Betting On Ohio NBA Teams
Only the Cleveland Cavaliers represent the state of Ohio in the NBA. Though, they’ve represented it well most of this century thanks to LeBron James. With James, the Cavs were one of the most bet-on teams around. He might be long gone, but Cleveland’s franchise remains respectable and a gambling draw to hoop heads.
Betting On Ohio MLB Teams
Here again, there are two in-state teams — Cincinnati Reds and the now Cleveland Guardians (formerly the Indians). There’s hardly a rivalry between the two because they compete in opposite divisions, however. But as we said before, MLB provides the most betting opportunities for fans of these teams.
Betting On NHL Teams
Interestingly enough, the NHL team in Ohio is NOT from Cleveland or Cincinnati, but Columbus instead. This is where the Blue Jackets have called home since its founding in 2000. Admittedly, the Blue Jackets have been one of the least-successful NHL teams since then but hey, that doesn’t stop sportsbooks from readily offering bets on their games.
Betting On Ohio NCAA Teams
The state’s most popular team is the Ohio State Buckeyes, no questions asked. While the rest of the state’s fandom is split due to three cities having teams, most of Ohio comes together in their love for THE Ohio State University as they like to say. The Buckeyes are almost always in the title picture, which makes them massive betting draws across the country. Its annual rivalry game with Michigan is a huge event too.
Ohio Betting Revenue Statistics
There's a lot of metrics to paint how wildly successful Ohio’s entrance into sports betting has been. But perhaps the easiest to wrap our heads around is the 2023 figures. It was the first year that betting went live in Ohio if you remember from earlier.
In 2023, Ohioans spent $7.65 billion in sports betting. You’d expect that number to go up as betting becomes more of a fabric of the culture in the ensuing years. Given how the state taxes sports betting, it collected $936 million in tax revenue too — a huge score for schools, who get the lion’s share of the money.
Other Types Of Betting In Ohio
Pretty much all forms of betting are allowed in Ohio — and we mean all. There’s a state-run lottery that offers draw games (Powerball) and scratch-off tickets. The minimum age to bet these is 18, not 21.
There are also four commercial casinos in Ohio. Slots and table games can be had here.
Horse racing is another popular form of betting. Bets can be placed at tracks and “racinos” — hybrid race tracks and casinos. There are seven of these racinos throughout the state.
Perhaps the only thing NOT allowed in Ohio is online casino betting. Like the majority of states, Ohio has not come around to iGaming quite yet.
Sports Betting Rules In Each State
Ohio isn't the only state we've written in-depth guides for. We've done it for the other 49 too. Check 'em out:
Responsible Gaming In Ohio
Gaming is great until you lose a grip on it. Playing responsibly is key. But you may be wondering, “what does playing responsibly look like?” Well, here’s a few must-follow things:
Know Your Limits: Set a budget before starting to gamble and stick to it. Never wager with money that you can’t be afford to lose, and remember that gambling should not interfere with personal or financial well-being.
Keep Your Emotions In Check: One of the most irresponsible things a bettor can do is to “chase” losses. Being so upset about a loss that you force another bet to “make up for it.” This is when you start betting with emotions, not betting logic — a tricky slope.
Seek Help If Needed: If struggling with gambling, or if someone you know is, Ohio offers resources that can help. We’ve listed a few below, plus national ones too.
The Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-589-9966, offering confidential support and guidance. More information and local support services are also available on the Ohio for Responsible Gambling website (https://ohio.gov/responsible-gambling).
National resources include:
Gambling Addiction Support Network (https://www.gamblingaddictionsupport.org/)
A non-profit organization providing resources and support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.
Center for Responsible Gaming (https://www.centerforresponsiblegaming.org/)
The Center for Responsible Gaming (CRG) is a research institution dedicated to promoting safe gambling practices and addressing gambling-related issues.
24/7 Gambling Support Line (https://www.gamblinghelponline.org/24-7-helpline)
A round-the-clock helpline offering immediate assistance and guidance for those experiencing gambling-related problems."