Legal Ohio Betting Sites

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Ohio Online Sports Betting Basics

Legal online sports betting in Ohio is the result of bipartisan legislation approved in December 2021. The first Ohio online sports betting sites opened at midnight on January 1^st, 2023, with large welcome bonuses in tow.

State law authorizes up to 25 online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps in Ohio to support a competitive market and give consumers plenty of options. However, not all Ohio sports betting apps are equal, and even more will be launching over the coming months. Read on for everything about online sports betting Ohio bettors need to know.

The details of the Ohio sports betting law are as follows:

• Online sports betting in Ohio began January 1^st, 2023
• Online sports betting apps and retail sportsbooks authorized
• Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) is tasked with regulating sports betting
• Minimum age of 21 to bet on sports in Ohio
• OCCC may issue up to 25 Ohio online sports betting licenses
• OCCC may issue up to 40 licenses for standalone retail sportsbooks in Ohio
• OCCC may issue up additional licenses to bars and restaurants to install up to two self-serve sports betting terminals apiece
• 10% tax rate on sports gaming receipts (later increased to 20%)
• Ohio sportsbooks may accept wagers on professional and collegiate sports, international events such as the Olympics, motorsports, and esports
• Sportsbooks may not offer proposition bets on individual athletes

Ohio Sports Betting Apps

Ohio online sports betting law facilitates a competitive environment, with more than two dozen operators slated to launch mobile betting apps. All the nation’s most prominent brands, and many lesser-known operators, have already launched or will soon offer legal online sports betting in Ohio.

Ohio Sportsbook Promo Codes

The following table outlines the Ohio sports betting bonuses new customers can claim from licensed online sportsbooks.

Ohio Sports Betting Bonuses

Ohio online sportsbooks offer betting bonuses and other promotions to attract new customers and retain existing users. In a state with 25 online sports betting licenses, competition is rife, and welcome bonuses are standard operating procedure for most sportsbooks.

The best Ohio sportsbooks offer welcome bonuses that are straightforward, free of burdensome conditions, and easy to clear. Typically, a quick look at any offer’s terms is all that’s needed to determine which Ohio betting bonuses are worthwhile and which should be bypassed.

Ohio Law on Sports Betting Promotions

Ohio sports betting regulations directly address bonuses and promotions to ensure fair offers and consumer protection. Rule 3775-16-09 requires sportsbooks to provide “clear and unambiguous” rules for all offers.

At a minimum, Ohio sportsbooks must clearly explain when bonus offers are active, their terms and conditions, their nature and value, eligibility restrictions, wagering requirements, and more. In addition, a catch-all phrase requires all promotions to feature “terms and conditions that are full, accurate, concise, transparent, and do not contain misleading information.”

Note: Ohio sports betting apps may not describe bonuses as “risk-free” unless they do not require customers to “incur any loss or risk their money to use or withdraw winnings from the free wager.”

Ohio law also prohibits sportsbooks from enforcing wagering requirements on money deposited by customers or won by wagering their own money. In other words, Ohio betting promotions can have wagering requirements for bonus funds, but users must always be able to withdraw their own money.

How to Bet on Sports in Ohio

Anyone 21 or older can bet on sports in Ohio through three avenues:

• Online via licensed Ohio betting sites and mobile apps
• Retail sportsbooks at casinos
• Self-serve betting kiosks at bars, restaurants, and other locations

Online betting is the most convenient method of the three, and getting started begins with selecting a sportsbook. Readers can see BettingUSA’s recommendations above and follow any of the links to visit the sportsbook of their choice.

After choosing an Ohio online sportsbook, the rest is straightforward:

1. Visit the sportsbook’s website from any computer or mobile device
2. Follow a link on the website to download the mobile app (optional)
3. Sign up for an account
4. Make a deposit

Registering with Ohio Online Sportsbooks

Ohio online betting regulations require sportsbooks to collect basic personal information from every customer to prevent fraud, money laundering, and underage gambling.

Per Rule 3775-16-03, sportsbooks must collect each customer’s name, date of birth, and address at a minimum. Licensed sportsbooks also ask for the last four digits of every user’s SSN to comply with federal Know Your Customer laws.

In addition, Ohio law requires sportsbooks to verify customers’ identities by requesting a photo of a government-issued ID. Typically, users can upload a picture manually during registration or open their mobile camera app to snap a quick photo of their ID.

After signing up, bettors can log in to deposit and begin betting on sports in Ohio.

Depositing at Ohio Sportsbooks

Licensed Ohio betting apps accept a standard variety of betting deposit methods. New users can fund their accounts by logging in and visiting the cashier to select a funding method.

Ohio sports betting regulations outline the types of deposit methods online sportsbooks may accept. Under Rule 3775-16-03, Ohio sports betting sites may accept deposits via:

• Credit cards
• Debit cards
• Cash deposits at approved cashiering or kiosk locations
• ACH transfers
• Wire transfers
• “any other means” approved by the Ohio Casino Control Commission

The “any other means” line is intentionally vague, but it allows regulators to approve additional deposit options like PayPal, PayNearMe, Venmo, Apple Pay, Game On gift cards, and more.

State and federal laws allow customers to open Ohio online betting accounts and make deposits from anywhere in the nation, but users may only place real-money wagers when physically located within state lines. In addition, Ohio law requires sportsbooks to use geolocation technology to ensure all users are within state lines before accepting their wagers.

In addition, Ohio law requires online sportsbooks to honor withdrawal requests within five business days.

However, operators may delay withdrawals longer if they believe “in good faith that the patron engaged in either fraudulent conduct or other conduct that would put the sports gaming proprietor in violation of the law.”

For example, an Ohio sportsbook operator could delay a withdrawal if it has good reason to believe the customer is underage and used someone else’s identity to bet online. But even in that case, sportsbooks must inform customers of the delay and conduct their investigations in “a reasonable and expedient fashion.”

Ohio Sports Betting Partnerships

More than 20 sports betting operators have applied for Type A licenses to offer online betting in Ohio through partnerships with local sports organizations and casinos. Each local venue may partner with up to two sportsbook operators to launch online sports betting sites and apps as outlined below:

Ohio Sportsbook Locations

Ohio law authorizes retail sportsbooks at licensed lottery outlets with liquor licenses, casinos, and professional sports venues. Retail sportsbooks in Ohio opened at midnight or shortly after on January 1^st, 2023.

• Belterra Park Sportsbook in Cincinnati
• BetMGM Sportsbook at The Banks in Cincinnati
• Hard Rock Cincinnati Sportsbook
• betJACK Sportsbook at JACK Cleveland Casino
• betJACK Sportsbook at JACK Thistledown Casino
• MGM Northfield Park Sportsbook near Cleveland
• Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Sportsbook in Cleveland
• Fanatics Sportsbook at Progressive Field in Cleveland
• Hollywood Casino Columbus Sportsbook
• Fanatics Sportsbook at Nationwide Arena in Columbus
• Scioto Downs Sportsbook in Columbus
• Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway Sportsbook
• Hollywood Casino Toledo Sportsbook
• Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Sportsbook in Youngstown

Ohio sports betting law establishes three types of sports betting licenses:

• Type A Licenses: The state may issue up to 25 Type A licenses to casinos and professional sports organizations. Each licensee may operate a retail sportsbook and up to two mobile betting apps.
• Type B Licenses: Ohio may issue up to 40 Type B licenses for standalone retail sportsbooks.
• Type C Licenses: Regulators may issue up to 20 Type C licenses to proprietors that may contract with an unlimited number of authorized lottery establishments with liquor licenses (bars, restaurants, grocers, etc.) to install self-serve betting kiosks operated by the Ohio Lottery

In July 2022, the Ohio Casino Control Commission issued a list of preapproved locations eligible to contract with Type C licensees to install betting machines. Not every preapproved venue is guaranteed to install self-serve kiosks, but the 27-page list contains hundreds of eligible hosts and demonstrates how numerous Type C licenses will be once the Ohio sports betting market reaches maturity.

In addition, more than two dozen venues have applied for Type B licenses to operate retail sportsbooks in partnership with name brand sport betting operators:

Ohio Sports Betting Timeline

The journey to legal sports betting in Ohio was a rocky one, taking at least three attempts to cross the finish line.

Lawmakers began looking at ways to legalize sports betting in Ohio almost immediately after the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was repealed and no longer seen as an obstacle for legislators. Lawmakers first signaled their intention to pursue legal sports betting in July 2018 with a simple bill sponsored by Senators John Eklund and Sean O’Brien. The full text of SB 316 simply read:

Section 1. It is the intent of the General Assembly to develop and enact legislation legalizing sports wagering.

A second attempt to legalize Ohio sports betting occurred in 2019, with that effort carrying over into 2020. These efforts were renewed in 2021 as stakeholders and lawmakers struggled to unify competing visions for regulating the industry until the weeks leading up to HB 29’s passage.

The bills introduced in 2019 and 2020 provided the first detailed look at what lawmakers have in mind for the Ohio sports betting market.

House Bill 194 sought to legalize sports betting and place it under the control of the Ohio Lottery Commission. If passed, HB 194 would have authorized mobile betting and retail sportsbooks at casinos and race tracks. In addition, HB 194 would have permitted wagers on pro and college sports, set a minimum age of 21, and established a 10% tax on revenue.

Senate Bill 111 also sought to legalize online sports betting and retail sportsbooks in Ohio run by casinos and race tracks but granted oversight powers to the Ohio Casino Control Commission. SB 111 would have allowed wagers on pro, college, Olympic, and international sports, set a minimum age of 21 to bet, and established a 6.25% tax.

Similar efforts materialized in 2021, but promising developments stalled out in the summer before being revived in December. The revival was fast and bore fruit, as a compromise bill (HB 29) was crafted and passed the committee and both legislative chambers on the same day. Governor Mike DeWine signed the Ohio sports betting bill into law in the final days of 2021.

In July 2023, Governor DeWine doubled the Ohio sports betting tax from 10% to 20% as a part of his 2024-25 executive budget.

Ohio Restricts Player Props on College Athletes

In February 2024, the Ohio Casino Control Commission granted a request from the NCAA to ban proposition bets on individual athletes.

The NCAA cited six specific concerns in its request:

1. A “significant increase” in instances of bettors harassing college athletes
2. The “general well-being and mental health” of college athletes in a state where the public may bet on their individual performances
3. The increased risk of bettors acquiring inside information about individual college athletes, who are more accessible to the public than professional athletes
4. The increased risk of student-athletes betting on themselves
5. The increased risk of “spot fixing,” in which athletes only manipulate one aspect of a game for betting purposes
6. The increased risk of gambling addiction among college students due to player props offering “a mechanism for engaging in micro-betting, a more repetitive form of sports betting on a myriad of players’ statistics”

In a letter responding to the NCAA’s request, OCCC Executive Director Matthew Schuler stated:

“I have determined that good cause supports the NCAA’s request to prohibit player-specific prop bets on intercollegiate athletics competitions because the NCAA’s request will safeguard the integrity of sports gaming and will be in the best interests of the public.”

The OCCC has since updated the catalog of approved wagers to include a prohibition on the following types of wagers:

• Prop bets on individual NCAA athletes’ performances
• Prop bets on team statistics that historical rely on a single athlete’s performance at least 50% of the time

That second point refers to prop bets on stats that are typically determined by a single athlete, even if the wager doesn’t name a particular athlete. For example, prop bets on any NCAA football team’s total passing yards are prohibited because a single player (the quarterback) usually determines the outcome.

Ohio Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports sites in Ohio are legal and regulated. Regulatory power rests with the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and its primary duties include promoting responsible gambling, protecting consumers, and overseeing licensed operators.

Readers can see BettingUSA’s Ohio daily fantasy sports guide below for more information:

• Ohio Daily Fantasy Sports Apps

Ohio Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing betting is permitted in Ohio both online and at any of the state’s seven horse racing tracks and one off-track betting (OTB) location.

Ohio Online Horse Racing Betting

Online horse racing betting in Ohio is available, and tolered, but state law is unclear on its legality. The State Racing Commission once promulgated rules governing telephone betting, but subsequent Attorney General opinions failed to clarify the legality of advance deposit wagering in Ohio.

Even so, multiple mainstream ADW operates operate online horse racing settings sites and apps in Ohio despite the legal uncertainty. In addition, three of the states largest sports betting operators offer mobile horse racing betting in Ohio via the BetMGM Horse Racing, FanDuel Racing, and Caesars Racebook apps.

Learn more about horse racing betting in Ohio here:

• Ohio Horse Racing Betting Sites

Ohio Online Gambling

Ohio gambling laws are not friendly to online casinos or poker sites.

ORC § 2915.02 prohibits both the conduct of and participation in unauthorized gambling activities (emphasis ours):

(B) For purposes of division (A)(1) of this section, a person facilitates bookmaking if the person in any way knowingly aids an illegal bookmaking operation, including, without limitation, placing a bet with a person engaged in or facilitating illegal bookmaking. For purposes of division (A)(2) of this section, a person facilitates a game of chance conducted for profit or a scheme of chance if the person in any way knowingly aids in the conduct or operation of any such game or scheme, including, without limitation, playing any such game or scheme.

State law is clear on this matter and can easily be interpreted to apply to online gambling. New legislation would be needed for online casinos and poker sites in Ohio to become legal. Currently, there are no such efforts underway and no indications that lawmakers are interested in passing new legislation to expand online gambling.

Ohio Online Lottery

Ohio online lottery tickets are available through the Jackpocket lottery app, which provides a courier service to lottery players.

Responsible Gambling in Ohio

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) supports numerous problem gambling prevention, education, and treatment programs. Ohio sports bettors, gamblers, and their loved ones can use the following resources for assistance with any questions or concerns related to responsible gambling.

• Pause Before You Play: Call the helpline 24/7 at 1-800-589-9966; visit the website for 24/7 live chat, responsible gambling tips, additional problem gambling resources, recovery stories, and a self-assessment
• Keep It Fun Ohio: The Ohio Lottery’s responsible gambling resource website with tips, educational games, and problem gambling help resources
• Ohio for Responsible Gambling: Links to additional problem gambling resources such as professional counseling, peer support groups, and support groups for the loved ones of problem gamblers
• Change the Game Ohio: Organization dedicated to preventing youth gambling problems; visit the website for youth gambling facts, warning signs for parents and educators, and help resources
• Problem Gambling Network of Ohio: Industry organization partnered with state agencies, regulators, operators, and problem gambling professionals to promote responsible gambling in Ohio
• Prevention Action Alliance: Partnered with government agencies, regulators, and operators to create and promote problem gambling prevention campaigns
• Suicide & Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988; visit the website for live chat 24/7

Ohio Sports Betting and Gambling Self-Exclusion

The Casino Control Commission and State Lottery operate TimeOut Ohio, the state’s voluntary self-exclusion program.

Anyone can enroll in the program to restrict themselves from all Ohio casinos, racetrack-casinos, sportsbooks, online sports betting, and lottery sports gaming products for anywhere from one year to a lifetime.

Bettors have three options to enroll in TimeOut Ohio:

• Enroll Online: Visit TimeOutOhio.com to enroll online 24/7; you will need a mobile phone with a camera, a webcam if accessing via a desktop computer, a government-issued ID, and your full social security number
• Enroll at a Casino: Visit the OCCC office at any Ohio casino or racino 24/7 to complete an application in person
• Enroll at the OCCC Central Office: Visit the OCCC central office in downtown Columbus during regular business hours to apply in person

Important Ohio self-exclusion points:

• No one can enroll in TimeOut Ohio on behalf of another person; the program is strictly voluntary
• Ohio betting sites and casinos may elect to extend self-exclusion bans to their other properties nationwide
• Anyone who has enrolled in TimeOut Ohio and is found in a banned facility will be escorted from the property, have their winnings and tokens confiscated, and potentially face criminal trespassing charges
• Completing a one-year or five-year self-exclusion term does not result in your automatic removal from TimeOut Ohio; the only thing that changes is you may apply for removal from the program

Ohio Sports Betting FAQ