Legal Ohio Betting Sites

21+ and present in OH. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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 on January 1^st, 2023, with large welcome bonuses offered to compete for new customers.

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 soon. 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 plan to offer legal online sports betting in Ohio.

Below is a list of all sports betting apps that are currently available in Ohio:

• Bet365 Sportsbook
• FanDuel Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook
• BetRivers Sportsbook
• BetMGM Sportsbook
• Fanatics Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook
• Hard Rock Bet
• ESPN Bet
• Prime Sports
• Bally Bet
• Underdog Sports (pending launch)
• Betr
• BetJack
• Betly

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 worth claiming and which should be avoided.

Ohio Sports Betting Promotion Regulations

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, and wagering requirements.

Ohio regulations also require all sports betting 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.

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.

Ohio Sports Betting Partnerships

More than 20 sports betting operators have applied for Type A licenses to offer online sports 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 Sports Betting Locations

Ohio law authorizes retail sportsbook locations 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.

Cincinnati Sportsbooks

• FanDuel Sportsbook at Belterra Park
• BetMGM Sportsbook at The Banks
• Hard Rock Cincinnati Sportsbook

Cleveland Sportsbooks

• betJACK Sportsbook at JACK Cleveland Casino
• betJACK Sportsbook at JACK Thistledown Racino
• BetMGM Sportsbook at Northfield Park
• Fanatics Sportsbook at Progressive Field

Columbus Sportsbooks

• The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Columbus
• Fanatics Sportsbook at Nationwide Arena
• Caesars Sportsbook at Eldorado Scioto Downs

Dayton Sportsbooks

• The Sportsbook at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway

Toledo Sportsbooks

• The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Toledo

Youngstown Sportsbooks

• The Sportsbook at Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley

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 up to two mobile betting apps and must also have a Type B license.
• Type B Licenses: Ohio may issue up to 40 Type B licenses for standalone retail sportsbooks at places like casinos and stadiums.
• 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 bill sponsored by Senators John Eklund and Sean O’Brien.

The full text of SB 316 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, carrying over into 2020. These efforts were renewed in 2021 as stakeholders and lawmakers struggled to unify competing visions for regulating the industry.

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.

HB 194 would have authorized online sports 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 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 College Athlete Player Props

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 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.

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 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 horse racing betting sites operate apps in Ohio despite the legal uncertainty. In addition, three of the state’s largest sports betting operators offer online 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

Online casinos and poker sites are not yet legal in Ohio, but sweepstakes casino sites offer a similar experience.

Recent online casino bills have struggled to gain momentum, but that’s primarily a result of the state still being early in the legalization process. Unlike some states, Ohio has a straightforward path to legalization and lacks major obstacles like state-tribe compacts that can complicate efforts to authorize online casinos.

Read more about legal online gambling in Ohio here:

• Ohio Online Casinos

Ohio Online Lottery

Ohio online lottery tickets can be purchased through lottery courier services.

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