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Sports betting in Ohio is in full swing. The market took off on New Year's Day in 2023, a little over a year after the legislation passed. 16 sports betting apps went live on opening day, including industry giants BetMGM, FanDuel, and Caesars.
The sports betting law allows up to 25 online sportsbooks, but there are provisions for additional permits down the road. Casinos, professional teams, and sports venues can receive licenses to operate up to two sports betting skins.
With a large population, a vibrant sports scene, and a relatively low 10% tax rate for operators, the Ohio sports betting market has the potential to become one of the largest in the country. With no restrictions on college betting, there are few limitations for Ohioans.
If you’re looking for an online sports betting site or app to use in Ohio, we go over the best online sportsbooks in Ohio you can sign up for today, including their promo codes & sign-up bonuses.
Best Online Sports Betting Sites & Apps in Ohio
#1
Our Partner
Bonus Bet Up to $1,000
If your first bet loses, receive a bet credit back up to $1,250. Terms & conditions apply.
#2
Our Partner
Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets
Sign up, deposit, and bet just $5 to get $200 in bonus bets. Terms & conditions apply.
#3
Our Partner
Up to $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets
If your first bet loses, receive bonus bets of equal value up to $1,500. Terms & conditions apply.
#4
Our Partner
Bet $1, Get $365 in Bonus Bets
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets after depositing at least $10. Terms & conditions apply.
#5
Our Partner
Second Chance Bet Up to $100
If your first bet loses, receive a bonus bet of equal value of up to $100. Terms & conditions apply.
21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
All Online Sportsbooks in Ohio
Ohio sports betting is in high gear, with at least 20 online sportsbooks competing to get their share of the market. By the time the market reaches maturity, the total will be even higher. Several operators have submitted licensing applications to the Ohio Casino Control Commission pending approval.
Some applicants have received conditional approval, the preliminary green light to offer mobile betting. However, they will need to undergo additional internal control audits to ensure compliance with state laws.
In order to gain market access in Ohio, each online sportsbook must partner with an eligible land-based entity, such as a retail casino, a professional sports franchise, or a sports venue. Type A licensees are allowed to partner up with a maximum of two sportsbooks.
Most of the heavyweights have launched in Ohio, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and BetMGM. Alongside these familiar names, the market also boasts several domestic brands and upstarts looking to make their mark in sports betting, like MVGBet, betJACK, and SuperBook.
Here is a list of Ohio's active online sports betting apps and their respective land-based partners:
Sportsbook | Retail Partner | Tech Provider | Launch | Sign-Up Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hollywood Casino Columbus (first skin) | Proprietary | January 1, 2023 | $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets | |
Cleveland Guardians | Proprietary | January 1, 2023 | Bet $1, Get $365 in Bonus Bets | |
betJACK | JACK Cleveland Casino | Shape Games & Kambi | January 1, 2023 | $200 Deposit Match |
Betfred | Cincinnati Bengals | N/A | January 1, 2023 | Up to $1,111 in Bonus Bets |
MGM Northfield Park | Roar Digital | January 1, 2023 | $1,500 Back in Bonus Bets | |
Hollywood Casino Columbus (second skin) | Kambi | January 1, 2023 | $100 Second Chance Bet | |
Betr | Hall of Fame Village | FansUnite | January 1, 2023 | $100 in Bonus Bets |
Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center (second skin) | Digital Gaming Corporation, Sportradar | January 1, 2023 | Bet $20+, Get $40 Bonus Bet | |
Scioto Downs Casino | Liberty | January 1, 2023 | Up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets | |
Hollywood Casino Toledo | SBTech | January 1, 2023 | $1,000 Deposit Match | |
Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center (first skin) | Flutter/IGT | January 1, 2023 | Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets | |
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati | N/A | January 1, 2023 | $100 in Bonus Bets | |
MVGBet | Miami Valley Gaming | Gamewise | January 1, 2023 | Up to $250 in Bonus Bet |
SuperBook | FC Cincinnati | IGT | January 1, 2023 | First Bet Bonus up to $1,000 |
Tipico | Columbus Crew | N/A | January 1, 2023 | Deposit $10, Get $50 |
The following sportsbooks are approved in Maryland but have not yet launched:
Sportsbook | Retail Partner | Tech Provider | Launch | Sign-Up Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bally Bet | Cleveland Browns | Proprietary | TBD | N/A |
betPARX | PGA Tour/Memorial Tournament | Kambi, Playtech | TBD | N/A |
Fanatics | Columbus Blue Jackets (first skin) | Amelco | TBD | N/A |
Out the Gate | SPIRE Institute | N/A | TBD | N/A |
PlayUP | Jack Cleveland Casino (first skin) | Potent Systems | TBD | N/A |
Prophet Exchange | Columbus Blue Jackets (second skin) | N/A | TBD | N/A |
Underdog Sports | Cincinnati Reds | N/A | TBD | N/A |
Physical Sportsbooks in Ohio
Retail sportsbooks in Ohio started taking bets on January 1, 2023, simultaneously with their online counterparts.
In-person betting was available at 13 locations, but that number will grow when the market takes off. All 4 casinos in the state have installed betting facilities, and racetracks, racinos, and sports venues have also opened on-site sportsbooks.
Type B licenses, designed for brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, are capped at 40. The license type has been distributed according to the population of the counties. Those with fewer than 50,000 people were not allowed to open a sportsbook, while the largest counties could not open more than five.
Here is a list of the first batch of retail sportsbooks that opened in Ohio at the turn of the year, along with some additions:
Casinos
- Hollywood Casino Columbus (BetRivers and Barstool): 200 Georgesville Road, Columbus, OH, 43228
- Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati (Hard Rock): 1000 Broadway ST, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Hollywood Casino Toledo (DraftKings): 1968 Miami St, Toledo, OH 43605
- JACK Casino Cleveland (betJACK): 100 Public Square, Cleveland, OH, 44113
Racinos
- Dayton Raceway: 777 Hollywood Blvd, Dayton, OH 45414
- Belterra Park (FanDuel): 6301 Kellogg Road, Cincinnati, OH 45230
- MGM Northfield Park (BetMGM): 10777 Northfield Rd, Northfield, OH 44067
- Miami Valley Gaming (MVGBet): 6000 OH-63, Lebanon, OH 45036
- Scioto Downs (Caesars): 6000 S High St, Columbus, OH 43207
Sports Venues
- Great American Ballpark (Underdog): 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Progressive Field (bet365): 2401 Ontario St, Cleveland, OH 44115
- Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse (Caesars): 1 Center Court, Cleveland, OH 44115
- Paycor Stadium (Betfred): 1 Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- FirstEnergy Stadium (Bally Bet): 100 Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland, OH 44114
- com Field (Tipico): 96 Columbus Crew Way, Columbus, OH 43215
- TQL Stadium (SuperBook): 1501 Central Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH 45214
- Nationwide Arena (Fanatics): 200 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215
Team Partnerships With Ohio Sportsbooks
Ohio's professional teams are eligible for a Type A license, which will allow them to participate in the ensuing online sports betting market. A number of partnerships have been forged between OH sports organizations and online sports betting brands.
The tie-up between professional teams and online sports operators has become a norm over the past few years. Betting companies use exposure opportunities to convert sports fans into customers.
- Cleveland Cavaliers with Caesars: The NBA franchise joined forces with Caesars in February 2022. As part of the multi-year deal, Caesars opened a retail sportsbook in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavs’ home arena.
- Cincinnati Bengals with Betfred: In July 2022, the UK-based gambling operator Betfred partnered with the Bengals to become the team's official partner. Because the NFL prohibits sports betting shops in its stadiums, the two parties agreed not to pursue Type B licenses.
- Cincinnati Reds with BetMGM: With the multi-year agreement BetMGM signed with the Reds in October 2022, BetMGM will open a betting facility at Great American Ball Park. BetMGM will also receive visibility throughout the ballpark as a result of this deal.
- Cleveland Guardians with bet365: Bet365 became the official betting partner of the MLB team in January 2023. The partnership allows bet365 to open a betting lounge at Guards Fest, the ball club’s annual festival.
- Cleveland Browns with Bally Bet: As an official betting partner of the Browns, Bally Bet will have a branded lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium and access to online sports betting. What’s more, Bally's launched a free-to-play game on its platform to boost fan engagement.
- Columbus Blue Jackets with Fanatics: Fanatics is Columbus' official betting partner and the organization's online and retail provider. At some point, the renowned apparel brand will open a brick-and-mortar sportsbook at Nationwide Arena.
- Columbus Crew with Tipico: Tipico, a new player in the US sports betting scene, became the Crew’s official betting partner in January 2022. Aside from the signage at Lower.com Field, Tipico will receive brand integration through the team's digital assets.
- FC Cincinnati with SuperBook: As part of the multi-year partnership with FC Cincinnati, the Las Vegas-based sportsbook will open a retail facility at Taft Ale’s House, a pub located two blocks from TQL stadium.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Village with BetRivers and Genesis Global: As one of the sports entities eligible to apply for a betting license, Hall of Fame Village has teamed up with BetRivers and Genesis Global, both of which will serve as its sports betting partners.
Ohio Sports Betting Timeline
The abolition of PASPA in May 2018 opened the floodgates for states across the country to pass betting legislation, including Ohio. Since then, the Buckeye State has been moving toward legalizing sports betting.
The fact that neighboring states Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia have been making massive revenue sparked action, too. By December 2020, Ohio had drummed up enough support for sports betting, but it took a year or so to get the framework in place.
Here is a timeline showing what transpired during the build-up to the Ohio sports betting market:
- 2019: Sen. John Eklund and Rep. Dave Greenspan introduced their proposals for sports betting legalization, SB 111 and HB 194, respectively.
- 2020: After a series of stalemates, H194 passed the committee on its ninth hearing. In mid-May, it sailed through the House and was sent to the Senate for consideration. Meanwhile, SB 111 died on the committee floor without being considered. Eklund and Greenspan's terms expired, and neither was reelected. After two main betting advocates pulled out, HB 194 died quickly.
- May 2021: Sen. Kirk Schuring introduced SB 176. It passed the Senate after a month of debate. Because the House wouldn’t hear the bill before summer break, he amended the draft and incorporated the changes into HB29.
- December 2021: After months of discussion, HB29 passed through both legislative chambers. Gov. Mike DeWine signed it into law on December 22.
- June 2022: The Ohio Casino Control Commission opened the licensing application process.
- January 1, 2023: The Ohio sports betting market launched. 16 online sportsbooks and 13 retail betting facilities began accepting wagers.
Ohio Sports Betting Rules & Regulations
Following is an overview of the Ohio sports betting scene with some key regulatory points:
- There are 25 A-type licenses available. Eligible entities include the state’s casinos, racinos, and sports betting organizations. If a licensee can prove that it needs the second skin for economic reasons, it may apply for it.
- There are 40 type B licenses available. Type B licenses are for retail sportsbooks. This law specifies how the licenses are allocated according to the county's population. Counties with fewer than 50,000 residents are not eligible.
- There is a wide range of type C available. The OCCC hasn’t imposed a limit on the number of type C licenses. Eligible applicants that may file for this type of license must have a class D liquor certificate. These include venues like restaurants, grocery stores, and bars. Each licensee may install up to two sports betting kiosks and accept $700 in bets per week.
- The tax rate for betting operators is 10% on GGR. The proceeds will fund K-12 education and Ohio’s Sports Gaming Revenue Fund and 2% will go toward problem gambling programs.
- College betting is permitted. Ohio is one of the few US states that didn’t impose a prohibition for betting on in-state college teams.
- eSports betting is allowed. There are no restrictions on eSports betting in Ohio.
- The Ohio Casino Control Commission became the regulatory agency for sports betting.
- The minimum betting age is 21.
- Geofencing requirements apply. Players must be in Ohio while placing a bet in their sportsbook.
Ohio Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports betting legal in Ohio?
Yes, it is. Retail and online sportsbooks began accepting bets on January 1, 2023.
When was sports betting legalized in Ohio?
Sports betting was legalized on December 22, 2020, when Gov. Mike DeWine signed HB29 into law.
How old do I have to be to bet in Ohio?
You must be 21+ to place a bet in Ohio. This age requirement applies to both in-person and online betting.
Do I have to be a resident of Ohio to bet?
No, but you need to be within state limits and have your geolocation tracker turned on while betting.
Are there any bets that aren’t allowed?
No. Ohio sports betting allows for all types of sports bets, including player props on college teams which is typically off-limits in other states. eSports betting is also available.
Do I have to pay a tax on sports betting winnings?
Yes, sports betting winnings are taxable by the IRS as ordinary income.
Is Bovada legal in Ohio?
Although the laws don’t expressly forbid playing at offshore sportsbooks like Bovada, they are not regulated and we do not recommend it because it is risky. The casino won't protect you if things go south, and you might lose your winnings if it ceases operations for whatever reason (which has happened before). Learn more about Bovada’s legality here.
Is horse racing legal in Ohio?
Yes, horse racing has been legal in Ohio since 1975.
