The Ohio gambling landscape has changed massively in recent years. A decade ago, OH’s legal gambling options included off-track pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, the state lottery, and land-based charitable bingo games.

Nowadays, you can gamble in four land-based casinos and seven racinos across the state. Thanks to Bill HB29, signed by Governor Mike DeWine, legal online sports betting will launch in the Buckeye State on January 1, 2023. Read this guide written by our betting experts to discover everything you need about sports betting in Ohio, including legal sportsbooks, the state’s best local teams for betting, and the latest legislation.

With the Ohio sports betting launch just days away, the excitement is palpable, and the sportsbooks are already competing for customers' attention. There are currently six operators who are offering pre-registration bonuses above, and when you claim all the free pre-registration bonuses, you wil claim $900 in total, to use from January 1st.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700 21+.

While the passing of HB29 legalized online sports betting in Ohio, bettors in the state will have to wait until its official launch date to place wagers online. When launched, betting sites licensed by the Ohio Casino Control Commission will go live, allowing anyone over 21 and physically present in the state to gamble legally from anywhere in Ohio. This date has now been given, and from January 1st, all those that qualify for sports betting accounts in the Ohio sports betting market will be free to wager on their favorite sports!

Some operators are already live in OH, with DraftKings and FanDuel offering Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games to players. When sports betting goes live on January 1st, 2023, many of the top US sportsbook operators will launch in Ohio. So OH players can prepare for exciting sports betting markets on major league sports, like the NFL, NBA, and NHL, as well as more niche sports like tennis and golf. Ohio sportsbooks will also offer a wide variety of features such as live streaming, and generous odds boosts on your favorite Ohio-based sports teams.

Ohio Sports Betting Pre-Live Offers

The Ohio sports betting market is set to be one of the biggest and most competitive sports betting markets in the United States. For potential sports bettors in Ohio, this is great news. Already, there are multiple pre-registration offers above, where you can claim a total of $900, ahead of the January 1st, 2023, Ohio sports betting launch!

When the New York sports betting market launched, sportsbooks such as Fanduel, DraftKings, Caesars, and BetMGM offered new users in the state $100s completely free before the market was even live. New users simply had to register their interest in the operator and their free funds were released once the state went live. This is the exact same situation in Ohio, where $900 is up for grabs, before the January 1st, 2023 launch date.

Make sure to keep a keen eye on the Ohio sports betting offers above so that you don't miss out on any Ohio sports betting pre-live offers, or post-launch offers. We'd expect there to be $1000s free to claim.

Expected Sports Betting Operators in Ohio

The Ohio Casino Control Commission has now confirmed the sportsbooks they have granted licenses to, and who they partnered with in the Ohio sports betting market. A list of these can be found below.

Other sportsbooks granted Ohio sports betting licenses include, Betfred, BetFanatics, MaximBet, and WynnBet, amongst others.

Best Ohio Sportsbook Apps

Now we have a confirmed list of sportsbooks, read on below for the sportsbooks that will set themselves apart as the best, based on previous state launches.

DraftKings

DraftKings has been operating in Ohio for several years as a DFS operator and has now partnered with Hollywood Casino Toledo, to bring you a fantastic mobile sportsbook.

Our review team found the DraftKings desktop site easy to use, with access to dozens of sports markets. You can also redeem a variety of bonuses, including its generous welcome bonuses. The DraftKings app is one of the best in the US and boasts exclusive features like live streaming on sports like tennis and soccer.

FanDuel

Similar to DraftKings, FanDuel has pivoted from being one of the biggest DFS providers to one of the largest gambling operators in the US. Backed by Flutter Entertainment, a global gambling giant operating brands like Paddy Power and Betfair, FanDuel is considered one of the biggest and best sportsbooks in the country. FanDuel already has a partnership lined up with Belterra Park, and its betting site will be available on the first day of launch.

The FanDuel app is also fantastic, with a very easy-to-use interface and a slick user experience. FanDuel has the widest range of same-game parlay options, which we found a very nice feature. Besides its various bonuses and offers, FanDuel players can access its free-to-play games. The sportsbook has partnerships with the MLB, NFL, and NBA to provide exclusive odds and promotions.

Caesars

Caesars already has a presence in Ohio as the owner of Scioto Downs Racing, which will be its partner for the Ohio Casino Control Commission license. Considering how Caesars has performed in other states, the sportsbook is likely to be a huge hit in Ohio.

One of the best parts of Caesars Sportsbook is the Caesars Rewards program, which allows you to earn points with every bet you place. You can use these points to redeem real-life rewards like stays at Caesars Resorts and other prizes. All this comes along with the site’s comprehensive range of sports markets and other promotions.

BetMGM

BetMGM already has roots in Ohio, with the MGM group owning MGM Northfield Park. This racino was BetMGM’s sports betting application partner. BetMGM is another sportsbook with a loyalty program, MGM Rewards. You can place bets and earn MGM Rewards to redeem at MGM Northfield Park, including free drinks.

BetMGM offers weekly free bets, a wide range of live-streamed events, and a wide range of deposit and withdrawal options. Customer service is available 24/7, as expected from one of the most trusted names in the market.

PointsBet

PointsBet partnered with Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course to secure a license in the Buckeye State. Now their attention turns to operating a successful sportsbook operation in the Ohio sports betting market.

PointsBet is an Australian-born sportsbook that made an impact in the US market thanks to its innovative Points Betting feature. This feature allows you to place an over/under wager and rewards you more by how correct you are. However, you also lose money for how wrong you are. This unique way of betting comes alongside a sportsbook with various sports markets, promotions, and support options. PointsBet also partners with NBC to provide exclusive content.

Legislation Timeline

The first major step to legalizing gambling in Ohio came in 2009. Ohio voters narrowly passed the Ohio Casino Approval and Tax Distribution, Amendment 3. This amendment allowed the four largest cities in Ohio (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo) to launch a casino. All four cities had a casino operating from 2012. Ohio started accepting sports betting with the rise in popularity of DFS games.

while DFS games operated in the state previously, Governor John Kasich signed HB132 in 2016 to give legal oversight of DFS games to the Ohio Casino Control Commission. HB132 promised legal protection to DFS operators on the basis these sites met standards for player safety. These regulations have since become commonplace around the US for sports betting licenses.

Arguably the most important step forward for the legalization of sports betting in Ohio came on 14th May 2018. In 1992, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was passed as law. PASPA all but outlawed sports betting across America, except for Nevada. PASPA was overturned in 2018, with the Supreme Court determining that PASPA conflicted with the Tenth Amendment. This landmark ruling left each individual state to determine whether sports betting should be legalized.

Following a few quiet years, HB29 passed in December 2021, signed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. HB29 highlights that 25 sportsbook apps and up to 40 retail sportsbooks can operate in the state. After the signing of HB29, the Ohio Casino Control Commission determined that the launch date for sports betting in Ohio would be 1 January 2023.

HB29 allows for three types of sportsbook licenses.

• • Type A licenses are for online sports betting operators, and up to 25 Type-A licenses can be awarded. 11 casino/racinos and ten professional sports franchises are expected to partner with online sportsbooks for a Type A license.

• • Type B licenses are for physical sportsbooks. Up to 40 Type B licenses can be awarded. Type A holders, by default, receive a Type B license, so many casinos and professional sports stadiums in Ohio will have a physical sportsbook on location.

• • Type C licenses are for existing liquor license holders (Class D) in Ohio. There is no limit to the amount of Type C licenses that Ohio can issue. Type C licenses will offer limited sports betting from lottery kiosks.

Ohio Sports Teams

Ohio has a long and storied history with all major league sports, and Ohioans are amongst the most passionate US sports fans. Alongside numerous successful college sports programs, Ohio boasts the following major league sports teams.

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds are the most successful professional sports team to hail from Ohio, with the MLB team winning five World Series titles and nine National League pennants. The franchise has been in a lean spell recently, with the last of its World Series titles coming in 1990.

Cleveland Guardians

The Reds’ in-state rival, the MLB’s Cleveland Guardians, also have a storied history. However, the franchise hasn’t won a World Series since 1948 and only has two championships overall. Ball games are played at the beautiful Progressive Field, considered one of the best ballparks in MLB.

Columbus Crew

Columbus Crew is one of the founding members of Major League Soccer, and they have won the MLS Cup twice, in 2008 and 2020.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati is an expansion franchise of Major League Soccer, participating in its first season in 2019. Games are played at downtown Cincinnati’s brand new, purpose-built TQL Stadium.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers joined the NBA as an expansion franchise in 1970. But, recent Cavs history has been dominated by one man – Lebron James. James was drafted in 2003 and took the Cavs to 5 conference titles during his two spells there. After a successful move to the Miami Heat, James came back to Cleveland and, in 2016, delivered Cleveland’s first major sports title since 1964.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals joined the American Football Conference of the NFL in 1970 and have shown spells of brilliance mixed with long, lean periods. The future looks bright for the Bengals, with its first Super Bowl appearance for 33 years in 2021 and a roster full of talent.

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are one of the oldest and most revered football franchises. The Cleveland Browns have found success a struggle since rejoining the NFL in 1999, with no winning season during the 2010s.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets joined the NHL as an expansion franchise in 2000 and have achieved some success, making one Stanley Cup appearance and several playoff appearances. However, no Blue Jackets team has managed to bring the Stanley Cup back to Ohio.

Ohio Land-Based Sportsbooks

We do not yet know where the land-based sportsbooks will be located in Ohio until the licensing process has been completed. However, we do know any sportsbook granted a Type A license for online sports betting will automatically receive a Type B license for retail sportsbooks. So, you can expect a retail sportsbook at the 11 casino partners and ten sports franchise partners of Type A license holders.

In addition, HB29 allows for up to 40 physical sportsbooks in Ohio under a Type B license.

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