Ohio Sports Betting
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. In 2023, both mobile and retail sports betting joined this selection.
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 launched 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.
| Regulator | Launch date | Tax rate | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ohio Casino Control Commission | 1 January 2023 | 10% of gross gaming revenue | Up to 40 retail sportsbooks, 25 sportsbook apps |
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.
Some operators are already live in OH, with DraftKings and FanDuel offering Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games to players. When sports betting is live, many of the top US sportsbook operators are expected to launch in Ohio. So OH players can prepare for exciting sports betting on major league sports, more niche sports like tennis and golf, and a wide variety of features such as live streaming. Many sportsbooks also provide generous bonuses you can use to boost betting.
Sports Betting Operators in Ohio
The Ohio Casino Control Commission licenses sportsbooks, and at maturity, there could be up to 25 licenses available. Major operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, and BetMGM are among the operators who received licenses when sports betting launched. Here is a full list of operators launched in Ohio.
| Online Sportsbook | Operator | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| Barstool | Penn National Gaming | 01-01-2023 |
| Bet365 | Bet365 | 01-01-2023 |
| Betfred | Betfred | 01-01-2023 |
| BetMGM | MGM Resorts | 01-01-2023 |
| BetPARX | Greenwood Gaming | 01-01-2023 |
| BetRivers | BetRivers | 01-01-2023 |
| Caesars | Caesars Entertainment | 01-01-2023 |
| DraftKings | DraftKings Inc. | 01-01-2023 |
| Fanatics | Fanatics Inc. | 01-01-2023 |
| FanDuel | Flutter | 01-01-2023 |
| Hard Rock | Seminole Tribe of Florida | 01-01-2023 |
| Instabet/Betr | Betr | 01-01-2023 |
| PointsBet | PointsBet | 01-01-2023 |
| Superbook | SuperBook Sports | 01-01-2023 |
| Tipico | Tipico Group | 01-01-2023 |
OH Only. T&C's apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700 21+
Ohio Sports Betting State Apps
DraftKings has been operating in Ohio for several years as a DFS operator and partnered with Hollywood Casino Toledo to obtain its license to operate a sportsbook in Ohio. The sportsbook also has a partnership with the MLB’s Cleveland Guardians.
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.
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 partnered with Belterra Park to launch on the opening day of Ohio sports betting.
Its operator has also made partnerships in the local area, partnering with Cleveland Cavaliers to become a sponsor of the NBA side.
Caesars Sportsbook’s operator, Caesars Entertainment already has a presence in Ohio as the owner of Scioto Downs Racing. Caesars partnered with Scioto Downs for an Ohio Casino Control Commission license to launch on the opening day of sports betting. Its operator also signed a partnership in February 2022 with Cleveland Cavaliers and opened a sportsbook on-site at its home arena, Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
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 already has roots in Ohio, with the MGM group owning MGM Northfield Park. This racino is BetMGM’s sports betting partner. BetMGM also has a partnership with Cincinnati Reds, with a sportsbook opening at Great American Ball Park, the second retail sportsbook at an MLB ballpark.
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 received its Ohio sports betting license through a partnership with Hollywood Mahoning Valley. The sportsbook is Australian-born and 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
- May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court sides with New Jersey in the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) appeal, and strike down the act. This allows states outside of Nevada to launch full betting markets if lawmakers pass legislation.
- April 9, 2019: HB 194 is introduced to the House to legalize sports betting by Representative Dave Greenspan.
- May 28, 2020: After scrutiny from the Finance Committee, HB 194 is passed by House Representatives.
- June 2, 2020: While HB 194 is introduced to the Senate, the bill loses momentum as the Legislative Session ends.
- February 3, 2021: After the failure of HB 194, Senator Kirk Schuring sponsors HB 29 to legalize sports betting. 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.
- December 8, 2021: Lawmakers approve HB 29, and the bill only needs Gov. DeWine’s signature to become law.
- December 22, 2021: Gov. DeWine signs HB 29 to legalize sports betting in Ohio. The Ohio Casino Control Commission is given oversight of the new industry.
- January 3, 2022: The first sportsbook agrees to a deal to launch a retail sportsbook in a stadium, as TIpico Sportsbook signs a partnership with the MLS’ Columbus Crew.
- February 24, 2022: The NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers agree to a deal with Caesars Sportsbook, which includes a planned retail sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Stadium.
- April 26, 2022: Bally Bet signs a partnership with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, with plans to launch a retail sportsbook at FirstEnergy Stadium.
- June 1, 2022: The Ohio Casino Control Commission releases licensing rules and opens the applications period for sportsbooks.
- July 14, 2022: The sportsbook licensing application period closes with Bally Bet, Barstool, betJACK, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, Elys, FanDuel, PointsBet, and Tipico all applying.
- November 7, 2022: BetMGM, BetRivers, DraftKings, Hard Rock, and Tipico are approved for licenses by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
- December 14, 2022 - PlayUp is denied a sports betting license by OCCC for alleged illegal gambling.
- December 21, 2022 - The OCCC announces that 16 mobile sportsbooks and 12 retail sportsbooks will launch on opening day.
- January 1, 2023 - Sports betting launches in Ohio with retail and online sportsbooks taking the first legal bets in the state.
Ohio State 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.
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.
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 is one of the founding members of Major League Soccer, and they have won the MLS Cup twice, in 2008 and 2020.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Even with two NFL teams in Ohio, there is a huge support for college football at Ohio University. The school has around 18,000 students, and the capacity at Peden Stadium is 25,000, which is regularly sold out. In addition to its college football team, the school’s Marching 110 marching band has earned acclaim for performing at popular events, including President Bill Clinton’s inauguration.
Only seven schools have won NCAA Division I national championships in football, basketball, and baseball, including the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes won the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament in 1960 and picked up a national title for baseball in 1964. However, the football program has been massively successful, with eight claimed national championships.
Some of the greatest sportspeople ever have graduated from Ohio State, including Olympic sprinter Jesse Owens and Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown.
Baseball is the most popular sport at the University of Cincinnati, with its UC Baseball Stadium voted the best in the Big East Conference. In addition, the school has helped produce MLB players like Hall of Famers Miller Huggins and Sandy Koufax.
While baseball may be very popular, the school’s most successful program is basketball, with two back-to-back national championships in the 1960s.The women’s dance team has won five national championships outside of NCAA events.
The most successful program at the University of Akron is its soccer team, which won the NCAA Division I national championship in 2010. In addition, it has a heated college football rivalry with the Kent State Golden Flashes. The teams regularly compete in the “Wagon Wheel” game, with Akron leading the all-time series.
The Bowling Green State football team has been very successful, winning the second most MAC conferences of any program in history. In addition, the school also boasts a women’s basketball team, which has claimed 13 MAC titles, and a men’s team, which has won ten. The ice hockey team claimed the national championship in 1984, defeating the University of Minnesota-Dulath Bulldogs in the final.
The sports programs at Kent State are very competitive, even if the school has never won a national championship. The baseball team has regularly made it to the NCAA Tournament and made College World Series in 2012. The men’s and women’s basketball teams have both made it to March Madness several times.
Its football program has seen success, winning the Frisco Bowl in 2019 by beating the Utah State Aggies. The team has also produced NFL stars, including wide receiver Julian Edelman.
The Miami RedHawks have a number of successful programs, including its football team, which reached the Bahamas Bowl in 2022. The school also used to have the No.1 ranked ice hockey team before this was disbanded in 2013. The team only made it as far as the Frozen Four throughout its history.
The Toledo Rockets play in the MAC and fiercely rival nearby Bowling Green State. The schools are just 20 miles away from each other, along the I-75, which is why the matchups between these teams are called the “Battle for the I-75”. The most famous game in this rivalry is the annual college football game to compete for the Peace Pipe.
Xavier University has the unique honor of having Jim Bunning as one of its alum. Bunning is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame after his efforts for the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also became an elected Senator in Kentucky in 1999, making him the only MLB player to reach the Hall of Fame and the Senate.
The University of Dayton got its nickname from local brothers Wilbur and Orville Wight, who invented the first airplane. Along with this unique title, the Flyers also produced the first ever Mr. Irrelevant draft pick when Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kelvin Kirk in the 1976 Draft. The basketball program draws huge support and was declared the 23 most valuable basketball program in the US in 2014.
Ohio Land-Based Sportsbooks
Twelve land-based sportsbooks opened on the opening day of sports betting in Ohio. Any sportsbook granted a Type A license for online sports betting automatically receives a Type B license for a retail sportsbook. In addition, HB29 allows for up to 40 physical sportsbooks in Ohio under a Type B license.
| Location | Sportsbook |
|---|---|
| Belterra Park | FanDuel |
| JACK Cleveland Casino | betJACK |
| FC Cincinnati at Taft's Ale House | Superbook |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook | Hard Rock Cincinnati |
| Hollywood Casino Columbus | Barstool Sportsbook |
| Hollywood Casino Toledo | Barstool Sportsbook |
| Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway | Barstool Sportsbook |
| Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley | Barstool Sportsbook |
| JACK Thistledown Racino | betJACK |
| Northfield Park | BetMGM Sportsbook |
| Scioto Downs | Caesars Sportsbook |
| Great American Ball Park | BetMGM Sportsbook |
Ohio Sporting Events
Alongside its numerous professional and collegiate sides, Ohio also has several premier sporting events to offer the sports fan. The state hosts elite-level golf and tennis, with annual events attracting the best players worldwide. Read below to find out more.
The Memorial Tournament
The Memorial Tournament is an annual PGA Tour tournament founded in 1976 and held at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, north of Columbus.
Having grown up in the Greater Columbus area, Jack Nicklaus designed the Muirfield course. He founded the tournament to create a competition that would generate world interest and raise money for charitable causes; today, the tournament's primary beneficiary is the Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
The Memorial is one of only five invitational tournaments with a reduced field of 120 players. The field consists of invitees, including Players Championship winners, U.S. and European Ryder Cup team members, previous winners, and winners of the Jack Nicklaus Award for College Player of the Year.
It has a purse of $12,000,000, and only seven players have won the tournament more than once. Tiger Woods has the most victories, with five between 1999 and 2012.
Cincinnati Masters
The Cincinnati Open is an annual outdoor hardcourt tennis event held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center outside of Cincinnati. Founded in 1899, it is the oldest tennis tournament still held in its original city and is today part of the ATP Tour as a Masters 1000 event and the ATP Tour as a WTA 1000 event.
It was held initially at Avondale Athletic Club, now part of Xavier University. In 1903, the tournament moved to Cincinnati Tennis Club, which became its home until 1972. In 1979, organizers built a permanent home for the event in Mason. The surface was changed from clay to a turf hardcourt as part of the move. The venue now features 17 courts and four tennis arenas.
Roger Federer has won the most Men’s Singles Cincinnati Open titles, with seven wins from eight final appearances. Ruth Sanders Cordes and Clara Louise Zinke share the record for most Women’s Titles, with five. Zinke competed in ten consecutive finals between 1923 and 1932 and has the most Women’s Doubles Titles with six. Daniel Nestor, Bob Bryan, and Mike Bryan jointly hold the most men’s singles, with five.
FAQs
Yes, sports betting is now legal in Ohio. Governor Mike DeWine signed HB29, and sports betting officially launched on January 1, 2023.
Yes, you can bet on college football in Ohio. There are no restrictions on betting on in-state teams, wagering on prop bets, or the types of bets you can make.
Of course, you can! Daily Fantasy Sports were legalized in 2016 when Governor John Kasich signed HB132. You can access DFS games for major league sports like the NFL and NBA across the Buckeye State.
Absolutely! You can visit one of the seven racinos or a variety of off-track betting locations to place pari-mutuel wagers on horse racing. In the future, horse racing may become easier with sportsbooks offering online horse race betting.
No, there are no legal online casinos available in Ohio. However, there are several land-based casinos you can visit to play your favorite casino games. Alternatively, you can use a social casino to play these games for free without risking your bankroll.
You can place bets on sports from anywhere within the borders of Ohio. You must be over the legal gambling age and allow your geolocation services. You can also visit retail sportsbooks and place bets there.
Both DraftKings Sportsbooks and Daily Fantasy Sports are available for players in Ohio. You have been able to play its DFS service since 2016, and place bets on its sportsbook since 2023.
Yes, you can use FanDuel for sports bets and for Daily Fantasy Sports. Its DFS service has been available since 2016 and its sportsbook launched in January 2023.
You can use BetMGM Sportsbook after its launch on January 1, 2023. The sportsbook’s operator applied for a Type A license on the first day it was able to and partnered with its parent company’s owned-and-operated property MGM Northfield Park.