Ohio
Is Betting Legal in Ohio?
The state of Ohio has embraced legalized gambling in most of its forms, providing bettors with online and in-person options for sports betting and plenty of in-person destinations for casino gambling. Residents and people in Ohio are unable to gamble on casino games in any online form other than for fun, but there are many options for gambling in the state, including Ohio sports betting.
What Types of Legal Gambling Are Available in Ohio?
Casinos
Ohio legalizes casino gambling at a physical casino, with 11 brick-and-mortar venues available in the state. Many of these are racinos, which combine casino games with the ability to bet on live horse racing. There are also sportsbooks on the premises, including options for Ohio sports betting.
| *Last Updated: 07/10/24 | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| JACK Cleveland Casino | Downtown Cleveland | This casino features nearly 100 table games, a 28-table poker room, over 1,200 slots on an outdoor gaming patio, and an on-site betJACK sportsbook. |
| JACK Thistledown Racino | North Randall | This combination casino and racetrack features 1,700 slot machines, a two-story outdoor gaming patio, a 4,000-square-foot betJACK sportsbook, and live thoroughbred and simulcast racing. |
| Hollywood Casino Columbus | Columbus | This casino features over 1,700 slots, 65 table games, and a 34-table poker room, with a sportsbook on the site associated with ESPN BET. |
| Eldorado Scioto Downs | Columbus | This racino has three open-air gaming terraces, over 1,800 games, live harness racing, and an on-site Caesars Sportsbook. |
| Belterra Park Cincinnati | Cincinnati | This racino has live racing at Belterra Park, a casino with over 1,100 games, and an on-site FanDuel Sportsbook with 24/7 betting kiosks. |
| Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati | Cincinnati | This casino has more than 1,600 slot machines, close to 100 table games, live poker and electronic table games, and a Hard Rock Sportsbook. |
| Hollywood Casino Toledo | Toledo | This 125,000-square-foot casino features more than 1,700 slots, 45-table games, a 12-table poker room, and a sportsbook restaurant. |
| Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course | Youngstown | This racino offers live thoroughbred horse racing, over 1,000 games, a wide variety of video games, and an on-site sportsbook. |
| Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway | Dayton | This racino offers live racing, an on-site sportsbook, and a casino with over 1,000 video lottery terminals. |
| MGM Northfield Park | Northfield | This racino features live harness racing year-round, over 1,600 video lottery terminal machines, and a BetMGM sportsbook. |
| Miami Valley Gaming | Lebanon | This racino has over 2,200 gaming machines, live harness racing, and an on-site sportsbook. |
Is Online Gambling Legal in Ohio?
In Ohio, betting on sports and playing lottery games online is legal. However, online casino gambling is not permitted. With so many options for in-person casinos across the state, there is no push to allow casino gaming on apps for real money.
Social online casinos are available but don’t pay out real cash for wins. Ohio sports betting is widely available both online and in person.
What Are the Sports Betting Options in Ohio?
There are plenty of online and in-person sports betting options in Ohio. Also, lottery-approved sports betting is available at kiosks across the state. Unlike some states, Ohio does not restrict betting on in-state colleges’ competitions, though the state did recently outlaw individual college athlete prop bets. Governor Mike DeWine cited harassment of individual players in deciding to outlaw the type of wagers in February 2024.
| Sportsbook | Description |
|---|---|
| Bally Bet | Relaunched in August 2023, it is available in seven states, including Ohio, where it has a retail partnership with the Cleveland Browns. |
| Bet365 Sportsbook | Originally launched in Europe, Bet365 is now available in nine states, including Ohio, and has a retail partnership with the Cleveland Guardians. |
| Betfred | Another sportsbook with international sports betting experience is available in six states, including Ohio. It has a retail partnership with the Cleveland Guardians. |
| betJACK | A sportsbook exclusively available in Ohio, betJACK focuses on Ohio teams with its promos and is associated with JACK casinos. |
| BetMGM Sportsbook | One of the most experienced sportsbooks, BetMGM has a broad reach across the country and offers a variety of bets and markets to bettors, partnering with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. |
| BetPARX | One of the smaller sportsbooks in Ohio, BetPARX tries to differentiate itself with unique lines and bets and is in a retail partnership with the PGA. |
| Betr Sportsbook | This niche sportsbook is only available in three states, including Ohio. It focuses on micro-betting, allowing customers to bet quickly throughout a specific game. |
| BetRivers Sportsbook | A growing sportsbook with a broad national reach, BetRivers is known for its promotions and bonuses and offers all the major markets and betting options. |
| Betway | Another sportsbook with plenty of experience in Europe, Betway is in eight US states, including Ohio, and the app is easy to use for beginning bettors. |
| Caesars Entertainment | One of the more well-known sportsbooks, Caesars is in 21 states, including Ohio, offering plenty of bonuses and promotions on bets from across the sports world. The sportsbook has a retail partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers. |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | DraftKings is one of the nation’s biggest sportsbooks, offering all major sports and betting options with plenty of odds boosts and game promotions for bettors. |
| ESPN BET | One of the newest sportsbooks, ESPN BET (formerly Barstool Sportsbook) has a great welcome offer and is live in 17 states. It offers many special offers and promotions involving ESPN personalities. |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | Formerly PointsBet, the Fanatics Sportsbook offers an easy-to-use app with plenty of betting options and odds boosts for bettors. |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | FanDuel is one of the principal online sportsbooks in the US, providing a solid, user-friendly app for both beginning and veteran sports bettors looking for a wide range of bets and odds. |
| Hard Rock Bet | Available in six states in the U.S., Hard Rock Bet has a very easy-to-use app and offers plenty of promotions along with live betting. |
| MVGBet | Only available in Ohio, MVGBet is operated by Miami Valley Gaming. It offers all the major sports and betting options, a solid app, and competitive bonuses and promotions. |
| Prime Sportsbook | Another Ohio-exclusive sportsbook, Prime Sportsbook is known for not having betting limits for customers, allowing for bigger wagers and wins. The app is only available on iOS, but the sportsbook is also available on web browsers. |
| SuperBook Sportsbook | SuperBook is less prevalent than other sportsbooks in Ohio, but it has a SuperContest, which allows players to compete against each other. It also has a retail partnership with FC Cincinnati. |
| Tipico Sportsbook | Another sportsbook with international ties, Tipico is currently available only in four states in the US but offers bettors a chance to cash out on their bets before contests are finished for a smaller payout. |
Below is a list of the main Ohio Retail Sportsbooks for your benefit:
| Sportsbook | Description |
|---|---|
| FanDuel Sportsbook at Belterra Park Cincinnati | Located at Belterra Park Cincinnati, this sportsbook has recliner and bar seating, four top tables, and betting kiosks available 24/7. |
| The Sportsbook at Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley | Located at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Youngstown, this Penn Play sportsbook allows customers to bet on most major sports during business hours. |
| BetMGM Sportsbook at The Banks | Located across the street from the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, this sportsbook features a 350-square-foot video wall, 14 sports betting kiosks, three betting windows, and a whole food and beverage service. |
| Hard Rock Sportsbook at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati | Located at the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati in Cincinnati, this sportsbook features multiple betting windows, large LED displays of ongoing action, multiple odds boards and tickers with live scores, and food from the neighboring Hard Rock Cafe. |
| Fanatics Sportsbook at Progressive Field | Located at Progressive Field in Cleveland, this sportsbook is part of Fanatics’ partnership with the Cleveland Guardians. It features four betting kiosks, a betting counter, and seven TV monitors. |
| BetJACK Sportsbook at JACK Cleveland Casino | Located at JACK Cleveland Casino in Cleveland, this 6,000-square-foot sportsbook features a table games pit inside. It also has luxury seating and multiple big-screen TVs to watch the sports action. |
| Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse | Located at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, this sportsbook is accessible through the arena and from outdoor entrances, so bettors can access it even if they don’t have a ticket to the Cleveland Cavaliers game. The two-level sportsbook features wall-to-wall flatscreen TVs, five betting windows, 15 betting kiosks, and a full food and beverage menu. |
| BetJACK Sportsbook at JACK Thistledown Racino | Located inside Thistledown Racino in North Randall, this sportsbook features theater seating, multiple betting kiosks, and walls of big-screen TVs to follow the sports action. |
| The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Columbus | Located at Hollywood Casino Columbus in Columbus, this sportsbook, which is over 12,000 square feet, features four betting windows, over 30 betting kiosks, two jumbo TV walls, VIP seating, and a full-service bar and restaurant. |
| Caesars Sportsbook at Eldorado Scioto Downs | Located at Eldorado Scioto Downs in Columbus, this sportsbook features a high-resolution video wall, staffed betting counters, self-serve betting kiosks, and plenty of lounging space. |
| The Sportsbook at Hollywood Gaming Dayton | Located at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway in Dayton, this Penn Play sportsbook features a full restaurant menu as bettors place and follow their sports bets. |
| BetMGM Sportsbook at MGM Northfield Park | Located at MGM Northfield Park in Northfield, this 2,200-square-foot sportsbook features a 232-square-foot video wall, 16 odds boards, 14 total kiosks, five teller windows, eight couches/group seating areas and 50 seats. |
| The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Toledo | Located at Hollywood Casino Toledo in Toledo, this sportsbook is also a restaurant. Bettors can order from a full food and drink menu while placing and following their bets. |
| MVG Race & Sportsbook at Miami Valley Gaming | Located at Miami Valley Gaming in Lebanon, this sportsbook features multiple TVs and plenty of seating for bettors to follow their wagers on sports and horse racing. |
Is the Lottery Legal in Ohio?
The Ohio Lottery, overseen by the Ohio Lottery Commission, offers many ways for people in the state to play and win, from scratch-offs and draw games to Ohio sports betting through licensed machines throughout the state.
Ohio residents can also play in multi-state lottery contests like Mega Millions and Powerball to get the chance at enormous jackpots.
The state’s legislature authorized the Ohio Casino Control Commission to license up to 20 type C sports gaming proprietors to operate lottery sports gaming in Ohio. Once licensed, the Ohio Lottery Commission is required to contract with all licensed type C gaming proprietors.
Currently, three licensed sportsbook vendors in the state – UBETOhio, Sports Bet Ohio, and BetSkybox – offer self-service kiosks and point-of-sale terminals at bars, restaurants, and golf courses throughout the state.
Can You Bet on Horse Racing in Ohio?
Betting on horse racing is legal in Ohio both from a mobile app and at one of the many race tracks in the state. Many state race tracks also feature casinos and sportsbooks, giving customers the whole Ohio sports betting experience.
Race tracks in Ohio:
- Beulah Park (Grove City, OH)
- Lebanon Raceway (Lebanon, OH)
- Northfield Park Racetrack (Northfield, OH)
- Raceway Park (Toledo, OH)
- River Downs (Cincinnati, OH)
- Scioto Downs (Columbus, OH)
- Thistledown (Cleveland, OH)
Is Charitable Gambling Allowed in Ohio?
Ohio allows charitable organizations to offer bingo, raffles, and other games of chance. The Attorney General of Ohio must license an organization to offer bingo. It must have received tax-exemption status from the IRS, qualify as a “charitable organization” as defined in the Ohio Revised Code, and must have been in continuous existence for no less than two years to qualify for such a license.
While a raffle is considered a form of bingo, organizations do not need to be licensed by the Attorney General to offer it as long as they meet the other qualifications listed above.
Games of chance, such as poker, craps, roulette, or any other game where the participant pays money in the hope of gain, are allowed with specific qualifications for charitable organizations but don’t require a license.
What Are the Age Requirements for Gambling in Ohio?
The legal age for casino or sports gambling in Ohio is currently 21, but 18-year-olds can play Keno, the state lottery, and horse racing.
Who Regulates Gambling in Ohio?
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) ensures the integrity of casino gaming, sports gaming, skill-based amusement machines, and fantasy contests by licensing, regulating, investigating, and enforcing state laws.
How Are Gambling Winnings Taxed in Ohio?
Ohio has a tax rate of 20% for an interactive sports wagering operator for doing business in the state.
What Responsible Gambling Resources Are Available in Ohio?
Ohio features several different programs to help people who are experiencing problems with gambling, as well as tools and resources to help people learn about the dangers of gambling. The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) provides tools for people to gamble responsibly alongside programs and resources for those who experience problems with their loved ones.
The Time Out Ohio Program allows people to ban themselves from Ohio’s casinos, racinos, and Ohio sports betting for one year, five years, or a lifetime. It is available at TimeOutOhio.com, in person at the Commissioner’s offices in each of the state’s casino properties, or at the OCCC’s main office in downtown Columbus.
The state’s Pause Before You Play program tries to inform new gamblers of the risks of problem gambling. Its website is PauseBeforeYouPlay.org. There is also a helpline for assistance with problem gambling at 1-800-589-9966 and a website, www.gamblinghelpohio.org, that gives links to gambling resources by zip code.
What Does the Future of Gambling Look Like in Ohio?
Sports betting is still fairly young in Ohio, having become legal on January 1st, 2023. The state is always looking for ways to improve Ohio sports betting and other forms of gambling for its residents, but things seem to be quite settled for now. Ohio lacks online casino gambling. There doesn’t seem to be a push to change this anytime soon.
