Ohio has yet to join four of its bordering states in legalizing sports betting. When it does, it could be among the most prominent sports wagering markets in the United States.
After Ohio’s self-imposed June 30, 2021, deadline passed with no sports betting law in place, all eyes will be on Ohio lawmakers when they reconvene in the fall of 2021 to attempt to push SB 176 across the finish line. As Governor Mike DeWine has stated, sports betting in Ohio seems inevitable — but there will still be some work to do if betting is to launch by April 1, 2022, the earliest operators could go live.
Stay tuned as we keep this page updated with the latest developments in Ohio sports betting.
Population: 11.7 million
Legal age for sports betting: 21
Online sports betting: Coming soon
Retail sportsbooks: Coming soon
Sports betting revenue: N/A
No. Although there have been multiple attempts over the past few years, Ohio has yet to legalize sports betting.
The good news for Ohioans? Both retail and mobile sports betting should be available when all is said and done. While not much else is clear at this stage, players should have plenty of options when placing their first bets in the Buckeye State.
Follow our U.S. legal tracker for the latest on each state's sports betting progress.
Ohio’s numerous sports betting bills have undergone minor tinkering and extreme overhauls since the state first looked to legalize sports wagering. Still, after an unsuccessful final push to legalize sports betting by June 30, 2021, a resolution has yet to be found.
The following timeline summarizes the history of sports betting in Ohio:
The earliest you can expect sports betting to arrive in Ohio is April 1, 2022. Fortunately, each of Ohio’s recent proposed sports wagering bills has included retail betting, mobile betting, and fully remote registration.
Regardless of the bill that ultimately becomes the state’s sports betting law, it seems Ohioans will be able to register, make account deposits, and place wagers from anywhere within the state. Ohio’s latest bill calls for up to 20 licenses for online operators, so bettors should also have plenty of options when choosing a sportsbook.
Anyone over 21 will be able to place a sports bet in Ohio once it's legalized. Sports betting should be convenient and accessible in Ohio, with retail sportsbooks located in major cities and online sportsbooks just a click away.
Here's everything you'll need to know before placing your first sports bet in the Buckeye State.
Legal ageSports betting will be available to adults 21 and over in Ohio.
Retail sportsbooksThere are no legal retail sportsbooks operating in Ohio. However, it stands to reason that Ohio’s four major casinos — located in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo — will feature physical sports betting facilities on or off-site when permitted.
Mobile bettingMobile sports betting has been included in each of the recently proposed sports betting bills in Ohio. Regardless of the bill that ultimately becomes the state’s sports betting law, Ohioans should expect mobile wagering to be on the table.
Remote registrationRemote registration has also been included in recent proposals. This will allow Ohio sports bettors to register, make deposits, and place bets from anywhere in-state. Fully remote registration would be a huge win for players in the Buckeye State.
Within state bordersIn states with legal and regulated sports betting, sports bets can only be placed by those physically located in said states. This will ring true in Ohio as well. When online sportsbooks are up and running, Ohioans will have to confirm they have both feet on the ground in Ohio before placing a wager.
Taxable winningsAll gambling winnings are taxed at both the federal and state level in Ohio. Sports bet winnings should be no different.
Expect to pay a withholding tax of 25% of all winnings when you provide your SSN. This amount may creep up to 28% should you prefer not to provide this information. Additionally, a state tax of 4% will be docked from your winnings as well.
Legal sports betting won’t be coming to Ohio until April 2022 — at the earliest. Until then, Ohioans do have options nearby.
Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have legalized and regulated mobile and in-person sports betting. As long as you are physically present in one of these states, you’ll be able to place a sports bet. For online bettors, it’s as easy as downloading a mobile app, entering your personal information, and making your first deposit.
The stars have yet to align, but Ohio’s current push to legalize sports gambling does look promising. The latest proposal would allow up to 40 licenses to be handed out to casinos, racinos, and other businesses.
Unfortunately, Ohio is well past the deadline to launch legal sports betting in 2021. April 1, 2022, is now the earliest sportsbooks will be able to go live.
Ohioans will be able to place their first bets remotely or physically. Wagers will be able to be placed online using a sports betting mobile app or an online sportsbook. Retail sportsbooks will be an option for those looking to bet in person.
There should be plenty of options for Ohio sports bettors when legal sports wagering launches in the Buckeye State. Before registering with a sportsbook, players should check out some (early) reviews and look over the bonuses offered by each provider.
Line shopping is recommended here as well. Finding the most favorable betting lines will ensure you maximize the return on your hard-earned cash.
By all accounts, Ohio sports bettors should have the option to sign up with a sportsbook from the comfort of their own homes (or anywhere else in the state). The registration process can be completed by entering some personal information and verifying your identity with a driver’s license or SSN.
Online sportsbooks regularly entice players with promotions and bonuses. Ohio sportsbooks will be no different. Expect to encounter bonuses such as risk-free bets, no-deposit bonuses, and deposit matches.
Once you’ve chosen a sportsbook and claimed your bonus offer, it’ll be time to add some funds to your account. Ohio should follow in the footsteps of other states with legal sports betting by allowing you to use PayPal, credit/debit, bank transfers. PayNearMe, and more.
Don’t overlook the transaction fees associated with some of these payment methods. Always check your bank’s or financial institution’s terms and conditions before moving forward with your deposit.
All of the popular bet types will be available to Ohio sports bettors. These include moneylines, Over/Unders (totals), point spreads, parlays, teasers, futures, and live bets.
It will be important to shop around before placing your first bet in the Buckeye State. Not all Ohio sportsbooks will offer players the same betting lines, so take your time to identify the most favorable betting opportunities when legal options become available.
Check out the terms and conditions associated with fund withdrawals from your chosen sportsbook. These transactions could be immediate or take one to two days to process.
Depending on the withdrawal method you choose, there may be fees attached to this transaction as well.
Reading the odds Ohio will follow other states by using American odds as the default option to show you betting odds. Look for a minus sign (-) to spot favorites. The number that follows will tell you the amount you’ll have to wager to walk away with $100 in winnings. For example, -180 odds mean you need to risk $180 to win $100.
Underdogs are accompanied by a plus sign (+). The number here represents the amount you’ll win when betting $100. For example, +110 odds indicate a bet of $100 would net you $110 if the underdog comes out on top.
If you’d like to view odds as fractions or decimals, check out our odds converter.
For now, the answer is simple: All sports bets are off-limits. When Ohio does legalize sports betting, Ohio bettors will still be prohibited from placing wagers on amateur athletes under the age of 18.
This section will be updated as Ohio's sports betting landscape starts to take shape.
PoliticsGamblers may not bet on political events in Ohio or any other U.S. state.
Entertainment award ceremoniesBetting on entertainment awards, such as the Oscars or Academy Awards, is not permitted in Ohio.
EsportsIt is illegal to bet on esports in Ohio. However, esports is included in SB 176. If this bill passes through the House with no further alterations, esports betting could soon be legalized and regulated.
Ohio college sportsIt remains to be seen if Ohio bettors will be permitted to place wagers on in-state college teams. Many other states allow sports bettors to get in on the college sports action but limit this to out-of-state teams.
It’s not always best to put your money where your mouth is when backing your favorite squad.
Sports bettors should always be careful when risking their bankroll. Do your due diligence before blindly laying action on your hometown team. Our how to bet guides are a great place to start.
Ohio is relatively new to the world of gambling. The first casino opened in 2012, and the state has yet to legalize any form of online gambling other than pari-mutuel horse race betting.
CasinoThere are four casinos and seven racinos in Ohio. The state’s casinos have been strategically placed in its four major cities — Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo.
Each casino offers a full lineup of games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat. Ohio’s racinos have been limited to VLT (video lottery terminals) only.
As online casinos are illegal in Ohio, gamblers are limited to sweepstakes casinos. Chumba Casino and LuckLand Slots are popular sweepstakes options.
PokerThirty-three poker rooms can be found in Ohio’s four major cities. Online poker, however, is illegal in the Buckeye State.
Global Poker, which follows a sweepstakes model, remains the only legal online poker option in Ohio.
Horse racingHorse racing enthusiasts can take in live races year-round at one of Ohio’s seven racinos. Ohio bettors are also free to place bets online with TVG, TwinSpires, or BetAmerica.
Daily Fantasy SportsOhio legalized Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in January 2018, though it took over two years for operators to obtain licenses to offer games in the Buckeye State. The most popular sites include DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo! Fantasy Sports, and StatHero.
The unfortunate reality is that problem gambling remains an issue in all states with legalized and regulated gambling. For Ohioans, multiple organizations have put numerous resources into place to support those with gambling addictions.
Gamblers may join the Ohio Voluntary Exclusion Program if they wish to restrict their access to gambling establishments. In the future, sportsbooks should be expected to provide players with the option to set deposit, wager, and loss limits.
Ohio has yet to legalize sports betting. But when they do, they’ll join the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
With no regulated sports betting in Ohio, offshore sportsbooks may seem like a good option. However, these websites are illegal and you're taking a huge risk by placing your funds in these types of accounts. Steer clear of the following websites in Ohio.
No. There are no legal options to place a sports bet in Ohio.
There is no way to gamble on sports in Ohio. As soon as sports betting is legalized, Ohioans should have the option to bet online or at a retail location.
No type of sports bet is legal in Ohio. All of the popular bet types should be available when Ohio ultimately passes its sports gambling law.
There are zero online sportsbooks in Ohio.
Yes, but you may only bet on horse races online or on your mobile device in Ohio.
When sports betting comes to Ohio, you can expect the odds to mirror those found at a sportsbook in Las Vegas.
The minimum age to gamble in Ohio is 21. You may place a pari-mutuel horse race bet if you are 18 years old.
No, Bet365 does not have a license to operate in Ohio.
You may not place a sports bet anywhere in Ohio. This could change in 2022.
Once sports betting is legalized, there shouldn’t be any restrictions when placing bets on professional sports teams based in Ohio. It remains to be seen if Ohioans will be permitted to bet on Ohio’s college teams.
No one in Ohio is able to place a sports bet online. When sports betting is legalized, anyone who is physically located in the Buckeye State — resident or visitor — will be able to place a wager online.
Ohio has not legalized sports betting, so there's nothing to report here yet.
There is no way to place a legal sports bet in the state of Ohio. In the future, bettors should be able to place wagers at a retail or online sportsbook.
None of Ohio’s cities accept sports wagers. Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo should all generate plenty of sports betting revenue as soon as they are permitted to do so.
