Ohio’s year-over-year sports betting handle jumped a whopping 19.7% in April.
Key takeaways
- Ohio sportsbooks generated 20.6% more bets in 2025's first four months compared to the same span last year.
- A 9.1% hold was still under 10%, but much improved from March.
- FanDuel led all Buckeye State operators with a $271.7 million handle.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission reported bettors wagered $807.2 million during April, up from $674.2 million the previous year. It’s the highest April handle the Buckeye State produced since online betting began in early 2023.
Sports bettors wagered more than $3.5 billion in the first four months of 2025, a 20.6% increase from the same span in 2024.
Buckeye State operators hauled in $73.7 million, slightly less than April 2024’s $73.9 million, from a 9.1% hold. Ohio online sports betting generated $74 million in revenue from a $794.8 million handle. Retail sportsbooks reported a $367,110 loss from $12.4 million wagered in person.
Ohio’s 20% tax rate on sports betting operators produced $14.7 million, down slightly from March’s $15.1 million.
Better results
April’s handle decreased 18.7% from March, which nearly reached $1 billion during college basketball’s postseason. However, the heavy volume month led to 18.7% less income than April, which produced operator-friendly outcomes during the NBA Playoff's first few weeks.
In 2024, Ohio books produced six double-digit holds. Through the first four months of 2025, they had yet to have a monthly win rate reach 10%. However, April’s hold was up significantly from March’s 6.7%, the lowest since Dec. 2024.
FanDuel stays on top
| Online Operator | April Handle | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | $271.7 million | $29.9 million |
| DraftKings | $248.6 million | $23.1 million |
| bet365 | $77.1 million | $6.3 million |
| BetMGM | $53.2 million | $3.7 million |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | $46.3 million | $4.6 million |
| Caesars | $32.5 million | $2.1 million |
FanDuel held onto its place atop Ohio's highest handle, generating $271.7 million in April bets. The online operator also produced $29.9 million in gross profit, down from March’s $36.5 million, from an impressive 11% hold.
DraftKings wasn’t too far behind with a $248.6 million haul, a considerable drop from March’s $316.7 million. A 9.3% win rate led to $23.1 million in revenue, a slight uptick from March. bet365's $77.1 million handle ranked third, while BetMGM was the only other operator to over reach $50 million in wagers.
Fanatics Sportsbook rounded out the top five with a $46.3 million haul, and Caesars finished over $8 million ahead of ESPN BET for sixth place. Hard Rock Bet and Prime Sports also generated over $10 million in bets during April, but Prime was one of two online operators to finish the month in the red.
Legislative landscape
It's been a busy year for lawmakers looking to alter Ohio’s gaming landscape. Sen. Louis Blessing recently introduced a bill to make the Buckeye State the first U.S. market to tax both sportsbook handle and revenue.
Lawmakers removed a budget proposal to double the tax rate on income earlier this year.
There are also two proposals this session that would legalize online casinos. One bill would charge a hefty licensing fee and a 36% to 40% tax rate. The other iGaming bill proposes a 28% tax on online operators, while also banning sweepstakes gaming.
