Steps towards launching the first Ohio online betting sites have moved forward recently. Online sports betting will come to the state on January 1, 2023, following the successful HB 29 Bill that passed in December 2021.
Although no sportsbooks are actually live in Ohio, betting companies and gambling venues are already forming partnerships. This should help the smooth entry of online sports betting in the Buckeye State for late 2022 and early 2023.
Despite the progression and upcoming launch of online sports betting, there have been no development for casino games. These types of online games are unlikely to enter the Ohio market soon as sports betting remains a priority.
However, we keep bettors up to date with all the latest legal Ohio online betting sites developments on this page. Below is an overview of the current state of Ohio online betting sites.
When will sport betting launch in Ohio?
Ohio is somewhat of a sports-obsessed state with hardcore fans supporting the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. As a result, there is an appetite for sports betting and sports fandom in the Buckeye State.
However, this has not led to a quick rolling out of legal sports betting. Since the US Government repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) Ohio has been slow to bring in sports betting.
It wasn’t until March 2019, that the legislature has presented a law project to allow retail and online sports betting. On December 22, 2021, this started to become reality when the HB 29 Bill became law. However, rather than swiftly introducing sports betting to Ohio, the bill states that legal sports gambling will begin before or on January 1, 2023.
What Ohio online betting sites will launch?
The Ohio online betting sites and sportsbooks could return big handles in the state. In addition, legalized sports betting could generate around $1 billion in revenue. As a result, this would make Ohio, potentially, one of the most profitable states concerning sports betting.
Following the passing of HB 29, some betting companies have already moved quickly to get a foot in the Ohio market. In fact, the new sportsbook, Fubo Gaming, has already partnered with the Cleveland Cavaliers as an official betting partner. Part of the agreement will see a large sports lounge installed at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
Other big players in the sports betting market could also join the action. Both FanDuel and DraftKings have provided Daily Fantasy Sports services in Ohio. In particular, FanDuel has existing partnerships with large sports teams in other states and they could be a frontrunner to launch in Ohio.
Bet MGM is another provider with links in the Hawkeye State. The gambling giant owns the Northfield Park casino, providing a potential base to launch an online sportsbook and app.
Overall, a maximum of 25 sportsbooks could launch in Ohio under the new laws. As a result, sportsbooks will be paying close attention in the next year leading up to January 1, 2023.
Is horse race betting legal in Ohio?
Despite years of uncertainty about sports betting and when it would launch, one betting activity has been a constant. Legal betting on horse racing is popular in Ohio since it was legalized in the 1930s.
Although there has been a stark decline in horse racing and betting on horses in the US, the market has held firm in Ohio. As a result, pari-mutuel betting is popular and available at seven tracks that offer live racing throughout the year. Both thoroughbred racing and harness racing are available at venues in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Youngstown.
Following a law change in 2011, these race tracks have been able to offer slot, table, and video lottery terminals. Such facilities are called racinos and they have helped to boost the income of racetracks in Ohio. In fact, seven of the 11 land-based casinos in the state are racinos.
What Ohio online betting sites accept horse betting?
Land-based racetracks and off-track betting facilities in Ohio are not permitted to offer online betting yet. But players can still wager on their favorite US and international tracks from desktop and mobile devices.
Companies like DRFBets and Twinspires are based outside the state but they can take bets from Ohio residents. These sites are horse racing specialists that offer a huge range of horse racing odds and markets. In addition, the sites have dedicated blogs, tips, and the latest horse racing news.
With the developments towards legal Ohio online betting sites, at least some providers will likely offer horse racing bets. However, not every platform has horse racing on offer. Closer to the time, check each provider to see which has the best horse racing market.
Ohio Casinos
In-person casinos were not legal until 2009. However, since then, four land-based casinos have opened along with the seven racinos that have launched since 2011. The four commercial casinos offer table and slot games, while bettors have to visit a racino for VLT games.
The Ohio casinos vary in size. Currently, the Hollywood Casino Columbus is the largest land-based casino in the state. Here, bettors can access more than 2000 gaming machines and around 80 table games.
With sports betting set to launch in the next year or so, some of these casinos may work towards getting a sportsbook license.
Are Ohio online casinos available?
As discussions and law-making decisions have centered on sports betting, little attention has been given to online casinos. As a result, there is no definite timeline of when Ohio online betting sites will include casino games like poker, blackjack, and roulette.
Successfully rolling out sports betting will be a priority for Ohio gambling in the short term. Once the success has been measured, then casino games could come next.
However, for now, bettors can stick to in-person wagering at the 11 racinos or casinos in the Hawkeye State. Alternatively, players can head online to play for virtual tokens at social casinos, without the use of real money.
Ohio State Lottery
In the 1970s, the Ohio Lottery Commission was created and this establishment oversees the Ohio State Lottery. This has been legal since 1973 and it remains a popular activity in the Hawkeye State.
All of the lottery ticket sales have helped with many social causes in the state. These include improvements to education, infrastructure, and local charities.
The Ohio Lottery provides access to US-wide jackpot games like Mega Millions and Powerball. Also, it offers multiple daily draw games across the state. There are also dozens of scratch tickets found at retailers all over Ohio. These tickets can range in price from a dollar up to $20, with higher tickets offering bigger rewards.