Want to bet on the NFL, NBA, college sports, and more in Ohio? Our Ohio sports betting guide will cover everything you need to know about sports betting in Ohio. We’ll cover everything from what types of betting are legal to the best Ohio betting sites you can use today.
Best Sports Betting Ohio Sites 2021
The Best Sports Betting Ohio Sites List 2021
Looking for the best sites for sports betting in Ohio? We’ve put together a list of the top 10 Ohio sportsbooks for 2021:
- MyBookie – Overall Best Ohio Sports Betting Site in 2021
- Bovada – Best Sportsbook for Live Streaming Games
- Sportsbetting.ag – Best Ohio Sports Betting Site for European Sports
- BetOnline – Best NBA Futures Betting Site in Ohio
- BetUS – Best Mobile App for Online Betting in Ohio
- Intertops – Top Ohio Betting Site for New Players
- 5Dimes – Best Ohio Online Sportsbook for In-game Betting
- BetNow – Best Welcome Bonus Among Ohio Sports Betting Sites
- XBet – Most Favorable Ohio State Betting Odds
- BetAmerica – Best Online Off Track Betting in Ohio
Is Sports Betting Legal in Ohio?
Sports betting is currently not legal in Ohio. A bill that would legalize sports betting in Ohio passed the state Senate in June, but was not taken up by the House during the summer session.
So, the earliest that a sports betting bill would be approved is this fall. In that case, sports betting could be legal in Ohio by the end of 2022.
Importantly, sports betting is legal in several of the states bordering Ohio, including Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. That means that Ohio residents can still bet on sports – you just have to drive to a neighboring state to do it.
Let’s take a closer look at what types of betting are legal in Ohio and what types aren’t.
Online Sportsbooks
Online sportsbooks are not currently legal in Ohio. The bill passed by the state Senate in June 2021 would make online sportsbooks legal, although this bill still needs to be approved by the House and signed by Governor Mike DeWine.
Under the proposed legislation, mobile sportsbooks would be required to partner with an existing brick-and-mortar casino operating in Ohio. The bill allows for 25 sportsbook licenses that can be used specifically by online sportsbooks.
For now, Ohio residents can bet on sports with an offshore sportsbook. These sportsbooks are often based in Costa Rica, Curacao, or the EU and are not regulated by the Ohio state government. Betting with them from Ohio is completely legal.
Land-based Betting
Land-based sports betting is currently not allowed in Ohio, although the state does have casinos and racinos. Racinos are combination racetracks and slot parlors, which don’t offer table games like blackjack or poker. Land-based casinos were banned until 2009, when voters approved the creation of 4 casino licenses for the state.
Today, there are 7 racinos and 4 casinos operating in Ohio:
- Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati Cincinnati (land-based casino; Hamilton, OH)
- Hollywood Casino Columbus Columbus (land-based casino; Franklin, OH)
- Hollywood Casino Toledo (land-based casino; Toledo, OH)
- Jack Cleveland Casino (land-based casino; Cleveland, OH)
- Belterra Park Cincinnati (racino; Anderson, OH)
- Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs (racino; Columbus, OH)
- Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway (racino; Dayton, OH)
- Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course (racino; Austintown, OH)
- Jack Thistledown Racino (racino; North Randall, OH)
- MGM Northfield Park (racino; Northfield, OH)
- Miami Valley Gaming (racino; Turtlecreek, OH)
The sports betting bill currently in progress in the Ohio state legislature would require mobile sports betting sites to partner with one of these casinos or racinos to operate in the state.
In addition, the bill would create 33 licenses for land-based sportsbooks, including casinos and racinos. Those licenses could also be used by brick-and-mortar sportsbooks such as sports bars or betting shops.
Horse Racing
Betting on horse racing is legal in Ohio. In fact, the state is home to 8 racetracks, of which 7 are located at the state’s racinos. All of the racinos and land-based casinos offer off-track betting in Ohio. There is also one additional off-track betting location in the state, in the town of Sandusky.
Ohio has not approved mobile horse race betting within the state, so there are no horse race betting sites that operate within Ohio. This is not expected to change even if online sports betting is approved. However, it is legal to bet on horse racing online through an offshore betting site.
Timeline of Sports Betting Legislation in Ohio
The push to legalize sports betting in Ohio began in 2018, when the US Supreme Court struck down a law banning sports betting throughout the US. While many of the states around Ohio were quick to legalize sports wagering, however, Ohio has not yet made sports betting legal.
Here’s a rundown of recent progress on sports betting in Ohio:
- December, 2020: Ohio lawmakers proposed several competing versions of bills to legalize sports betting, but could not come to agreement on the number of licenses to issue. The legislative session ended without progress.
- May 6, 2021: State Senator Kirk Schuring introduced SB176, a bill that would create 40 sports betting licenses to be split between online and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. The bill also required that physical sportsbooks must be standalone sites, so that existing racinos and casinos would not be allowed to operate sportsbooks. It also introduced a flat fee sports pool product for the Ohio Lottery.
- June 16, 2021: The Ohio State Senate passed SB176 with a 31-2 vote, the day after the bill was approved by its committee.
- June 24, 2021: Senator Schuring, who introduced the sports betting bill, amended it so that existing racinos and casinos would be allowed to operate sportsbooks. It also increased the number of licenses from 40 to 53. The amendment was passed 31-0.
- June 30, 2021: The Ohio House failed to bring the sports betting legislation to a vote before the end of the summer legislative session. The earliest the bill could be voted on is in September, which would likely push back the start of sports betting in Ohio to late 2022.
Even if the sports betting bill was passed by the end of June, licenses would not have been approved until at least April 1, 2022. With a delay of several months due to the end of the legislative session, it is likely that sports betting in Ohio won’t begin until at least July 2022.
Offshore Betting in Ohio
While sports betting isn’t legal in Ohio yet, bettors can still make wagers on sports using an offshore betting site. These sites are typically based in Costa Rica, Curacao, or the EU and are not under the authority of the Ohio state government. So, while the sites themselves are not technically allowed in Ohio, betting with them is entirely legal.
Offshore betting is also likely to continue even if online sportsbooks open in Ohio once sports betting is legalized.
Are Daily Fantasy Sports Legal in Ohio?
Daily fantasy sports are legal in Ohio. The state legislature passed a law in 2018 that gave oversight of daily fantasy sports to the state’s gaming commission. In early 2020, the gaming commission announced that it had issued licenses to 5 daily fantasy sports sites:
- FanDuel
- DraftKings
- Yahoo Fantasy Sports
- StatHero
- Fantasy Golf’s OG
Note that daily fantasy sports are only legal at these 5 sites. So, you cannot play daily fantasy sports with Monkey Knife Fight or other daily fantasy sites that were not awarded licenses by the Ohio gaming commission.
Casino Laws in Ohio
Casino laws in Ohio have undergone some changes in recent years. Prior to 2009, the state only allowed racetracks and had just one off track betting site outside the 7 existing tracks.
In 2009, voters and the state legislature approved the creation of 4 licenses for land-based casinos. Then in 2011, the introduction of slot machines and video poker to the state’s racetracks were approved, thus turning them into ‘racinos.’
The current sports betting legislation would change the Ohio casino landscape even further, since it would enable all of the casinos and racinos in the state to open sportsbooks. They would also serve as partners for any online sportsbooks that want to operate in the state.
Online Casinos
Online gambling in Ohio is currently not legal. There are no online casinos that operate in the state.
However, Ohio residents can still play casino games, including slots and table games, with an offshore casino site. Online casinos based in Costa Rica, Curacao, and the EU are fully available to Ohio residents and are not regulated under Ohio’s state laws.
Land-based Casinos
There are 4 land-based casinos in Ohio and 7 land-based ‘racinos’:
- Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati Cincinnati (land-based casino; Hamilton, OH)
- Hollywood Casino Columbus Columbus (land-based casino; Franklin, OH)
- Hollywood Casino Toledo (land-based casino; Toledo, OH)
- Jack Cleveland Casino (land-based casino; Cleveland, OH)
- Belterra Park Cincinnati (racino; Anderson, OH)
- Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs (racino; Columbus, OH)
- Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway (racino; Dayton, OH)
- Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course (racino; Austintown, OH)
- Jack Thistledown Racino (racino; North Randall, OH)
- MGM Northfield Park (racino; Northfield, OH)
- Miami Valley Gaming (racino; Turtlecreek, OH)
Casinos can offer slots as well as table games like blackjack, roulette, and poker. Racinos are horse tracks that also have slots and video poker, but are not licensed to offer table games.
Gambling Tax in Ohio
All casinos and racinos in Ohio are subject to a 33% tax on gross revenue.
For individual gamblers, figuring out how much you owe can be more complicated. If you bet at a licensed casino or racino in Ohio, the casino is required to withhold 4% of your winnings for tax purposes. That likely won’t cover your whole tax bill, as gambling winnings are taxed at your ordinary state income tax rate. So, when you’re filing your state income taxes, you’ll need to calculate how much you owe and subtract the amount withheld by the casino.
In addition, you are allowed to deduct your gambling losses from your winnings when figuring your taxes. However, you cannot deduct more than you made from gambling for the year, even if you end up losing money while gambling.
If you’re using an offshore betting site, don’t expect the site to withhold any of your winnings for tax purposes. Even though offshore betting sites and casinos are outside of Ohio’s jurisdiction, you still have to report any net earnings from gambling at these sites on your state taxes.
Best Ohio Sportsbooks Reviewed
While sports betting in Ohio isn’t legal just yet, you can still bet on your favorite sports with an online sportsbook. Let’s take a closer look at the 5 best Ohio sports betting sites for 2021:
1. MyBookie – Overall Best Ohio Sports Betting Site in 2021
MyBookie is our top-rated sports betting site for Ohio residents in 2021. This online sportsbook offers betting on all the major US sports leagues as well as college football and basketball. You can also bet on soccer, golf, rugby, and even special events like the Olympics.
MyBookie’s platform stands out for how easy it is to bet on and follow your favorite sports. You can watch a live stream of almost any match through your account and bet on games as they unfold. MyBookie also has a mobile app, so it’s easy to take your betting on the go.
Another plus to MyBookie is that it offers an attractive welcome bonus for new users. When you sign up for the platform, you can claim up to $1,000 with a 50% match on your first deposit. After that, every time you add money to your account, MyBookie will give you a 25% deposit match.
Pros:
- Live streaming of most matches
- Supports parlays and in-game betting
- Welcome bonus up to $1,000
- Bet on Ohio State University college sports
Cons:
- Limited selection of non-traditional sports
2. Bovada – Best Sportsbook for Live Streaming Games
Bovada is one of the best Ohio sportsbooks if you’re looking for a place to watch matches as well as bet on them. This online betting site offers HD-quality streaming for virtually every game you can bet on, plus allows you to make live in-game bets to keep things exciting. Bovada also has a prop builder tool that makes it easy to create custom wagers.
Another reason to choose Bovada is that it’s selection of sports to bet on is enormous. You can bet on the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, plus college sports, golf, and soccer. The platform also offers betting on lesser-watched winter sports and competitions like snooker and handball.
Bovada’s best welcome bonus is reserved for players who make a deposit with Bitcoin, which is great for cryptocurrency users. The site offers a 75% match on your Bitcoin deposit up to $750. You can also fund your account with Bitcoin Cash or Litecoin, and payments in these digital currencies are processed in hours rather than days.
Pros:
- HD-quality live streaming
- Prop builder for custom bets
- Huge range of sports to bet on
- Generous welcome bonus for Bitcoin deposits
Cons:
- Limited welcome bonus for credit or debit payments
3. Sportsbetting.ag – Best Ohio Sports Betting Site for European Sports
Sportsbetting.ag is a European sportsbook that does an extremely good job of covering the entire universe of sports. We think it really stands out for wagering on EU sports like soccer, cricket, rugby, and Aussie rules football. You’ll find a huge selection of parlays and prop bets for these sports, which are often under-covered by other sportsbooks.
Of course, Sportsbetting.ag also has plenty of US matchups to bet on. The site offers NBA futures betting, college sports, e-sports, and more. The only downside is that Sportsbetting.ag doesn’t have live streaming, so you’ll need to find another way to watch your favorite games.
Sportsbetting.ag offers a 50% deposit match up to $1,000 when you sign up for an account, which is very generous. On top of that, the site accepts an extremely wide range of cryptocurrencies for payment – including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, and Stellar.
Pros:
- Wide range of European sports to wager on
- Bet on NBA futures and e-sports
- Welcome bonus up to $1,000
- Accepts most popular cryptocurrencies for payment
Cons:
- No live streaming available
4. BetOnline – Best NBA Futures Betting Site in Ohio
BetOnline is one of our favorite Ohio betting sites for wagering on the NBA. This platform lets you bet on individual games as well as the NBA draft and next year’s championship. It also carries an enormous range of prop bets, which can make for some unique parlays when the NBA season is in full swing.
BetOnline has similarly strong coverage for the NFL, MLB, and NHL, plus offers wagers on golf, tennis, and more. In addition, the site has a built-in casino and racebook, so it’s something of a one-stop shop for betting in Ohio. The only thing we found disappointing is that BetOnline doesn’t offer online streaming of sports games.
BetOnline matches the $1,000 welcome bonus offer we’ve seen from MyBookie and Sportsbetting.ag, and even offers a 25% reload bonus up to $250. You can fund your betting account with Bitcoin, but BetOnline doesn’t accept other cryptocurrencies at this time.
Pros:
- Bet on the NBA draft and NBA futures
- Wide range of prop bets for most matches
- Integrated casino and racebook
- $1,000 welcome bonus available
Cons:
- No live streaming available
- Bitcoin is the only crypto accepted
5. BetUS – Best Mobile App for Online Betting in Ohio
BetUS is one of our favorite sports betting apps in Ohio for players who want to wager on the go. The BetUS app is incredibly easy to use and puts your bet slip at the tips of your fingers. Even better, BetUS offers live in-game betting, so you can place bets as a game unfolds even if you don’t have your computer in front of you.
Another thing we like about BetUS is that it offers outstanding customer support. The company’s customer service team is available 24/7 and you can get in touch by phone and live chat. Importantly, live chat is directly available from inside the BetUS app.
BetUS offers the most generous welcome bonus of any of our top 5 Ohio sportsbooks. When you sign up, you can claim up to $1,250 with a 50% match. Just note that there’s no reload bonus, so you do give up some future cash in exchange for a bigger sign-up bonus.
Pros:
- Very user-friendly mobile app
- Supports live in-game betting on mobile
- 24/7 customer support team
- Very large $1,250 welcome bonus
Cons:
- No account reload bonuses
Ohio Betting Sites Comparison
Now that you know more about the 5 best Ohio sports betting sites, let’s see how they stack up on bonuses and key features:
| Bonus | Bonus Code | Live Streaming | Payment Methods | |
| MyBookie | 50% deposit match up to $1,000 25% reload bonus up to $500 |
MYB50 MYB25 |
Yes | Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Ethereum |
| Bovada | 75% Bitcoin deposit match up to $750 | BTCSWB750 | Yes | Credit card, debit card, MatchPay, Zelle, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin |
| Sportsbetting.ag | 50% deposit match up to $1,000 25% reload bonus up to $250 |
SB1000 FORLIFE |
No | Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, money order, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Stellar |
| BetOnline | 50% deposit match up to $1,000 25% reload bonus up to $250 |
BOL1000 LIFEBONUS |
No | Credit card, debit card, Skrill, Neteller, wire transfer, money order, Bitcoin |
| BetUS | 50% sportsbook deposit match up to $1,250 | SIGNUP100 | No | Credit card, debit card, wire transfer, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum |
Conclusion
Sports betting in Ohio isn’t legal quite yet, but the state is making a push to legalize online and in-person sportsbooks by 2022. For now, you can gamble at one of the state’s 4 casinos or bet on horse racing at one of the 7 racinos. You can also bet on sports in Ohio using an offshore sportsbook.
Ready to place your first sports bet in Ohio? Get started with MyBookie today and claim your $1,000 welcome bonus.
FAQs
Is online sports betting legal in Ohio?
Online sports betting is not yet legal in Ohio, although it could be soon if pending legislation passes. For now, you can bet on sports online in Ohio with an offshore sportsbook like MyBookie.
When is Ohio going to have sports betting?
Ohio intended to issue sportsbook licenses by April 1, 2022. However, that is likely to be delayed since the House failed to pass sports betting legislation before the summer legislative break.
What betting is legal in Ohio?
Ohio has 4 licensed casinos with slots, table games, and poker. The state also has 7 racinos with off track betting and slot machines.
Where can I place bets in Ohio?
You can bet on horse racing at any of the state’s 7 racinos or its additional off track betting site. You can also bet on table games like blackjack and poker at any of Ohio’s 4 casinos. To bet on sports in Ohio, you’ll need to use an online sportsbook like MyBookie.
Why don’t the Ohio gaming tribes have sports betting?
Ohio Native American tribes currently do not operate casinos or sportsbooks in the state. While they are allowed to as sovereign entities, the tribes have decided not to allow gambling on their land.
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