Ohio Online Gambling

The Ohio Casino Control Commission, the Ohio Lottery Commission, and the Ohio Racing Commission. The OCCC, obviously, regulates the operations at the four casinos in the state. The racing commission watches over the live and simulcast racing at the seven racetracks. However, the VLTs onsite at the racetracks are managed by the Ohio Lottery, since they are (technically) lottery games. So, although there is plenty of overlap, it’s not hard to figure out who is in charge of each type of gambling in Ohio.

18 for the racinos, 21 for the casinos. Sports betting also requires players to be 21 years old.

Yes. Gambling winnings, like other types of income, are subject to taxation from both Ohio and the US. In fact, Ohio casinos will automatically withhold 4% of your winnings for the state portion of taxes, although you may end up owing more or less in the end, due to the state’s graduated system. Unsurprisingly, the federal government wants its piece, and even has a form specifically for gambling winnings that you must fill out.

Yes! Ohio rolled out sports betting on Jan. 1, 2023. Online sports betting is available in the Buckeye State, and in-person options exist at retail sportsbooks and even many bars and restaurants (through kiosks).

None. Online casinos are not legal in Ohio at this time, and it’s not clear when they will be permitted under state law. All legal sites are licensed by the state gaming commission, but there are no such sites available in Ohio. Your best legal options are alternative sites like sweepstakes and social casinos.

No. There are no legal online poker sites active in Ohio. As is the case with online casinos, your best place to play cards over the internet is through a sweepstakes site. The only real choice for this kind of site is Global Poker, which allows Ohioans to play against poker players across the country.

Ohio has no legal online gambling sites to its name. Legal and regulated sites like DraftKings Sportsbook or Golden Nugget Casino are simply not available under Ohio state law. Social and sweepstakes casinos are available and legal to play in the state. You can probably find numerous real money online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks available to players in Ohio. However, what you’re seeing are sites that come with risks.

These sites are based outside the US and do not have to conform to Ohio or US law. At best, you’re taking a leap of faith that these sites are legitimate businesses and not simply scams. At worst, you’re placing your personal and financial information at the mercy of an unknown company in a faraway place without any of the legal recourse you’d usually have. As frustrated as you might be with the lack of online gambling options in Ohio, it is simply not worth the risk that you’ll take if you patronize one of these sites.

If you want to gamble online legally and safely, your best bet is to visit one of the states bordering Ohio that are farther along in the process. Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia all have online casinos, online poker, and online sports betting. Indiana doesn’t have online casinos yet, but does have online sportsbooks. Otherwise, you can try sweepstakes and social casinos which are legal alternative options available to Ohioans.

Here are some quick links for you to get more information about online gambling in Ohio. There are also links to some of Ohio’s largest newspapers.

• Ohio Legislature
• Ohio Casino Control Commission
• Ohio Racing Commission
• Ohio Lottery
• The Plain Dealer
• The Cincinnati Enquirer
• The Columbus Dispatch
• The News-Herald

Gambling is intended to be a source of fun and entertainment. But Ohio takes compulsive and problem gambling seriously.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Ohio Lottery offer free quizzes to help players educate themselves on gambling addiction. You can access the quizzes here and here. If you confirm that there is cause for concern through one of those resources, then you can pursue several different options in Ohio. First and foremost, you can head over to Ohio for Responsible Gambling. This initiative is a state-funded collaboration between four state agencies — the OCCC, the lottery, the racing commission, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. You can call 1-800-589-9966 or connect through your computer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are simply looking for information about problem gambling , you can also try the following sites:

• Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
• National Council on Problem Gambling
• Gamblers Anonymous
• GamTalk
• GAM-ANON

You can also request a ban from casinos and racinos in Ohio using the state’s voluntary exclusion program. This program renders you a trespasser at any of those locations and subject to fines, forfeiture, and potential arrest if you keep coming back. The periods of time that you can place yourself in this program are either one year, five years, or permanently. Placement on the list is completely voluntary.