Bettors in the Buckeye State have been patient, and the wait is almost over. Ohio sports betting begins right after midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Plenty of Ohio residents will be eager to place their first bets from their holiday parties. However, things might not be running smoothly during the early hours of Jan. 1. It’s important to know what to expect.
Thankfully, we’ve got you covered. PlayOhio has all of your need-to-know details for the start of sports betting in Ohio on New Year’s Day.
Here’s every sportsbook launching in Ohio on Jan. 1
Gamblers in Ohio will have access to all sorts of online sportsbook options. The state has nearly two dozen betting apps approved to launch on Jan. 1, but not every company will be ready to go by then.
Here’s a look at every approved sportsbook in Ohio, and whether or not each app will be available for bettors to try once the clock strikes midnight:
| Sportsbook Name | Taking Bets at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1 | Launching Later In 2023 | Hasn't Confirmed Its Launch Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | X | ||
| PointsBet | X | ||
| DraftKings | X | ||
| FanDuel | X | ||
| Barstool | X | ||
| Fanatics | X | ||
| Caesars | X | ||
| Hard Rock | X | ||
| Betfred | X | ||
| Bet365 | X | ||
| SuperBook | X | ||
| Tipico | X | ||
| Betr | X | ||
| BetPARX | X | ||
| Underdog | X | ||
| MVGBet | X | ||
| Bally Bet | X | ||
| BetRivers | X | ||
| Betway | X | ||
| Out The Gate | X |
So far, PlayOhio has confirmed that at least 10 different online sportsbooks will be available on the very first moment of Ohio sports betting.
However, that isn’t to say that other companies won’t be joining the party on New Year’s Day. Some sportsbooks are still finalizing their plans, while others are playing things close to the vest.
At the very least, eager bettors will still have plenty of betting apps to pick from on the first day of legal sports betting, with even more on the way soon after.
These companies already have all sorts of sports betting deals and bonuses available that bettors can take advantage of right now.
Expect some hiccups from betting apps
Sports betting begins at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, but there might be a few speed bumps during the first few hours of betting. After all, this is a completely new industry for Ohio.
Many of the state’s gambling companies have experience from operating in other parts of the country, but getting things up and running in Ohio is something different entirely.
Things might be moving a little slowly to start on New Year’s Day. Due to huge numbers of bettors all signing on to the state’s sportsbooks at the same time, there may be some apps that are running slowly or crashing entirely from the overload of users.
Jan. 1 also features a full slate of NFL games, so technical problems could arise during the action with hordes of bettors in Ohio looking to place their first football bets.
There may also be geolocation issues for some Ohio residents that live nearby the state’s borders. In other words, if you live close to the border, then sportsbooks might have a hard time figuring out exactly which state you’re trying to bet from.
Since every state has its own set of rules and regulations, that could cause some issues for bettors looking to use sportsbook accounts from other states in Ohio.
These are some of the types of problems that could arise, but they’ll likely be worked out sooner rather than later. The new industry will need a little bit of time to work out the kinks.
Despite any short-term technical problems, the start of Ohio sports betting will still be a memorable day for bettors in the state. Once the industry is finally up and running, Ohio will likely be one of the biggest betting markets in the entire country.
