Ohio Sports Betting

Sports betting is live and legal throughout Ohio, becoming one of the biggest and most successful markets in the US. There are 16 Ohio online sportsbooks, with BetMGM, Bet365, FanDuel, and Caesars at the top. Since it is one of the best markets in the country that means plenty of sportsbook options. We cover what you need to know to get started on this page and hit all the important details for Ohio sports bettors.

Best Ohio sports betting sites

Rank

Sportsbooks

Bonus

Features

Play

1

Up to $1,500

In Bonus Bets

BetMGM Sportsbook Review

• Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win*

• *Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

• Use Bonus Code: BETPLAYOH

Play Now

2

Up to $1,000

In Bonus Bets

Bet365 Sportsbook Review

• Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
• OR First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000
• 30% Extra on Same Game Parlay Profit
• T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER 21+
• Use Bonus Code: PLAYOH

Play Now

3

Bet $5
Get $200

In Bonus Bets

FanDuel Sportsbook Review

• Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins

• Available on Desktop, Android & iOS

• Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 21+

• To Claim: Click Play Now

Play Now

4

Bet $1, Double Your Winnings

On Next 10 Wagers

Caesars Sportsbook Review

• Stream NFL Games In-App for Free
• 21+ Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
• Use Promo Code: FUNDYW

Play Now

5

Up to $1,000

In No Sweat Bets

Fanatics Sportsbook Review

• Bet and Get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets or Choose Your Own Offer
• Earn FanCash & Spend it on Team Swag or More Bets
• 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
• To Claim: Click Play Now

PLAY NOW

6

Up to $1,250 Bonus

New User Bonus. T&Cs Apply.

DraftKings Sportsbook Review

• Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets

• PLUS Get a $50 Bonus Bet on Deposit

• PLUS up to $1,000 Deposit Bonus

• Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Play Now

21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER+

Ohio sports betting: quick facts

List of sports betting apps in Ohio

We have assessed the quality of the odds, betting options, bonuses, features, user experience, payout speeds, and customer service at all 16 legal online sportsbooks in Ohio. Our experts then ranked the apps in order of their overall appeal. According to our review, these are the seven best OH online sportsbooks.

Top online sportsbooks and betting apps in Ohio

Let’s break down the areas in which each of these sportsbooks excels.

Other sportsbooks available in the Ohio market

There are currently 16 online sportsbooks in the Buckeye State. These are the other options to consider.

• Bally Bet | A beginner-friendly online sportsbook launched by Rhode Island-based Bally’s Corp. on the Cleveland Browns’ master license.
• Betfred | No longer accepting deposits in Ohio. Existing customers can bet until Aug. 14 and withdraw from their accounts until Aug. 31.
• BetJACK | The online sports betting arm of JACK Cleveland Casino.
• Betly (MVGBet) | An online sportsbook from Miami Valley Gaming & Racing, a racino in Turtlecreek Township, which is powered by Betly.
• BetPARX | A Kambi-powered online sportsbook from the company that owns Parx Casino in Pennsylvania.
• Betr | A micro-betting app launched by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
• BetRivers | A major name in the sports betting industry and one one the first sportsbooks to launch in the state.
• Betway | No longer accepting bets that settle after July 31 or new deposits.
• ESPN Bet | Penn Entertainment launched ESPN Bet in Ohio in November 2023 after pulling its previous brand, Barstool Sportsbook, from the Buckeye State.
• Fanatics Sportsbook: The merchandise supplier is now in the sports betting space in Ohio.
• Hard Rock Bet | An online sportsbook launched by the Seminole Tribe of Florida on the master license of Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati.
• Prime Sportsbook | This online sportsbook promised not to limit winning bettors and to provide “farm-to-table sports betting” when it launched in Ohio in September 2023.
• SuperBook | No longer accepting deposits or bets.
• Tipico | No longer accepting bets or deposits.

How to bet on sports in Ohio

The best Ohio sportsbooks make it easy for you to sign up and place your first bet. Follow these steps to get started.

1. Choose one of our recommended OH online sportsbooks and click the “PLAY NOW” button displayed alongside it.
2. You will land on your chosen sportsbook, and a message will confirm your Ohio sports betting bonus.
3. Open the registration form, enter your email address, and choose a password. Provide your name, address, date of birth, phone number, and last four SSN digits.
4. Accept the terms and the privacy policy, and then submit the form. You may be approved immediately if the automated system can verify your details. If not, upload a picture of your driver’s license or another official ID card to validate your identity.
5. When your account has been approved, click “Deposit” and fund your account. The minimum deposit will be $5 or $10.
6. Choose a sport from the menu, select a league, and choose a game to check out the betting options.
7. Click on a betting option that you like, and it will appear on your betslip. Enter your bet amount, and the slip will highlight the amount you stand to win. Click again to confirm, and you’ll be paid after the game if your bet wins.

How Ohio sportsbook promos work

There are 19 legal online sportsbooks in Ohio, so it is a highly competitive market. Most OH sportsbooks offer large welcome bonuses to stand out from the crowd and attract new customers. Here are some common bonus types.

• Bet & Get | You will be given bonus credits if you place a small qualifying bet. For example, FanDuel Ohio currently offers a Bet $5, Get $200 in bonus bets if you win.
• First Bet Offer | An Ohio sportsbook will give you back your money if your first bet loses. The rebate will be paid in bonus credits, with a 1x rollover requirement. Caesars Sportsbook offers a large first bet offer.
• Deposit Match | Your first deposit will be matched with bonus credits up to a certain limit, such as a 100% deposit match bonus worth up to $250.

Ohio sportsbooks will then provide recurring promos for existing customers. These promos are designed to encourage loyalty and regular betting. Examples include odds boosts, profit boost tokens, insurance deals, loyalty rewards, free-to-play contests offering prizes, and Bet & Get offers.

Banking options for Ohio sports bettors

The best Ohio sports betting apps and websites offer a broad range of secure, convenient banking options. These are the methods on offer at FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and other OH sportsbooks.

Note: An online sportsbook will need to approve your payout request before the funds will be transferred to you. This process takes less than an hour at some OH sports betting sites, but it can take 24 hours or longer at others. The withdrawal speeds quoted above refer to the time it takes to receive your money after approval is granted.

Betting on local teams

One major draw of OH online sportsbooks is that Ohioans can bet on their home-state teams. Here’s a sport-by-sport breakdown.

NFL

You can place pre-game and live bets on every NFL game featuring the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals at Ohio sportsbooks. The most popular markets include the spread, total, props, and moneyline. Look out for lots of NFL odds boosts at sportsbooks like Caesars and Bet365.

NBA

Betting is also available on every Cleveland Cavaliers game. The main options are the point spread, total, moneyline, player props, game props, and team props. You can also place futures bets, such as on the Cavs to win the Eastern Conference or the NBA Championship.

NCAAF

The Buckeye State is home to some of the best college football programs in the country, including Ohio State. There are no restrictions on college sports betting in Ohio, so you can place pre-game and in-play wagers on teams like Akron, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Kent State, Miami of Ohio, Ohio State, and Toledo.

NCAAB

You can also bet on men’s and women’s college basketball games at the best Ohio online sportsbooks. Teams covered include Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio State, Xavier, Miami of Ohio, Kent State, and Toledo.

MLB

There are two MLB teams in Ohio: the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians. Betting is available on all of their games at OH sportsbooks, with popular markets including the moneyline, run line, total runs, first five innings bets, pitcher props, and batter props.

NHL

The Columbus Blue Jackets are the only NHL team in Ohio, and they have fans across the state. Betting options on Blue Jackets games include the moneyline, 60-minute line, tie no bet, the puck line, total goals, wagers on each period, correct scores, and props.

MLS

Ohio is home to two MLS teams—FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew. MLS betting is available at all leading Ohio sportsbook apps. Popular markets include the moneyline, tie no bet, handicaps, Asian lines, total goals, both teams to score, correct scores, player props, game props, and team props.

How to bet on sports in Ohio

Leading Ohio sportsbooks such as DraftKings and Bet365 offer a large range of betting options on more than 20 sports. These are the most popular markets.

• Moneyline | A straightforward bet on the outcome of a game, such as the Cleveland Guardians to beat the Minnesota Twins.
• Spread | A prediction on who will prevail after the stronger team is given a points handicap. For example, you could back the Cincinnati Bengals -2.5 against the Buffalo Bills at -110 or bet on the Bills +2.5 at -110.
• Total | An over/under bet on the number of points, goals, or runs in a game, a half, a quarter, a period, an inning, or a group of innings.
• Props | Bets on in-game events, player stats, or team stats, such as over/under on Joe Burrow’s passing yards in a game.
• Parlays | A wager combining multiple picks to form a single bet with large overall odds, such as the Guardians, Reds, Dodgers, and Brewers all to win.
• Futures | A long-term bet running throughout a season or competition, such as the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the NBA Championship or an Ohio State player to win the Heisman Trophy.

The best Ohio sportsbooks offer pre-game betting, and you can also place live bets on markets such as the spread, total, moneyline, and props after the game begins.

Legal betting options in Ohio

Online sports betting has been legal in Ohio since Jan. 1, 2023. You can also place bets at online racebooks and fantasy sports apps, but online casinos and poker rooms have not been legalized in the Buckeye State. Lots of land-based betting options are available, too.

Here’s a deeper breakdown of the overall betting landscape.

Ohio sports betting: tax rates, licensing, launch dates and partnerships

Gov. Mike DeWine officially legalized Ohio sports betting when he signed HB 29 into law on December 22, 2021. However, it took more than two years for the first sportsbooks to go live in the Buckeye State.

Ohio has issued 25 Type A master licenses to pro sports teams, land-based casino resorts, and racinos. Each master licensee can ultimately host two online sportsbooks, meaning that there could eventually be a maximum of 50 Ohio sports betting apps.

Online sportsbooks, retail sports betting lounges, and kiosks at stores, bars, and taverns finally launched in unison at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2023. Ohio set a new nationwide record after sportsbooks handled more than $1.1 billion in wagers during the first month.

The state initially charged online sportsbooks a 10% revenue tax. However, that rate doubled to 20% in the summer of 2023. The Legislative Budget Office reported that the increase could bring in an extra $100 million to $135 million per year. The tax revenue is used to bolster public services in Ohio, primarily education funding.

Below, you can learn more about the in-state partners and the history of online sportsbooks in Ohio.

Responsible gambling in Ohio

Ohio has taken a strict stance when it comes to responsible gambling. Several companies have been fined for breaching the state’s marketing and advertising regulations. “The commission takes responsible gambling seriously and expects the industry to value the same,” said Matthew Schuler, executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

Sportsbooks in Ohio must also offer a series of responsible gambling tools. For example, you can set deposit limits, time limits, and bet limits on your OH sports wagering account. There is also a self-exclusion program, or you can take a cooling-off period.

Call 1-800-GAMBLER if you experience the makings of a gambling problem or have trouble controlling your gambling habits. You can also visit these sites for more information and support.

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

Ohio sports betting timeline and legalization

• February 7, 2024: Official figures showed that Ohio became the sixth-largest sports betting market in the United States during its first year.
• February 2, 2024: Reports suggested that Ohio may prohibit prop bets on collegiate athletes in the future.
• July 4, 2023: Gov. Mike DeWine increased the state’s sports betting tax rate to 20% in his 2024-25 executive budget.
• February 28, 2023: Figures from the Ohio Casino Control Commission showed that sportsbooks handled a record $1.1 billion in their first month of trading.
• January 1, 2023: Online and in-person sports betting began just after midnight on New Year’s Day.
• October 5, 2022: Several online sportsbooks received permission to launch in Ohio on New Year’s Day.
• June 1, 2022: The Ohio Casino Control Commission announced that sports wagering would get underway on New Year’s Day, ending hopes of an earlier launch.
• January 31, 2022: The Ohio Casino Control Commission published the first set of draft rules for the sports betting industry, beginning a public consultation period.
• December 22, 2021: Gov. Mike DeWine signed HB 29, officially making Ohio sports betting legal. It stated that sports betting must begin no later than January 1, 2023.
• December 8, 2021: After months of debate, the House and the Senate finally agreed on a compromise bill that legalized sports wagering.
• June 17, 2021: SB 176 was debated in the Ohio House, but it couldn’t gain the requisite support. Sen. Kirk Schuring transferred the bill’s key points to a pre-existing bill, HB 29, reinvigorating attempts to legalize sports betting.
• June 16, 2021: The Ohio Senate approved SB 176, a bill seeking to legalize online and in-person sports betting, on a 30-2 vote.

Resources in Ohio

• Ohio Casino Control Commission – Sports Gaming
• Ohio Casino Control Commission – Sportsbook Applications
• Ohio House Bill 29
• Ohio Responsible Gambling