Ohio Sports Betting

Ohio sports betting is live with nearly 20 online sportsbooks now available. Below you’ll find the best welcome offers from top-tier sports betting apps like DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, FanDuel and more.

PlayOhio is your trusted source for information on the best Ohio online sportsbooks and sign-up bonuses in Ohio. We also break down the latest Ohio sports betting news, promos and expert comparisons of Ohio online sports betting apps.

Best Ohio sports betting apps for 2023

Rank

Sportsbooks

Bonus

Features

Play

1

Visit DraftKings Sportsbook

UP TO $1,250 BONUS

New User Bonus. T&Cs Apply

DraftKings Sportsbook Review

DraftKings Promo: Bet $5 Get $200

PLUS $50 Bonus Bet On Deposit

PLUS Up to $1,000 On Deposit

OH only. 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. T&Cs apply

To Claim: Click Play Now

Play NOW

2

Visit Caesars Sportsbook

UP TO $1,250

On Caesars

Caesars Sportsbook Review

Stream NFL Games In App For Free

+ Get 1,000 Caesars Reward & $1,000 Tier Credits

Redeem for Bet Credits, Hotel Stays, & More!

OH only. 21+.Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER

Promo Code: LEGALFULL

PLAY NOW

3

Visit BETMGM Sportsbook

UP TO $1,000

In Bonus Bets

BETMGM Sportsbook Review

$1,000 Paid Back in Bonus Bets

Free Live Streaming - Watch Live Games 

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

Use Bonus Code: PLAYBONUS

PLAY NOW

4

Visit BetRivers Sportsbook

$100 BONUS

2nd Chance Bet Credit

BetRivers Sportsbook Review

2nd Chance Bet up to $100

ONLY 1x Play Through!

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

Use Exclusive Affiliate Code: PLAYRIV

PLAY NOW

5

Visit Bet365 Sportsbook

Bet $1
GET $200

In Bonus Bets

Bet365 Sportsbook Review

Deposit required. Bet $1, Get $200 in Bonus Bets

30% Extra on Same Game Parlay Profit

OH only. 21+.Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER

To Claim: Click Play Now

PLAY NOW

6

Visit FanDuel Sportsbook

$2,500

No Sweat First Bet

FanDuel Sportsbook Review

Up to $2,500 No Sweat First Bet

Available on Desktop, Android & iOS  

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

To Claim: Click Play Now

PLAY NOW

7

Visit Tipico Sportsbook

up to $250

In Bonus Funds

Tipico Sportsbook Review

125% Deposit Match Up to $250

Best Odds Boosts in Ohio State

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

To Claim: Click Play Now

Play Now

8

Visit Betfred Sports

GET UP TO $1,111

In Fred Bets

Betfred Sportsbook Review

Bet $50 Get $111

Get $200 a Week for 5 Weeks 

Daily Odds Boosts

OH only. 21+.Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER

Use Promo Code: BETBONUS

play now

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

Best 8 Ohio sports betting apps 2023

Our Ohio gambling industry experts have reviewed all of the best legal sports betting apps in Ohio. Here are our top picks with details on the best features the apps offer and links to sign up for exclusive PlayOhio sign-up bonuses.

Full list of 18 legal Ohio online sportsbooks

The following sportsbooks are currently operating in Ohio:

How to sign up and deposit at Ohio sportsbooks

Here are the steps to sign up for an online sportsbook in Ohio:

• Register for a new account.
• Use the sportsbook bonus/promo code from PlayOhio.
• Deposit any funds necessary to unlock your promo.
• Place a bet.

Deposit and withdrawal options at Ohio online sportsbooks

The specific options for depositing and withdrawing funds varies somewhat across sportsbook apps in Ohio, but most will allow some combination of the following:

• Debit cards
• Online banking or eCheck
• PayPal/Skrill
• Prepaid cards
• Some credit cards

Most sportsbooks will give you the option to cash out or withdraw using the same options you have previously deposited with.

Ohio retail sportsbook locations

Ohio’s sports betting law allows for both online and retail sports betting. Here are the 14 live retail sportsbooks in Ohio.

The following entities are conditionally approved and likely to add retail sportsbooks in the future:

*The Cincinnati Bengals chose not to apply for a retail sportsbook license ahead of Ohio’s universal start date due to the NFL’s rules against in-stadium betting, but the league has since rescinded that rule. The Bengals are partnered with Betfred online sportsbook and could add a retail license in the near future.  

What all Ohio sportsbook apps have in common

Although there are key differences between competing sportsbook apps, there is a great deal of overlap in online sportsbook offerings. Though it might seem like a good idea to stand out from the pack, the truth is that most sportsbooks want to make the transition for new customers as simple as possible, whether they are rank beginners or are transferring over from a competitor. The main ways the apps generally differ are design, speed, events available and odds offered.

At all Ohio sportsbook apps you will find the following features:

• Welcome bonus — Because potential customers have competing sportsbooks at their fingertips, apps know that they have to draw attention to their offerings with sport betting bonuses and promos. These are Ohioans’ best chance to secure site credits when they sign up and make a first deposit on a betting app.
• Requested registration information — All sportsbooks require new customers to submit various pieces of personal information to create the account and save it in the app’s system. Players must enter their full name, email address, phone number, mailing address, date of birth, Social Security number, and enter and verify a password.
• Multiple options for depositing — Sportsbooks want to make it as easy as possible to put money into an account. There are always multiple ways to deposit. Usually, players can use electronic checks, credit cards, debit cards, PayPal/Skrill, online banking, and prepaid cards — and some sportsbooks have more options beyond those.
• Multiple, but fewer, options for withdrawals — Each app will maintain several valid withdrawal methods, but they will invariably be fewer in number than their deposit method counterparts.
• Main lobby format — Easy navigation is critical for a sportsbook’s success, and most of the apps follow a standard template that works well for finding sports, games and markets with the most ease. With very few exceptions, players will find a list of sports in a thin strip on the left side of the main display, a wider area with featured bets or live betting options in the top center, and the bet slip on the right. The ribbon across the top typically has all the administrative links, like the login and cashier buttons.
• Cash-out option — This feature is quickly becoming standard fare for most American sportsbooks as it has proven to be so popular. If an open wager appears quite likely to result in a win for the player, the sportsbook will offer a settlement amount that allows the bet to close. The book, obviously, saves money on the potential loss, but the players also protect themselves against any late reversals of fortune.

It’s important to compare sportsbook apps before deciding which ones to place your bets on. Depending what sports you prefer and what kind of bets you like to make will help determine which books are best for you. For example, not all Ohio online sportsbooks are created equal when it comes to same game parlay features or in game betting markets.

Once you find some sports betting apps that suit you, always shop around for the best odds before you place a bet. While most apps will have similar lines for most games, they will vary slightly, which can be a big difference maker for your bottom line as a bettor.

Betting on popular Ohio sports

Ohio is home to a plethora of popular sports teams. Representatives from every major sports league hang their hats in the Buckeye State. In addition, Ohio is home to several universities with top athletic programs in multiple sports. Here are some of the most important sports entities in the state:

The structure of each individual sport dictates the different kinds of wagers that bettors can make. Some games are easier to bet than others, but every game has its share of experienced handicappers who prefer the nuances of their particular sport. Here’s what to know about betting on each sport.

Football/basketball

Football and basketball offer most of the same types of wagers, for that matter, almost every type of wager. Because both sports’ games feature plenty of scoring (generally), it is easy to use both team and individual statistics as the basis for a host of wagers. Football betting odds are especially useful for bettors who wish to wager on in-game events, as the pauses between each play allow for betting options to pop up the entire game. Basketball odds, on the other hand, are a bit more fast-paced, so it’s more common to find individual player prop bets for scoring or other stats. Either sport may offer options to bet on the outcome of individual quarters of play, too.

Baseball/hockey

Baseball and hockey are lumped together as betting options due to a particular commonality. Neither baseball nor hockey games typically feature an abundance of scoring, and it is quite common for games to come down to one run or goal. For oddsmakers seeking to set spread betting lines, this feature is problematic. So bettors will instead find a wager that serves as a hybrid between the spread and the moneyline. The margin will be a standard 1.5 runs or goals, and the sportsbook varies the payout ratios far more dramatically than it would for a standard point spread. This type of bet is appropriately called the run line in baseball and the puck line in hockey, but they work in the same manner.

Soccer

Ohio is home to two MLS franchises that will familiarize local fans to the beautiful game, and Ohio bettors will certainly be more prepared to bet on the World Cup when it comes to the U.S. in 2026.

Soccer creates a bit of a headache for oddsmakers because of the high likelihood of games ending in a draw. Since spread bets and moneylines rely on the margin of victory or a definite winner for their resolution, a tie game simply doesn’t work. This means that soccer bettors may find a couple of distinct betting options. The first type of soccer wager is the three-way moneyline, where a tie is one of the choices that you can bet on. When a three-way moneyline is in play, the outcome at the end of regulation becomes quite important because a bet on either team to win loses if the game goes to extra time or a shootout.

The other type of bet that soccer fans might encounter is the Asian handicap. In this style, the underdog in the game receives a goal cushion that often includes matches ending in a draw. In other words, it places the onus on the favorite to win outright. These bets are often expressed as decimals, and the bet’s resolution depends upon a margin of a full goal. So it is possible to win or lose an Asian handicap wager, but it is also possible to half-win or half-lose.

Other sports

Of course, there are many popular sports in Ohio that go beyond the list above. For the most part, the primary method will be moneyline betting, since it’s just a question of which team or player wins the contest. Boxing, mixed martial arts, table tennis, tennis and rugby all have distinct winners, by and large, and Ohio bettors simply have to pick their favorites.

Other sports, like golf or NASCAR, have many teams or players competing for a single prize. In those cases, the prevailing type of wager is the futures bet, where the bettor will pick from a list of every single person or team in the event. Futures like this are riskier than moneylines due to their increased variables, but there’s really no better way to offer odds on the PGA’s Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village or the Indianapolis 500.

Limited betting options for predetermined events, entertainment, politics

Unlike some other states, Ohio does not allow betting on politics or awards shows.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission noted before Ohio’s sports betting launch that it did not want to approve betting on any events that are predetermined. That took betting on things like the Oscars off the table for the initial list of approved wagers since the winners are chosen in advance by the Academy and announced during the awards show.

Ohio’s betting options will continue to change, however, with more options likely to be approved in the future. Sportsbooks in Ohio are welcome to submit requests to have events added to the state’s Event and Wager Catalogue. The OCCC will review all requests and approve new events that meet its requirements.

Where can I find Ohio sports betting kiosks?

Check out our Kiosk page for all the details on placing a bet at your local sports bar, restaurant, grocery store, or other eligible vendor.

Rules for Ohio bettors

Although most of Ohio sports betting law pertains to the various bits of information associated with licensing and regulation, there are a few requirements that Ohio sports bettors will have to meet in order to play. The good news is that the final draft of the law permits a more open set of offerings in the state, at least compared to many other sports betting jurisdictions. Here is a brief rundown on who may bet in Ohio and upon what they may wager:

1. Bettors must be 21 or older to play.
2. Bettors must be in Ohio in order to bet, regardless of whether the wager is online or in person. Players will have to confirm their locations electronically before any legal sportsbook will accept their wagers.
3. It is not necessary to be a resident of Ohio to play.
4. Players may bet on professional sports, college sports, international contests like the Olympics, esports competitions, motorsports races, or any other event for which the Ohio Casino Control Commission has given permission. However, the OCCC must give special approval for any event that involves participants younger than 18.
5. Players may not bet on any sporting event involving primary or secondary school students.
6. Players may not wager on horse races, lottery games, casino games, or fantasy sports contests as a function of their sports betting.
7. Lottery kiosk bettors may wager no more than $700 in a week.

Ohio sports betting licenses and regulations

Ohio’s sports betting law established three types of licenses: Type A (online sportsbooks), Type B (retail sportsbooks) and Type C (sports betting kiosks). 

Three types of Ohio sportsbook licenses:

• Type A: for online sports betting companies. By law, the OCCC can issue a maximum of 25 of these licenses. Each license permits only a single skin, but a provision allows Ohio’s 11 casinos/racinos and 10 sports entities to apply for a second skin if they can demonstrate that a second skin will incrementally improve revenue without cannibalizing the existing market. 
• Type B: for physical sportsbook locations inside the Buckeye State. The law allows for up to 40 of these venues. However, there are quite specific rules about spreading these outlets evenly throughout the state. Ohio’s biggest counties — Cuyahoga, Franklin and Hamilton — can have up to five retail sportsbooks. Counties with less than 100,000 residents are ineligible for a retail sportsbook unless they meet certain tourism requirements. 
• Type C: for Class D liquor license holders in the state. Mostly, this group includes bars, restaurants, and grocery stores. The license allows for up to two sports betting kiosks on site at these locations. There are currently over 900 businesses in Ohio offering kiosks, with over 1,100 pre-approved to add them. Sports betting kiosks offer a limited number of betting markets and wagers compared to retail and online sportsbooks, along with a $700 betting limit per week. 

Type A license holders automatically receive Type B licenses and are expected to offer retail sports betting at their physical locations throughout the state. So Ohio’s 11 casino venues and the 10 home stadiums of its eligible sports teams or leagues either are — or are likely to be — sportsbook locations. In other words, every MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA venue in the state will be able to add a sportsbook, and Muirfield Village Country Club (home of the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament) and Hall of Fame Village in Canton will add them, too.

Ohio sportsbooks are regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The commission spent nearly all of 2022 creating rules, licensing and regulation in order to oversee Ohio’s wide-ranging sports betting market. The OCCC hosts monthly meetings where it continues to approve new sportsbook licenses. The commission posts every meeting agenda on its website. 

Ohio lawmakers have worked diligently, if unevenly, toward legalizing and regulating sports betting in the state ever since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which banned sports betting in the U.S. 

The first significant movements occurred in 2019 when two Ohio legislators, Sen. John Eklund and Rep. Dave Greenspan, offered separate proposals for sports betting in the state. Greenspan’s HB 194 received the bulk of activity during the year and was the subject of no fewer than eight House committee hearings, though without much progress. Meanwhile, Eklund’s SB 111 went onto the back burner, more or less, as the Senate waited to see the outcome from the activities in the lower chamber.

Greenspan’s efforts finally paid off in May 2020 when HB 194 moved out of committee after a ninth meeting, but the bill suffered setbacks when Eklund decided not to run for reelection in 2020 and Greenspan lost his bid for re-election. Proponents of Buckeye State sports betting were quickly bereft of their two most stalwart advocates in the Ohio Legislature, and HB 194 died unceremoniously in the waning days of 2020, seemingly putting a halt to sports betting efforts in the state.

Sen. Kirk Schuring had other plans in mind for 2021 when he introduced SB 176 in May 2021 as a measure to legalize sports betting in Ohio. After about a month of discussion, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill over to the House. However, after it became clear that the House did not plan to hear the bill before the summer break, Schuring changed gears and attached most of the bill’s text as amendments to a bill pertaining to veteran ID cards — HB 29.

This bill ended up carrying the day for Schuring. After some haggling, it passed both chambers and headed to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk for his signature. DeWine had already indicated that he planned to sign off on the bill, and he did.

Responsible gambling resources in Ohio

Ohio offers a wealth of responsible gambling information and problem gambling resources.

• Ohio Lottery’s Play Responsibly initiative: The Ohio Lottery Commission offers links to treatment programs, problem gambling facts, warning signs, and other resources. Users will also find a link to the Ohio Voluntary Exclusion Program, which allows individuals to ban themselves from casinos, racinos or sportsbooks for periods of one year, five years or life. Registering for voluntary exclusion is currently available online.
• Ohio for Responsible Gambling: This initiative aims to promote responsible gambling, bringing resources together from state agencies including the Ohio Lottery Commission, Ohio Casino Control Commission, Ohio State Racing Commission and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The collaboration offers tips for responsible gambling, information about problem gambling warning signs and treatment options for those negatively affected by gambling.
• Ohio Casino Control Commission: The state’s regulatory body also provides responsible gambling resources, including information about the Ohio Voluntary Exclusion Program, mental health resources, a questionnaire to help identify whether an individual has a gambling problem, details on problem gambling treatment facilities in Ohio and contact information for state and national gambling helplines.
• Problem Gambling Network of Ohio: A nonprofit organization working under the National Council on Problem Gambling, the PGNO promotes responsible gambling and provides treatment services for those struggling with gambling issues. The organization also hosts webinars and professional development seminars for those working in the field of problem gambling treatment services.

About PlayOhio

PlayOhio is a news organization and marketing affiliate covering the Ohio gambling industry. Owned by Catena Media, a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ Nordic, PlayOhio exists to help educate bettors on Ohio’s legal gambling industries.

We provide the latest news coverage and informational pages aimed at informing Ohio gamblers about their betting options and the gambling landscape at large. We also provide bonus offers and promotions from legal, regulated gambling companies in Ohio.