Online Gambling in Ohio

Online gambling in Ohio is a relatively new development. Most legal gambling options in the Buckeye State were entirely land-based until the last couple of years. We’re not going to say that Ohio is an oasis for gamblers just yet because they still need to legalize online casino apps (there’s a way to get around this, and we’ll share it later in this review). But for the most part, Ohio gambling apps are on track to become a place where all gamblers will thrive. They’ve already made incredible strides as of late with the legalization of online and retail sports betting, and we’re confident that online casinos will follow.

If you want to learn more about Ohio gambling laws, the gambling age in the state, or the specifics of Ohio online gambling, we encourage you to keep reading. We’ve outlined eight of the best OH gambling apps for sports wagers and fantasy contests that can be used to bet on sports and other events around the United States. And we’ll also take more in-depth about the robust land-based gambling scene in the Buckeye State!

Best Ohio Gambling Apps in 2024

Ohio’s only two legal forms of online gambling are sports betting and daily fantasy sports contests. These are the best Ohio gambling apps for real money, although Tipico and BetRivers only offer sports betting to Ohioans (no fantasy).

OH Gambling App	Key Details	Get Started
BetMGM Sports	Welcome Bonus: Get $1,500 in Bonus Bets if your first bet loses Gambling Offered: Sports betting and DFS Banking Options: Debit/credit cards, e-wallets, Play+ Cards, PayNearMe, etc. Compatible Devices: iOS and Android Sign-Up Time: 5-10 minutes	Sign Up Here!
Caesars Sportsbook	Welcome Bonus: Bet $50 and get $250 in Bonus Bets Gambling Offered: Sports betting and DFS Banking Options: Debit/credit cards, e-wallets, Play+ Cards, PayNearMe, etc. Compatible Devices: iOS and Android Sign-Up Time: 5-10 minutes	Sign Up Here!
Tipico Sportsbook	Welcome Bonus: Bet $50 and get $150 in Bonus Bets Gambling Offered: Sports betting Banking Options: Debit/credit cards, e-wallets, Play+ Cards, PayNearMe, etc. Compatible Devices: iOS and Android Sign-Up Time: 5-10 minutes	Sign Up Here!
Bet365	Welcome Bonus: Bet $10 and get $200 in Bonus Bets Gambling Offered: Sports betting and DFS Banking Options: Debit/credit cards, e-wallets, Play+ Cards, PayNearMe, etc. Compatible Devices: iOS and Android Sign-Up Time: 5-10 minutes	Sign Up Here!
Betway	Welcome Bonus: Bet $50 and get $150 in Bonus Bets Gambling Offered: Sports betting and DFS Banking Options: Debit/credit cards, e-wallets, Play+ Cards, PayNearMe, etc. Compatible Devices: iOS and Android Sign-Up Time: 5-10 minutes	Sign Up Here!
DraftKings	Welcome Bonus: Bet $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets Gambling Offered: Sports betting and DFS Banking Options: Debit/credit cards, e-wallets, Play+ Cards, PayNearMe, etc. Compatible Devices: iOS and Android Sign-Up Time: 5-10 minutes	Sign Up Here!
BetRivers	Welcome Bonus: Up to $250 Bonus Bet Gambling Offered: Sports betting Banking Options: Debit/credit cards, e-wallets, Play+ Cards, PayNearMe, etc. Compatible Devices: iOS and Android Sign-Up Time: 5-10 minutes	Sign Up Here!
FanDuel	Welcome Bonus: Bet $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets +$100 off NFL Sunday Ticket Gambling Offered: Sports betting and DFS Banking Options: Debit/credit cards, e-wallets, Play+ Cards, PayNearMe, etc. Compatible Devices: iOS and Android Sign-Up Time: 5-10 minutes	Sign Up Here!

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Contents of Page

A Closer Look at the Best OH Gambling Apps

Let’s take a deeper dive into our picks for the top Ohio online gambling apps in more detail to understand why they made our list.

BetMGM Review

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Caesars Review

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Bet365 Review

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Betway Review

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DraftKings Review

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BetRivers Review

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FanDuel Review

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Is Online Gambling Legal in Ohio?

Ohio gambling laws have undergone significant changes in terms of regulations the last few years, transforming it into a nearly 100% legal gambling state. The big exception to this rule is that online casinos and poker apps (OH-facing) still need to be permitted as of 2023. However, Ohio gamblers can legally use offshore gambling apps to navigate around this barrier.

Legal Gambling Options

Let’s review Ohio’s legal gambling options in more detail so you’re completely clear on the proper forms of placing sports bets and playing casino games in the Buckeye State. Fortunately, OH gamblers have many more options than other states nationwide.

• Land-Based Casinos: Brick-and-mortar casinos were legalized in the late 2000s and began springing up in 2012 in Ohio’s major cities: Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo. These places offer slots, poker, and various table games. Many are home to horse racing tracks, and retail sports betting became a fixture in 2024.
  
• Online Casinos: There aren’t any legal OH-facing online casino apps available. They have yet to be written into the state’s law as of 2024. However, many offshore online casinos take Ohio residents as customers.
  
• Horse Racing/Off-Track Betting: This is Ohio’s oldest form of gambling. It was established in 1933 and has seven tracks scattered all across the state where bettors can wager on horse races and win real money.
  
• Land-Based Betting: Retail sports betting was legalized along with online sportsbooks and began business in January 2023. Ohio bettors can place their wagers in person at any of the state’s land casinos.
  
• Daily Fantasy Sports: While fantasy sports was legalized in 2017, the first DFS apps (FanDuel and DraftKings) were allowed in Ohio in January 2023.
  
• Online Poker: As of 2024, Ohio has yet to make plans to legalize online poker apps. However, Ohioans can find offshore poker apps that take OH residents as customers.
  
• Charitable Gambling: Bingos and raffles can be run by non-profit organizations all across the state, but for-profit entities can apply for bingo licenses.
  
• Lottery: The Ohio Lottery was established in the early 70s, and all proceeds go to state education funding. There are plenty of interstate games and multi-state games like Mega Millions and Powerball.

OH Gambling Laws

Let’s quickly examine the laws that have made their way through the Ohio House, Senate, and the governor’s desk. Discover how most gambling was legalized in Ohio over the years, starting in 1933 with horse racing and going all the way through 2021 with the introduction of sports betting.

• Section 3769.01: Part of the Ohio Revised Code, this legislation opened the door for horse racing to become legalized in the Buckeye State.
  
• Ohio Revised Code § 2915.01: This law made charitable gaming like bingo and raffles legal in Ohio.
  
• Ohio Revised Code- Chapter 3770: These laws established a legal state lottery in Ohio in the early 70s.
  
• Ohio House Bill 132: This legislation was passed in 2017, officially legalizing daily fantasy sports betting.
  
• Ohio House Bill 519: This law created the state’s regulatory framework for legal casino gaming. It also established the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
  
• Ohio House Bill 29: Signed in 2021 by Governor Mike DeWine, this bill legalized online and retail sports betting in Ohio with an expected launch date of January 2023.

Because online casino games and online poker aren’t currently legal in Ohio, you won’t find any gambling laws in the books about these two outlets. When you review the entire state law on gambling, there’s no content on offshore casino and poker apps deeming them legal or illegal.

History of Online Gambling in Ohio

It wasn’t until the last few years that Ohio started to pick it up and introduce groundbreaking legislation that paved the way for online gambling to flourish in the state. But for the longest time, residents didn’t have many gambling options. The process was a slow burn, gaining some traction in the 2010s and then exploding in the 2020s.

Let’s return to Ohio’s humble beginning when horse racing was the only legal way to wager and bet. We’ll work our way to present day and show you each step Ohio took to get nearly all forms of gambling legalized for its population.

OH Gambling Timeline

The Future of Gambling Online in OH

One of the significant pieces of the online gambling puzzle that hasn’t been put into place is Ohio online casinos or poker apps. Sadly, most sportsbook apps discussed in this review offer a casino side to customers in states where online casino gameplay is legal, but this section is closed to OH bettors and gamblers.

Now, offshore online casinos are owned and operated in foreign lands that take Ohio customers, but they aren’t held to US laws regarding online gambling. They can be risky to use at times but are ultimately legal for Ohio residents to enjoy from the privacy of their computer or mobile devices. No Ohio gambling laws address these apps one way or the other.

Ohio recently legalized sportsbooks and retail sports betting in the state, so we could see online casinos and poker apps coming down the line at some point in the future.

The legal gambling apps in OH have poker and casino sections to serve OH residents. It’s just a matter of legalizing this form of gambling and unlocking the services to Ohio customers. There is no need to introduce new platforms; you’d be using the current legal sportsbook apps to make this vision a reality.

How to Get Started Gambling Online in Ohio

Ohio gambling apps are easy to join, the sign-up process sometimes taking as little as five minutes. You can visit the website on your computer or mobile device to begin the sign-up process. However, we recommend downloading the mobile app from the App Store or Google Play.

Mobile Compatibility

Once you’ve downloaded the app or visited the website, you create a unique username and password to access your new account. Before logging in for the first time, you must provide critical information to the sportsbook or online casino. This will vary from app to app, but they’ll generally ask for the following items:

Everything we just mentioned above might take five to ten minutes of your time to complete. OH sportsbooks want you to spend more time gambling than jumping through many annoying hoops to become a new member.

Best Bonuses Available at OH Gambling Sites

If you want to get off to a good start during your first time using an OH gambling site or app, you best check out welcome bonuses and promos these platforms offer new members. Sportsbooks often give newcomers bonus funds even if their first sports bet falls flat. Online casinos usually match a percentage of a new gambler’s first deposit up to a certain dollar amount.

No matter what kind of real money gambling you’re interested in as an Ohio customer, take advantage of these competitive welcome bonuses and promotional offers at our favorite sportsbooks and online casinos:

Are There Land-Based Casinos in Ohio

Ohio has several land-based casinos for an in-person gambling experience. Many of these locations also have horse racetracks and retail sports betting spaces. The great news for Ohioans is that these establishments are spread out across the Buckeye State, mainly in the larger metro areas. And for anyone who lives in the remote corners of the state and might have trouble getting to one of these places, there are always Ohio online gambling apps that can get the job done!

Ohio’s Land Casinos

Seven of Ohio’s land casinos offer great slots and table games, outdoor horse facilities, and racetracks. Plus, they offer retail sports betting. In almost all cases, you can visit one of these places and find everything you need regarding gambling variety.

Retail Sportsbooks

You can find in-person sports betting in all eleven of Ohio’s land casinos, plus a couple of other locations in Cincinnati and Cleveland, respectively. Land-based betting on sports is the biggest in Ohio if you’re looking solely at the number of locations.

Racetracks

Betting on horse races is available on nearly all OH land casinos besides Hard Rock Cincy, Hollywood in Columbus and Toledo, and Jack Cleveland. Compared to other states, Ohio is home to many easily accessible horse tracks in all the state’s major urban clusters.

Legal OH Online Gambling vs. Offshore Sites

Let’s take some time to talk about offshore sports betting apps, another legal avenue for OH bettors and gamblers. They’re a bit different than OH-based gambling apps, so we’ll go over each to give you an idea of the key differences and some of the benefits you’ll find with each.

OH-Based Apps

We’ve discussed these gambling apps in this review of Ohio online gambling. We’re talking about online sportsbooks like:

• DraftKings
• BetRivers
• FanDuel
• Caesars Sportsbook
• BetMGM Sportsbook

Unfortunately, many of these apps are available in other states but only in some regions of the US. Although we like and appreciate these platforms, the most significant limitation is that you can only use them in some places. And you can’t use them if you leave the US, for the most part. Some can be used in certain Canadian provinces, but that’s about it.

Offshore App

Ohioans can use offshore gambling apps owned and operated by companies in overseas jurisdictions like Curacao. These sportsbooks and online casinos aren’t held to US laws and regulations but can legally take US residents on as new members. Below, you can see a few examples of these platforms.

The upside to offshore gambling apps for casino gameplay and sports betting is that they can be used anywhere in the US. And because they’re held to the laws of other nations, US players and bettors cannot get into legal trouble using them from the privacy of their mobile devices.

This also opens the door for Ohioans to enjoy online casino games because OH sportsbooks that offer a casino side to other states cannot legally serve OH gamblers. Going with an offshore casino app opens that door, otherwise closed to Ohio residents.

Banking Options for OH Online Gambling

Our favorite Ohio gambling apps are well-equipped with many banking methods for gamblers to enjoy transferring funds into their accounts and withdrawing wins using the best processes for them. While this isn’t a complete list of all banking options available in every app, these are the major options that many OH gambling sites will have in common.

Gambling Responsibly in Ohio

Those who struggle with gambling addictions or feel they might have a gambling problem can visit www.ohio.gov/responsible-gambling to access resources to help them either give up gambling or become more responsible gamblers. Let’s review what Ohio provides its residents who want help in this area.

Ohio Responsible Gambling Resources

These are the critical online resources Ohio offers to its residents to help deal with gambling addictions:

• Phone: 1-800-589-9966
• Live Chat: Yes
• Change the Game Ohio: Click Here
• Get Set Before You Bet: Click Here
• Keep It Fun Ohio: Click Here
• Voluntary Exclusion: Click Here

Common Warning Signs

Are you not sure if you have a gambling problem? No worries. Ohio for Responsible Gambling has a long list of common warning signs indicating you might need help for a gambling problem or addiction.

• You’re constantly thinking about your next gambling venture.
• You like to increase your gambling budget to feel a thrill.
• You become irritable when you’re not gambling or have to cut back.
• You use gambling as a means of dealing with guilt, depression, or anxiety.
• You use gambling as a means of escape.
• You lie to others about your gambling habits or problems.
• You stoop to criminal acts to get gambling funds like theft or fraud.
• You let gambling get in the way of your relationships or put your job in jeopardy.

Responsible Gambling Tips

Ohio for Responsible Gambling also has a list of gambling tips to help problem gamblers become responsible gamblers:

• Don’t chase losses
• Be aware of the risks of gambling
• Set up a budget
• Set a time limit
• Play for fun too
• You don’t bet more than you can lose
• Don’t lie to others about your gambling habits or problems
• Avoid gambling when you are upset or irritated
• Don’t go into debt to fund your bankroll
• Replace gambling with other activities
• Avoid escapism
• Be aware of the help resources

Additional Resources

• Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-589-9966
• National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-522-4700
• Ohio Problem Gambling Online Resource Directory: Click Here
• Problem Gambling Network of Ohio: Click Here
• National Council on Problem Gambling: Click Here
• Gamblers Anonymous: Click Here
• Gam-Anon: Click Here
• SFY 2022-23 Ohio Problem Gambling Services Annual Report & Plan: Click Here

Self-Exclusion List

In Ohio, the self-exclusion list is called the Voluntary Exclusion Program, and Time Out Ohio puts it out. Any OH resident can voluntarily place themselves on the list, alerting land-based gambling outlets (casinos, retail sports, racetracks, etc.) that they’re problem gamblers and keep them from entering these establishments.

Frequently Asked Questions

To get quick answers to the most popular questions on gambling in Ohio, check out the FAQ section below. It features questions from our readers on online gambling in Ohio, laws and regulations, and other important topics.