Last Updated May 27, 2022, 02:29 PM ET
Legal sports betting is coming to the Buckeye State, and while there is no official start date for Ohio sports betting, the timeline is taking shape.
On Dec. 22, 2021, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Ohio sports betting into law, guaranteeing legal wagering will be in place by Jan. 1, 2023. Ohio’s sports betting legislation includes both mobile and retail betting, and bettors could see dozens of online sportsbooks arrive when all is said and done.
Operators of the best sportsbooks are positioning themselves for what could be the most significant legal sports betting launch of the year in the USA.
Stay tuned as we keep this page updated with the latest developments in Ohio sports betting.
Follow our U.S. legal tracker for the latest on each state's sports betting progress.
Ohio’s numerous sports betting bills have undergone minor tinkering and extreme overhauls since the state first looked to legalize sports wagering. But Ohioans can finally breathe easy. After more than five months of little progress, legal wagering is officially in the cards for Buckeye State bettors.
The following timeline summarizes the history of sports betting in Ohio:
May 23, 2022: The Ohio Casino Control Commission anticipates receiving about 3,000 license applications for the launch of sports betting in the Buckeye State, meaning that the universal go-live date will likely be close to or on Jan. 1, 2023.
May 18, 2022: The OCCC confirms it will reveal Ohio's sports betting launch date on June 1.
May 4, 2022: The Ohio Casino Control Commission confirms its plans to have a universal go-live date, meaning all approved operators will launch on the same day. The OCCC also reveals that operators can begin submitting applications for sports betting licenses on June 15, 2022.
April 26, 2022: Bally's Interactive and the Cleveland Browns announce a deal that will make Bally Bet the official sports betting partner of the team when legal wagering arrives. The agreement is pending licensing and regulatory approvals in Ohio.
April 5, 2022: The betJACK sports betting app goes live in Ohio. The free-to-play platform aims to give Ohioans the opportunity to get their reps in ahead of the state's upcoming online sports betting launch.
March 16, 2022: The PGA Tour and betParx partner for a mobile sportsbook license in the state.
Feb. 28, 2022: Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co. (HOFV) inks a deal with Genesis Global. The ten-year pact makes Genesis the official mobile sports betting partner of HOFV.
Feb. 24, 2022: Caesars and the Cleveland Cavaliers strike a partnership to open a retail sportsbook on the street level of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Feb. 18, 2022: DraftKings reports that market access has been secured in Ohio, setting the stage for the sports betting operator to launch its mobile platform once legal wagering comes to fruition.
Feb. 13, 2022: The Cincinnati Bengals fell to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi stadium in Super Bowl 56.
Feb. 8, 2022: Fubo Sportsbook and the Cleveland Cavaliers enter into a market access agreement, positioning Fubo as the official mobile sports betting partner of the Cavs.
Jan. 18, 2022: The Ohio Casino Control Commission releases "Batch 1" of the state's sports betting rules. The 21-page document outlines general provisions, provisional licensing, certified independent testing laboratories, and certified independent integrity monitors.
Dec. 22, 2021: Gov. Mike DeWine signs HB 29 into law, guaranteeing Ohio will launch legal sports betting by Jan. 1, 2023.
Dec. 8, 2021: The Senate and the House both approve amendments made to HB 29. The legislation goes to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature. Legal online and retail sports betting is coming to Ohio.
Dec. 6, 2021: Sen. Schuring confirms that state lawmakers "have an agreement on sports gaming" that would hand out licenses no later than Jan. 1, 2023.
Dec. 1, 2021: Rep. Bill Seitz, Sen. Kirk Schuring, and Rep. Jay Edwards agree upon revisions to Ohio sports betting language in HB 29 and send the bill to the Legislative Service Commission.
Nov. 11, 2021: Details on a path to legalization remain scant. Legislation sits with a conference committee formed in October, and the typically upbeat Sen. Schuring remains confident yet cautious on a 2021 rollout.
Oct. 25, 2021: Sen. Schuring proclaims 90% of Ohio's sports betting bill is agreed upon, citing sportsbook licenses — and where exactly sports betting will take place — as the primary issue yet to be resolved.
June 2021: The Senate passes SB 176 by a vote of 30-2. Looking to legalize sports betting before the House’s summer break, Sen. Schuring makes an amendment to HB 29. The Senate passes HB 29, but the bill won't be heard by the House until fall 2021.
May 2021: Sen. Kirk Schuring introduces SB 176 as the latest sports betting legislation in Ohio. The bill calls for 20 mobile licenses and 20 standalone retail licenses.
May 2020: The Ohio House of Representatives passes HB 194, calling for the Ohio Lottery Commission to regulate all sports gambling in Ohio. The bill eventually dies in the Senate.
May 2018: SCOTUS overturns the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), opening the door for states to set their own sports betting laws.
Jan. 2018: Ohio becomes the 18th state to legalize daily fantasy sports, as then-Gov. John Kasich enacts the Buckeye State’s DFS bill into law.
Ohioans can expect legal online sports betting — with remote registration — by Jan. 1, 2023. Bettors will be able to register, make account deposits, claim bonuses, and place wagers from anywhere within the state.
Ohio’s sports betting legislation calls for 25 Type A licenses for casinos, professional sports teams, and venues. These licensees will be awarded two online skins each.
Additionally, 40 Type B licenses will be up for grabs in the Buckeye State. These licenses are earmarked for retail-only sportsbooks.
With Ohio's eight professional teams, two big events (Nascar and PGA), and 11 casinos and racinos, 21 Type A and Type B licenses are sure to be accounted for. This would leave four Type A and 19 Type B licenses remaining.
Type C licenses are also available for self-service or clerk-operated kiosks located in bars and restaurants will valid liquor licenses.
Anyone over 21 will be able to place a sports bet in Ohio once it's legalized. Sports betting should be convenient and accessible in Ohio, with retail sportsbooks located in major cities and online sportsbooks just a click away.
Here's everything you'll need to know before placing your first sports bet in the Buckeye State.
Legal ageSports betting will be available to adults 21 and over in Ohio.
Mobile bettingMobile sports betting will be coming to Ohio by the end of 2022. With 25 Class A licenses available, and licensees permitted to partner with two online sportsbook operators each, Buckeye bettors could have more options than any other U.S. state.
Remote registrationRemote registration has also been included in HB 29. This will allow Ohio sports bettors to register, make deposits, and place bets from anywhere in-state. Fully remote registration will be a huge win for gamblers in the Buckeye State.
Within state bordersIn states with legal and regulated sports betting, sports bets can only be placed by those physically located in said states. This will ring true in Ohio as well. When online sportsbooks are up and running, Ohioans will have to confirm they have both feet on the ground in Ohio before placing a wager.
Retail sportsbooksThere are no legal retail sportsbooks operating in Ohio. However, HB 29 calls for 40 retail sports betting licenses to be handed out in 2022. Casinos, racinos, and professional sports venues can apply for these "Type B" licenses.
It stands to reason that Ohio’s four major casinos — located in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo — will feature physical sports betting facilities on or off-site when permitted.
Taxable winningsAll gambling winnings are taxed at both the federal and state level in Ohio. Sports bet winnings should be no different.
Expect to pay a withholding tax of 25% of all winnings when you provide your SSN. This amount may creep up to 28% should you prefer not to provide this information. Additionally, a state tax of 4% will be docked from your winnings as well.
Legal sports betting likely won’t be coming to Ohio until January 2023. Until then, Ohioans do have options nearby.
Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have legalized and regulated mobile and in-person sports betting. As long as you are physically present in one of these states, you’ll be able to place a sports bet. For online bettors, it’s as easy as downloading a mobile app, entering your personal information, and making your first deposit.
With Gov. DeWine's signature, it will only be a matter of time before Ohioans are placing legal sports bets online and in retail sportsbooks. House Bill 29 calls for 25 mobile licenses and 40 retail licenses.
Unfortunately, Ohioans won't be wagering until late 2022 at the earliest. Jan. 1, 2023, is now the likeliest date for sportsbooks to go live.
Sports betting has not yet been legalizedUnlikely Ohioans see legal wagering in 2022Ohioans will be able to place their first bets remotely or physically. Wagers will be able to be placed online using a sports betting mobile app or an online sportsbook. Retail sportsbooks will be an option for those looking to bet in person.
There should be plenty of options for Ohio sports bettors when legal sports wagering launches in the Buckeye State. Before registering with a sportsbook, players should check out some (early) reviews and look over the bonuses offered by each provider.
Line shopping is recommended here as well. Finding the most favorable betting lines will ensure you maximize the return on your hard-earned cash.
Ohio sports bettors will have the option to sign up with a sportsbook from the comfort of their own homes (or anywhere else in the state). The registration process can be completed by entering some personal information and verifying your identity with a driver’s license or SSN.
Online sportsbooks regularly entice players with promotions and bonuses. Ohio sportsbooks will be no different. Expect to encounter bonuses such as risk-free bets, no-deposit bonuses, and deposit matches.
Once you’ve chosen a sportsbook and claimed your bonus offer, it’ll be time to add some funds to your account. Ohio should follow in the footsteps of other states with legal sports betting by allowing you to use PayPal, credit/debit, bank transfers. PayNearMe, and more.
Don’t overlook the transaction fees associated with some of these payment methods. Always check your bank’s or financial institution’s terms and conditions before moving forward with your deposit.
All of the popular bet types will be available to Ohio sports bettors. These include moneylines, Over/Unders (totals), point spreads, parlays, teasers, futures, and live bets.
It will be important to shop around before placing your first Ohio sports bet. Not all Ohio sportsbooks will offer players the same betting lines, so take your time to identify the most favorable betting opportunities when legal options become available.
Check out the terms and conditions associated with fund withdrawals from your chosen OH sportsbook. These transactions could be immediate or take one to two days to process.
Depending on the withdrawal method you choose, there may be fees attached to this transaction as well.
Ohio will follow other states by using American odds as the default option to show you betting odds. Look for a minus sign (-) to spot favorites. The number that follows will tell you the amount you’ll have to wager to walk away with $100 in winnings. For example, -180 odds mean you need to risk $180 to win $100.
Underdogs are accompanied by a plus sign (+). The number here represents the amount you’ll win when betting $100. For example, +110 odds indicate a bet of $100 would net you $110 if the underdog comes out on top.
If you’d like to view odds as fractions or decimals, check out our odds converter.
For now, the answer is simple: All sports bets are off-limits. When Ohio does offer legal sports betting, Ohio bettors will still be prohibited from placing wagers on amateur athletes under the age of 18.
This section will be updated as Ohio's sports betting landscape starts to take shape.
Gamblers may not bet on political events in Ohio or any other U.S. state.
Betting on entertainment awards, such as the Oscars, is not permitted in Ohio.
It is illegal to bet on esports in Ohio. However, esports wagering is included in HB29 and will soon be permitted.
Ohio bettors will be permitted to place wagers on in-state college teams. Many other states allow sports bettors to get in on the college sports action but limit this to out-of-state teams.
It’s not always best to put your money where your mouth is when backing your favorite squad.
Sports bettors should always be careful when risking their bankroll. Do your due diligence before blindly laying action on your hometown team. Our how to bet guides are a great place to start.
Ohio is relatively new to the world of gambling. The first casino opened in 2012, and the state has yet to legalize any form of online gambling other than pari-mutuel horse race betting.
CasinoThere are four casinos and seven racinos in Ohio. The state’s casinos have been strategically placed in its four major cities — Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo.
Each casino offers a full lineup of games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat. Ohio’s racinos have been limited to VLT (video lottery terminals) only.
As online casinos are illegal in Ohio, gamblers are limited to sweepstakes casinos. Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots are popular sweepstakes options.
PokerThirty-three poker rooms can be found in Ohio’s four major cities. Online poker, however, is illegal in the Buckeye State.
Global Poker, which follows a sweepstakes model, remains the only legal online poker option in Ohio.
Horse racingHorse racing enthusiasts can take in live races year-round at one of Ohio’s seven racinos. Ohio bettors are also free to place bets online with TVG, TwinSpires, or BetAmerica — the best horse racing betting sites in the U.S.
Daily fantasy sportsOhio legalized daily fantasy sports (DFS) in January 2018, though it took over two years for operators to obtain licenses to offer games in the Buckeye State. The most popular sites include DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo! Fantasy Sports, and StatHero.
The unfortunate reality is that problem gambling remains an issue in all states with legalized and regulated gambling. For Ohioans, multiple organizations have put numerous resources into place to support those with gambling addictions.
Gamblers may join the Ohio Voluntary Exclusion Program if they wish to restrict their access to gambling establishments. In the future, sportsbooks should be expected to provide players with the option to set deposit, wager, and loss limits.
Visit Ohio for Responsible GamblingOhio has yet to legalize sports betting. But when they do, they’ll join the following states:
These are the states moving toward legal sports betting that may potentially offer the practice in the near future:
With no regulated sports betting in Ohio, offshore sportsbooks may seem like a good option. However, these websites are illegal and you're taking a huge risk by placing your funds in these types of accounts. Steer clear of the following websites in Ohio.
Yes, Ohio has officially legalized sports betting. Gov. Mike DeWine put pen to paper on Dec. 22, 2021, when he signed off on HB 29. The Buckeye State is on track to offer legal wagering by the end of 2022.
There is no way to gamble on sports in Ohio yet. Ohioans will have the option to bet online or at a retail location when sportsbooks go live in 2022.
All of the popular bet types should be available when Ohio starts offering regulated sports betting.
There are zero online sportsbooks in Ohio at the moment. However, HB 29 calls for 25 online licenses and up to two sportsbook operators per license.
Yes, but you may only bet on horse races online or on your mobile device in Ohio. Sports betting is not yet available.
When sports betting comes to Ohio, you can expect the odds to mirror those found at a sportsbook in Las Vegas.
The minimum age to gamble in Ohio is 21. You may place a pari-mutuel horse race bet if you are 18 years old.
No, bet365 does not have a license to operate in Ohio.
You may not place a sports bet anywhere in Ohio until sportsbook licenses are approved and operators go live. Eventually, you'll be able to confirm your picks online, at a retail sportsbook, or at a betting kiosk.
Once sports betting is live in Ohio, there won't be any restrictions when placing bets on professional sports teams or college teams based in Ohio.
No one in Ohio is able to place a sports bet online just yet. Anyone physically located in the Buckeye State — resident or visitor — will be able to place a wager online when all is said and done.
Ohio has not legalized sports betting, so there's nothing to report here yet.
There is no way to place a legal sports bet in the state of Ohio. When the first sportsbooks launch in late 2022 or the first day of 2023, bettors will be able to place wagers at a retail or online sportsbook.
None of Ohio’s cities accept sports wagers. Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo should all generate plenty of sports betting revenue as soon as they are permitted to do so.
Jeff Watters is a content editor at Covers. Before he began supporting Covers experts in making smarter sports bettors in 2021, the well-traveled Nova Scotian and Atlanta Braves fanatic spent time writing about education, software, and NHL prospects.
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