Andrew O'Malley 12. November 2020 | UPDATED ON: 18. April 2022 Up until just a few years ago, there was little to no forms of legal gambling in the state of Ohio. However, this has been changing in recent years. While there is no regulated legal sports betting in Ohio as of yet, this looks like it will change in the coming years. Until then, you can use offshore online sports gambling sites to fulfill these needs. This article looks at all aspects of sports betting in Ohio and the best offshore platforms for you to check out with your sports wagering. Top 3 Online Bookmakers in Ohio, OH, USA If you are a resident of Ohio, you may be one of the many sports fans. With a lot of great professional sports teams in the state, there are a lot of betting opportunities to look at. While there is not regulated sports betting in Ohio currently, there are reputable offshore platforms you can use instead. After conducting a lot of research, we have brought you a handful of the best available options currently. Slot Title Pay Back Key Features 1 50% first deposit bonus up to $250 Min. Deposit: $10Payout speed: 15 minutes50% first deposit bonus up to $250Play NowOur score: 50% first deposit bonus up to $250Read more2 $20 free bet Min. Deposit: $10Payout speed: 48 hours$20 free betPlay NowOur score: $20 free betRead more3 50% first deposit up to $1,000 Min. Deposit: $20Payout speed: 48 hours50% first deposit up to $1,000Play NowOur score: 50% first deposit up to $1,000Read more Is sports betting legal in Ohio? No! Currently, there is no regulated online sports betting in Ohio. While there have been legalization attempts by lawmakers in the House and Senate in recent years, no Ohio online sports betting bill has managed to make significant progress. One day, a House bill will start to gain momentum. Legislators will continue pushing for the rollout of legal sports betting, with a lot of great tax revenues being up for grabs in this large market. While sports betting is not legal currently in the state, it is only really illegal for people to operate sports betting services in the region and not to place bets. In terms of daily fantasy sports (DFS), there has been no progress either on legalizing this market. However, Ohioans are still being served by the likes of FanDuel and DraftKings in this regard. Other forms of legal gambling Las Vegas-style commercial casinos have been legal in the Buckeye state since 2009 when voters voted in favor of this measure. The first of these land-based casinos to open was the Horseshoe Cleveland Casino in May 2012. Other casinos to subsequently open their doors include the Hollywood Casino Columbus and a number of Penn National Gaming properties. The Ohio Casino Control Commission is the regulator for this sector. These casinos offer most types of typical games, such as table games and slot machines. These properties had to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2011, there are video lottery terminals (VLTs) at the state’s racetracks. This means that there are seven racinos in Ohio. Currently, there are no tribal casinos in Ohio or legal online casinos. However, there are a number of offshore online casinos that cater to the region. There is legal charitable gambling for certain groups, allowing the likes of bingo, raffles, and similar games of chance. The state lottery was created in 1973 and is operated by the Ohio Lottery Commission. It is the longest-running type of legal gambling in the region and players can take part in multi-state drawings such as Powerball and Mega Millions. There are poker rooms at each of the casinos in the state, but there is no legal online poker in place. There is horse racing of different types taking place at the likes of Belterra Park, Thistledown, MGM Northfield Park, Dayton Raceway, and Beulah Park. The Ohio State Racing Commission is in charge of the sector, with off-track betting parlors also being found around the state. Finally, there is legal social gaming once the house is not profiting. Our Recommended Online Sportsbook in Ohio Our Rating Great range of US betting markets Competitive odds First deposit bonus up to $250 Fast withdrawals Claim Your Bonus Now Top 3 online sports betting sites that accept players from Ohio If you are in the market for a decent online sportsbook in Ohio, then you have come to the right place. There are plenty of different options, but we have handpicked the best online sports betting platforms for your needs: 1. Bovada - Fast withdrawal (50% first deposit bonus up to $250) Bovada is one of the best sportsbooks around today, having served the sector for almost two decades. The user experience is top-quality and there is a big focus on major US sports. There is a great range of betting markets for each sporting event and the platform has some of the fastest withdrawals around. Customer support is available 24/7 and Bovada always makes sure that its users are happy. The competitiveness of odds is very good and there is a good range of betting limits. For new account holders, there is a 50% first deposit bonus up to $250 up for grabs. Our Rating Great range of US betting markets Competitive odds First deposit bonus up to $250 Fast withdrawals Mainly crypto withdrawals Claim Your Bonus 2. Everygame - Great reputation ($20 fee bet) Everygame is the longest-running online sportsbook in the world and it was also the first to have a mobile betting offering. This showcases the constant innovations that Intertops brings to the table. There is a massive selection of betting markets for pre-game and live betting. With a focus on US sports, there are some great prop bets on offer. With decent withdrawal speeds and competitive odds, Everygame ticks most boxes for sports betting. For those signing up for a new account, there is a $20 free bet offer you will receive. Our Rating Decent withdrawal times Great reputation Large variety of markets $20 welcome free bet Not the biggest welcome bonus Claim Your Bonus 3. BetOnline - Top-quality odds (50% first deposit bonus up to $1,000) BetOnline is one of the largest offshore sports betting sites you will come across. Popular in Ohio, it has been serving the market for nearly two decades. There are great betting limits for all American sports markets. The seasonal promotions for the likes of the NFL season also keep bettors coming back again and again, along with the great odds. Past issues with withdrawal speeds have been eliminated and BetOnline is one of the quickest sportsbooks around when it comes to uploading their odds early in the week. If you want to create an account with BetOnline, there will be a 50% first deposit bonus on offer up to $1,000. Our Rating Great odds Large range of betting limits Focus on US sports First deposit bonus up to $1,000 Withdrawals still slightly low Claim Your Bonus How we rate the best Ohio online bookmakers Every bookmaker will have its own perks and drawbacks. These are things you need to consider during the decision making process. Your first step when looking for an online sportsbook will be to create a shortlist of options. To do so, look at all key aspects of different offerings and rule out those options that aren’t up to scratch. Here are some of the important areas that we look at with our reviews: Sports selections Depth of markets Supported sporting events Live betting Competitiveness of odds Platform ease of use Payment methods Customer support Licensing and security What to consider when choosing a betting site Once there is a shortlist in place, then you can start to narrow down these sites until you have one left. The best way to do so is to figure out what you want to see the most with the sportsbook and go from there. This could mean a strong mobile offering or a certain type of betting market. Here are some of the key areas to look at in this regard: Legal standing As there is no regulated online sports betting market in Ohio, you still want to make sure that offshore sportsbooks are reputable to use. This means looking at other licenses and track record with other sports bettors. Customer support If you are using an online sportsbook and run into some sort of issue, it is vital that this can be quickly resolved without any major issues. Look at the range of contact options, as well as the speed of the replies. Payment methods With an online sportsbook, you need to make sure that there is a payment method on offer that is a good fit for your situation. You will also want to take a look at the processing times and any fees that are attached to transactions. Promotions One of the best parts about signing up to a new sports betting site is the welcome offer that is usually a part of the process. This comes in many different forms. There are also regular promotions for existing players to consider. Competitive odds You want to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to sports betting. Therefore, you should be checking the overall competitiveness of the odds at a given sportsbook. Live betting A lot of people have a preference for in-play betting. This allows you to place sports bets during the course of a game. Look at the range of markets and events covered, as well as any special features for live streaming. The future of online gambling in Ohio While there is currently no legal online gambling in Ohio, this looks like it could change in the next few years. Only a few years ago, residents showed their desire for gambling expansion after voting to allow commercial casinos. There is a strong push for legal sports betting and this will likely bring with it legal online sports betting in Ohio. Lawmakers in the Senate and House will be considering all potential legislation. Ohio Governor Mike Dewine has already promised legal sports betting. Rep. Dave Greenspan and Sen. John Eklund were co-sponsors of one of the recent bills and are optimistic about the future. Where else is online gambling legal in the US? Sports betting is massively popular in the United States. Since the Supreme Court voted to end the federal ban on sports betting (PASPA). In May 2018, many states have been looking at online sportsbooks. It has paved the way for plenty of gambling expansion and this looks set to continue for some time. Some states to see a lot of success to date in legalizing online sports betting include New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, and Colorado. More regions are also allowing regulated online casinos, so there is plenty to keep an eye on. The rules vary even in these regulated states, whether it is for the tax rate or certain rules on betting markets. Here is an interactive US map that you can use to see the legal online gambling situation in your region: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC Bottom line As you have seen, legal Ohio sports betting has massive potential. While it is not a reality yet, there are plenty of top-quality offshore betting sites on offer. You can sign up for one of these great sites in a matter of minutes and getting started betting with no hassle at all. FAQs What is the legal gambling age in Ohio? If you want to gamble at one of the commercial casinos in Ohio, you will need to be 21 years old, but if you want to place a horse racing bet or buy a lottery ticket, you only need to be 18 years old. Until there is a House bill or Senate bill, there is no indication about the legal age for regulated sports betting in Ohio. Can you place bets on your mobile in Ohio? Most of the offshore sports betting sites will have some sort of mobile sports betting offering. This could be an app that you download or simply using the device’s browser to place these bets. In states with legal sports betting, geolocation tools are used to determine what state you are currently in. What is the best sports betting promotional offer? It is always great getting your hands on a free bet. You want to read the terms and conditions of every bonus you come across, as they can appear to be great on the surface, but on so much in reality. Are there any sports that you cannot bet on in Ohio? Some state with regulated sports betting will not allow you to bet on in-state teams for example or on sports. This is not currently the case in Ohio as there is no regulated market. Therefore, you can place bets on all NFL, MLB, NHL, NCAA and NBA games as you please. This includes for some of the best in-state teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Indians and Ohio State. Are there any Native American casinos in Ohio? Currently, there are no federally-recognized tribes in Ohio. As a result, there are no major Indian casinos or real money gambling facilities in place. About Andrew O'Malley Alex has been writing about the gambling industry for more than five years, covering everything from sports betting to casinos and poker. With the sector constantly evolving, he loves nothing better than staying up to date with the latest movers and shakers in the space. View all posts by Andrew O'Malley →
