Chris Boline Legal Sports Betting in Ohio
Ohio sports betting has been a point of contention within the community for a long time, with citizens and businesses vying for change. With the announcement of change now here, there will be a huge increase in money coming into the state and many new job opportunities.
| State | Ohio |
| Sports Betting Law Passed | Yes ✔️ |
| Launch date | N/A |
| Minimum Gambling Age | 16 |
| Online Sports Betting | Yes ✔️ |
| Retail Sports Betting | Yes ✔️ |
| Retail Casinos | Yes ✔️ |
Of all the states in the USA, Ohio is one of the latest to act upon the changing landscape of online wagering. Many US-based bookmakers are popping up and the old tradition of traveling the country to gamble seems to be fading out.
Legal Sportsbooks available in Ohio
As of June 17th, sports betting in Ohio has been legalized. If everything goes ahead as planned, Ohioans will be able to enjoy legal sports betting in Ohio as of January 1, 2023. Bettors already have access to a variety of top-tier online bookmakers, but the legalization of sports betting will be huge for Ohio. With sports betting just about to get underway, there is much to look forward to in 2023 for Ohio players.
| Sportsbook | Available in Ohio |
| FanDuel | ✅ |
| DraftKings | ✅ |
| Caesars | ✅ |
| FoxBet | ❌ |
| BetRivers | ✅ |
| BetMGM | ❌ |
| PointsBet | ✅ |
| Unibet | ❌ |
The Top Five Bookmakers In Ohio
With the sports betting landscape in Ohio recently changing, there is a lot to discuss regarding online betting in the state. The team here is dedicated to ensuring we keep our readers from the Buckeye State up-to-date with the latest and greatest online sports betting platforms.
To be sure we’re covering the full range of betting lines available to Ohio residents, we’ve done a thorough review of the betting odds available across the top online bookmakers. Not only that, but our expectations will give you pointers on how to find value in the odds and make the best bets possible. From the moneyline to point spreads, we’ll delve deep into what’s being offered to sports fans in the birthplace of aviation.
While we’ve done reviews for all the states from Wisconsin to Florida, this time we’ll take a look at how citizens residing in Ohio can benefit from the top five online sports betting operators around. With a huge collegiate sports presence in the state, we’ll discuss bookmakers that offer great college football betting for the NCAAF, including bookmakers that care about Championship game specials.
BetUS
BetUS is one of the fastest growing sportsbooks in recent years, offering a broad range of great odds to Ohio residents, which include Ohio State Buckeyes content. You will find a range of other sports betting markets, aside from the NCAA Football, offering odds on for major American leagues like the NBA, NHL, and NFL. A top-rated bookmaker with years of experience behind it and a dedicated staff that has driven things forward. When we looked at the bookmaker and highlighted its top aspects, we came up with this shortlist: longevity in the industry, a great loyalty program, regular updates to promotions and bonus offerings, and great live/In-play betting markets.
Pros
- Odds are competitive
- Great mobile interface
- Varied betting markets
Bovada
A world-renowned online gambling platform. Bovada has a global presence and has continually lived up to expectations. Whether it’s touchdowns or 3-pointers, this bookmaker covers it all. For Ohio residents, you’ll find a broad range of college football playoff odds and extensive markets for the major leagues. In terms of promotions and bonuses, there are a wealth of opportunities to maximize your profits. Having gone in-depth about the details of Bovada, we put together a list of its top features: an excellent site and mobile app user interface, comprehensive betting platform, sportsbook, casino, racebook, poker rooms, and easy sign-up process.
Pros
- Great industry rep
- Rotating basketball and football specials
- Huge selection of daily markets
XBet
An experienced bookmaker, XBet has been operating in the online gambling industry since 2007. It now stands as one of the premium online sports betting providers available to US players. Operating in states across the US like Arizona, Texas, Michigan, and many others, XBet has cemented itself as one of the go-to sports betting platforms. A simplistic platform that makes navigating through the endless betting lines, including some unique prop bets. We carried out a comprehensive review of the XBet platform and have detailed some of the best aspects of the sportsbook here: bonuses for new and returning players, a fully-stocked casino that complements the sportsbook, a modern look and feel across the site.
Pros
- Professional payment options
- Fun betting markets
- Lots of sports available
BetOnline
Another excellent bookmaker, and one built on a solid foundation of first-rate odds and betting lines. BetOnline first went online in 2004 and has become a globally recognized name in the sports betting industry. If it’s the NCAA you like, you’ll find a depth of odds markets for the National Championship and even less popular lines like the Heisman trophy. The Championship odds are available throughout the year, with things really heating up around when the bowl games get underway. BetOnline recognizes the importance of college sports and caters to it. Here are some of the best offerings at BetOnline: tons of great bonus offerings and deals, reliable and legitimate sportsbooks, and first-rate customer service. Modern website and mobile betting platform.
Pros
- Crypto bonuses
- Excellent betting markets
- Lots of banking options
MyBookie
In the rankings of top-tier providers, MyBookie is hovering around the top. A bookmaker that is diverse, but has a focus on ensuring it provides the most competitive odds for US-based sports betting markets. A solid odds provider, with a huge presence in the global betting community. Young blood, founded in 2014, MyBookie was long seen as the underdog. But, in recent years, focusing on state-based markets, like the NCAA football lines for the Crimson Tide in Ohio, has ensured they are here to stay. Check out some of the top features here: fast deposits and payouts, swift and reliable customer service team, range of odds, broad-reaching community, and great retention through bonuses.
Pros
- Varied betting markets
- Always up to date
- Great rotating promotions
Is Sports Betting Legal in Ohio?
Ohio has passed a sports betting law allowing them to license both retail sportsbooks and online betting sites and apps. This is good news for state coffers, as they will likely receive a decent influx of tax revenue every year. However, consumers can and should continue to use the offshore sportsbooks we recommend here, as they tend to have lower operating costs, and they pass those benefits on to their players.
Ohio Sports Betting – Recent Updates
- January 13, 2023 – Bernie Kosar apologized for placing a legal Ohio sports betting wager on the NFL with Tipico that led to the ex-QB being pulled from the Cleveland Browns’ pregame radio show.
- December 27, 2022 – The Cleveland Browns ended their relationship with Bernie Kosar shortly after Ohio legalized sports betting.
- November 29, 2022 – Kroger sports betting kiosks won’t open until after January 1st, with 40 betting facilities and up to 2,500 kiosks opening up.
- October 21, 2022 – Despite being a controversial figure in sports betting, Pete Rose will be the first to place a sports wager at the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati.
- September 14, 2022 – Ohio sports betting will start near Jan. 1, the regulator says, with high hopes for sports betting in 2022.
Six Reasons to Bet on These Offshore Betting Sites In Ohio
Although the recent change is a sign of change, we still must wait almost a year to see this change implemented. With one of the state’s major cities, Cleveland boasting the Browns, Indians, and the NBA’s Cavaliers, there is certainly a high demand for online gambling in Ohio.
Many of our readers ask “is sports betting legal in Ohio?”, to which the answer is no—but it doesn’t mean bettors can’t partake in sports gambling in Ohio. With a wealth of offshore online sports betting providers, sports fans can begin wagering today.
Until legalized sports betting in Ohio arrives, we’ll give you a basic guide on how to make the most of the facilities available now. Here are six important qualities to look out for when searching for online betting sites.
Availability of the bookmaker in Ohio
This may seem fairly obvious, but is something we often see bettors slipping up on often. It’s imperative that the sportsbook is available within Ohio gambling law and provides its betting service to those residing in the state. The gambling age in Ohio is something bettors must pay attention to as well, which may be a problem for certain online bookmakers.
GTBets is a great example of a sportsbook full of bonuses. Their welcome bonus is 100%.
First-Rate Customer Service
Something bettors must pay attention to is the quality of the service beyond the sportsbook itself. While some online gambling sites offer a range of services, including casinos, poker rooms, and more. However, it’s the quality of service outside of betting that we’re interested in here. Whenever money is involved it’s really important to know that you’re in safe hands. When working with offshore online sports betting in Ohio, we advise looking out for a bookmaker with email and phone contact, as well as live chat, forums, and a range of FAQs.
Mobile Betting in Ohio
One of the best advantages of having access to online sportsbooks in Ohio is the availability of mobile betting. Mobile betting is great for those of us who access the internet mainly through our smartphones or tablets.
More and more bettors are accessing their sports betting accounts via mobile devices. This is why so many sportsbooks design their websites thinking first of mobile devices. In order to be one of the best Ohio sportsbooks, it is important that they have a great mobile layout.
Unmatched Reputation
Much like the quality of the customer service, we’d advise bettors to look for a sportsbook that’s well-reviewed and has a long history of quality betting services. There are many independent reviews of online bookmakers, including the ones that we provide here at MyTopSportsbooks.
Bovada has been around for a long time and is a well-known and beloved sportsbook.
The Most Competitive Odds
One of the most important things about online wagering can be finding the perfect odds, as each bookmaker battles it out to provide the best odds customers can be left frustrated. Sportsbooks often focus on one particular betting market, which is something bettors should be aware of when depositing. Find the right sportsbook based on the odds you prefer.
Look for Promotions and Bonuses
For those that are new to online bookmaking, you may not be aware of the added value of promotions and bonuses. All online bookmakers provide customers with a broad range of betting promotions and bonuses, aimed at enticing customers to deposit. These are normally quite lucrative, meaning there is ample opportunity for bettors to profit from these deals.
EveryGame has great customer service, especially their live chat, available 24/7.
Potential legal sports betting sites in Ohio
As Ohio sports betting expands and settles, you can expect a lot of new names to be popping up. You may have heard these names in the advertisements they are buying up like crazy. Big companies such as BetRivers, FanDuel, DratKings, Unibet, and BetMGM will be spending loads of cash trying to persuade Ohio bettors to sign up.
Don’t be fooled! They suffer under the burden of high operating costs and pass this on to customers. So they have difficult odds and stingy bonuses. Use, instead, the ones we have tested and recommended on this page.
Ohio Sports Betting Timeline
The sports betting industry is constantly changing and adapting to ever-changing state laws. To make this clear for you, we’ve pulled together a list of movements in the last few years.
2022
Sports Betting Bill Passed
Ohio has passed a sports betting law, allowing for the potential licensing of local sportsbooks in 2023. Of course, we won’t know if and when this will happen until it does, though all signs point to 2023.
2021
State forms Selection Committee on Gaming
A Select Committee on Gaming is being formed at the request of Senate President Matt Huffman, which will be made up of seven members, from both the red and blue sides.
2020
HB 194 comes to the capital
HB 194 comes to the Ohio State capital, Columbus, with a conversation regarding the bill starting straight away.
2019
Scholar Pushes for Sports Betting Regulation
Judicial scholar Robert Porter argued in an article published in the Cleveland St. Law Review that Ohio should begin regulating sports betting. Because so much of the sports betting is currently through online betting sites based offshore, this scholar argues there is a lot of tax revenue to be made for Ohio, according to Porter.
2018
The Supreme Court discussed a betting bill
The Supreme Court calls PASPA unconstitutional, resulting in Ohio representatives discussing the sports betting bill.
Ohio sports teams to bet on
NHL Betting in Ohio
- Columbus Blue Jackets – Based out of Columbus, the Blue Jackets play in the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. They entered the NHL in 2000
NBA Betting in Ohio
- Cleveland Cavaliers – The Cavaliers are also known as the Cavs and compete in the Eastern Conference Central Division. They began playing as an expansion team in 1970.
NFL Betting in Ohio
- Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals play in American Football Conference’s (AFC) North division. They began playing in 1968.
- Cleveland Browns – The Browns are named after their original co-founder Paul Brown. They are the only NFL team without a logo on their helmet.
MLB Betting in Ohio
- Cleveland Guardians – The Guardians play in the American League (AL) Central division. They have been playing for a long time and originated in 1894 as the Grand Rapids Rippers.
- Cincinnati Reds – The Reds have been playing professional baseball for even longer. They originated in 1882 as the Cincinnati Red Stockings.
Ohio and Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily Fantasy Sports is very clear in Ohio. You can sign up and play DFS in the state without a problem. They are fully legal – all you have to do is sign up, create an account and get started. Some of your options include DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. Daily fantasy sports is a unique type of betting where you build your own team from your favorite star players.
Is Horse Racing Legal in Ohio?
It is! Ohioans have been able to legally bet on horse racing for more than a century! You can find on-track and pari-mutuel betting across the state. You can also sign up at. any number of online racebooks that are legally available in Ohio right now.
For example, the online betting sites we recommend on this page also have great racebooks. You can find bets for both the big and small horse races throughout the year.
Nearest states with legal betting
Ohio has a total of five direct neighbors. Of these, four have licensed sportsbooks up and running. Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are all collecting tax revenue from their sports betting offerings. Only Kentucky has yet to begin licensing sportsbooks.
But Ohio bettors do not have to travel or go to a retail sportsbooks to place sports bets. They can log on to a number of great online sportsbooks today!
