Ohio Sports Betting 2023: Ranking the Top 8 Ohio Sportsbooks

Where Can You Bet on Sports in Ohio?

Betting on sports in Ohio is available on mobile, at the state’s casinos, in professional sports stadiums and at the Hall of Fame Village. Bets can also be made at over 700 sports betting kiosks located throughout the state, including kiosks placed at bars, bowling alleys, restaurants and grocery stores. 

Can You Bet in-Person in Ohio?

Yes, you can bet in-person with in the state of Ohio. Gaming regulators approved 900+ betting kiosks in Ohio. These are placed throughout the state, including at Krogers grocery stores. In addition to the kiosks, Ohios’ casinos have sportsbooks for in-person betting.

Here's a list retail Ohio sportsbooks available to bet in-person:

• Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
• Northfield Park
• Belterra Park
• Scioto Down
• The Cincinnati Reds at the Machine Room
• FC Cincinnati at Taft’s Ale House
• JACK Cleveland Casino
• JACK Thistledown
• Hollywood Casino Columbus
• Hollywood Casino Toledo
• Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway
• Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley

Retail Sports Betting vs. Online Sports Betting

The Ohio sports betting sites are a great way to get into the game, but are in-person retail sports betting right for you? We encouraged you to shop around and we meant it. No matter where in Ohio you are, you won't be far from a retail sports betting location for long, so it's worth experiencing to see how you like it. What we found is that the online experience is one that makes it easier to shop for favorable lines and a broader array of sports to wager on.

Where do the retail sportsbooks have the edge? The atmosphere is better for one thing, unless you live in a sports bar. It's also easier to pick up your winnings, since you can just go right to the cage with your bet slips, and if something goes wrong, the support services at the retail location are going to be much easier to reach.

Can You Bet on Sports in Cleveland?

You can bet on sports in Cleveland at several locations located downtown and outside of the city. JACK Cleveland offers the most central Cleveland sports betting experience, being located right next to Public Square. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Progressive Field and FirstEnergy Stadium also offer retail sportsbooks in Cleveland, allowing fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Guardians and Cleveland Browns to bet on their favorite teams while close to home. Outside of the city, sportsbooks can also be found at JACK Thistledown and MGM Northfield Park, both less than a half-hour drive from downtown.

Can You Bet on Sports in Columbus?

You can bet on sports in Columbus in multiple sportsbooks situated downtown and on the outskirts of the city. Located in the heart of the city is the sportsbook at Nationwide Arena, giving fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets the closest Columbus sports betting experience. However, you don’t have to drive all the way downtown to place a sports bet. Columbus sportsbooks are also located at Historic Crew Stadium, Hollywood Casino Columbus and Scioto Downs.

Can You Bet on Sports in Cincinnati?

Several Cincinnati sportsbooks are located right in town, providing for a close-to-home betting experience. Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park offer the closest Cincinnati sports betting experience to downtown and are situated right across the border from Kentucky. However, there is also a sportsbook at TQL Stadium and at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati. Outside of the city is the sportsbook at Belterra Park, just a 15-minute drive from downtown Cincinnati.

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Choosing the Best Ohio Sportsbook Online

When the time comes for you to choose which legal online sportsbook or books to use, there are a lot of factors to keep in mind. Any of the operators licensed by the Ohio Casino Control Commission will be safely regulated, but there are differences that are going to set them apart, and may make one or more look better to you. Ultimately the final decision lies with the individual bettor, but here are some of the thing we look for when we make our call.

Great Reviews

Legal Ohio sports betting comes at a time when many other states have already gotten in the game. The upshot is that by the time anyone's actually accepting bets, the bugs should be worked out, and the word will be out as to which operators are bettor friendly, quick to solve customer issues, and most of all, fun. And if that's not enough, we'll have up to date reviews for every game in town.

Bets Allowed

Can you play your way? If you can't you're probably not going to stay with one place long. We always like to see ample betting options across the apps, with plenty of ways to play across plenty of sports. Everyone's going to have football, basketball, baseball and hockey, but if you want to go beyond the usual sports and most popular wagers, you may need to dig a little harder. The books that go above and beyond, with pools and special promotional games can be a lot fun too.

Great Pricing On Betting Lines and Odds

Every operator has a different method for coming up with their odds. Because the lines themselves are the heart and soul of the betting experience, you want to make sure you're getting odds you can live with at your preferred legal Ohio sportsbooks. We're always on the lookout for the best lines so you can get the most bang for your buck. But you may find more favorable odds for, as an example, hockey in one place and football at another. Depending on how you like to play, you may even decide to keep accounts with more than one legal Ohio sports betting operator.

Frequent Sports Betting Bonuses

As you've no doubt picked up, the welcome bonuses that the Ohio sportsbooks are set to offer are going to be pretty juicy. But the promos that extended past that first deal are designed to keep you coming back for more. You can expect to see some of the houses offer bet refunds and other bonuses for players who bet a certain amount or with regularity. Because the competition is going to be intense, there's simply no good reason to bet with an operator that doesn't offer some form of a  second chance bet or bonus around your bankroll.

Excellence In User Interface

If you're getting great odds at an Ohio sportsbook and the promotions are giving you a significant bump to your bankroll, it doesn't mean anything if you can't get to the bet you want to make and lock it in. We prefer a clean, streamlined experience without a bunch of junk cluttering up our screens, but the software's stability and speed are even more important. If the website takes too long to respond to secure the bet you want to make, or the app crashes when you're trying to get your parlay squared away, all you'll get for your money is a headache.

Easy Deposits & Withdrawals

Some of the best Ohio sportsbooks are the ones that give the widest array of banking options. Most places will take a wire transfer from your online banking system or a debit card payment, provided your bank will do that. You'll also commonly see options for e-checks and PayPal, and some places will also accept Venmo or credit cards, though not many places take American Express. You'll also want to know how quickly you get your money back in your hands when you want to withdraw your winnings.

Variety of Customer Support

Any of the legal Ohio sports betting sites will offer some form of customer support in case of some kind of error, or should you need assistance. At the very least you can expect to see a FAQ file and an option to contact a staff member. Our preference is a live chat feature for speed of reply, especially good if it's staffed 24-7. We also like to see an email support option for Ohio betting sites. While those tend to move more slowly, it's better for ease of keeping records.

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Why Sign Up For Multiple Ohio Sportsbooks

As the old song goes, "You better shop around". You could have two dozen Ohio sportsbooks to choose from by this time next year. Not everyone is going to be right for your style of playing, and you owe it to yourself to kick the tires on a few of the different options to make sure you get to play your way.

Getting the Best Line

Even if the only wagering you're planning on doing is betting on the Cleveland Browns to cover week in and week out, you may find it useful to shop the lines. If everything else is equal, and you can get the Browns at -4.5 points, -118 odds at one place, there's not much sense taking them at -5.5 points at -115. When you've found two or three operators you're comfortable using, you may start even to notices trends and patterns in the types of bets you like.

Enjoying Multiple Betting Bonuses 

You've seen the introductory offers by now. You know they're basically giving you a great opportunity to try out the sportsbook. But you can still treat it like a new relationship when your date is trying everything to impress you. Work your way through one of these signup bonuses and then maybe a couple more. You can use the incentives they're throwing at you to figure out for yourself if it's an OH betting site that deserves your attention and more importantly your money.

Unique Sportsbook Features

You may have noticed that some of the Ohio sportsbooks offer the same kind of bets on the same betting markets and the same odds. Well, there are only so many kinds of odds making software out there, and especially when you get into options like futures and props, a lot of it can look the same. A little research into who uses what software can get you around this and help improve your odds by using a couple of books running different backends.

Finding Your Favorite

Is it fun? It's supposed to be fun, remember. If you're buying a car, they'll all take you from point a to b, and you might find one with a couple of the bells and whistles you're looking for. But when you get out on the road and something about it just doesn't feel right? You don't buy the car, right? Same idea. Even if you find one you like right out of the gate, you might try a couple more, at least playing through the intro offers. You might find another book will offer sports betting styles you hadn't considered.

Avoiding the Fine Print

Make sure you know what the house rules are, because that could affect if you want to bet a certain sports on a certain book. If you like betting a prop on who'll score the first touchdown, you need to know that one Ohio sports betting site will refund you if there aren't any touchdowns scored, but another one won't, because they offer an option for nobody scoring one. If you like a sport where ties are normal, what does that mean for your wagers? Do your MMA prop bets include the prelim fights or just the main card? This can vary from place to place, and if know where the differences are, you can gain an edge.

Payment Options for Your Ohio Online Betting Account

Different operators all accept different kinds of payment. The most common you'll see are debit cards, online banking, PayPal, Play+ and other branded prepaid cards, and ACH e-checks. Depending on where you choose to play, you may see credit cards, Venmo, PayNearMe. Any operator licensed by the state will have secure transactions, so you won't have to worry about your money - at least until you build a 12-leg parlay.

It's worth noting that if you're trying to use your online banking or debit card, not every bank sees fit to do business with gambling operators. Check with your bank and have a backup plan if they don't allow for transactions with the new sportsbooks. Withdrawal methods are similar, but watch out for wait times. The electronic transfers move fastest, not surprisingly, but you may be waiting for a check in the mail for a couple of weeks. 

How Sports Betting in Ohio has Progressed: A Legislative Timeline

• 📅  January 1, 2023: Ohio sportsbooks officially went live at midnight marking the launch of sports betting in Ohio.
• 📅  August 3, 2022: Commission Executive Director Matt Schuler made it known that sportsbooks in Ohio can begin accepting bets at midnight on January 1, 2023.
• 📅  July 15, 2022: The July 15 deadline to apply for Ohio sports gambling licenses arrived, and several potential Ohio sports betting operators submitted their applications.
• 📅  June 1, 2022: Gov. Mike DeWine confirms January 1, 2023 launch date.
• 📅  December 22, 2021: Gov. Mike DeWine signs House Bill 29, with the Casino Control Commission drawing up rules ahead of a January 2023 launch.
• 📅  December 2021: Conference committee agree to changes in House Bill 29, which clears chambers after the conference report is accepted.
• 📅  November 2021: State Sen. Kirk Schuring announced plans were still in place to get House Bill 29 passed.
• 📅  June 2021: An amended version of Senate Bill 176 becomes a part of House Bill 29, is passed by state senate, and is then introduced to the house.
• 📅  May 2021: Senate Bill 176 was introduced to legalize sports gambling in Ohio.

Ohio Sports Betting Licenses

The language of the law in Ohio creates the opportunity for dozens of sportsbooks to open in Ohio. Three types of sports betting licenses are available. 

Type A Betting License - 25 spots are available for the Type A license. These are reserved for companies operating within Ohio, as well as Type B licenses. The language of the license can be interpreted in many ways; however, it is thought that this license is for the state’s casinos and professional sports. 

The Type A betting license comes with one online skin; however sports organizations and casinos may apply for two provided they can demonstrate a need for a second one. 

Type B Betting License - Type B sports betting licenses in Ohio are reserved for physical operators within the state. There are 40 of these licenses available. The number of issued licenses will be determined by the population of the county for which the brick-and-mortar sportsbook would reside. The most populous counties can have no more than 5 retail sportsbooks. Counties with less than 50,000 people are not permitted to have a retail operator. 

Type C Betting License - The largest number of sports betting licenses is Type C. These are reserved for establishments with a Class D liquor license, such as bars, restaurants, and other places that serve alcohol. Retailers that sell Ohio lottery tickets, such as Kroger, can also apply.

Sports You Can Bet on in Ohio

Like most states offering online betting, Ohio sportsbooks are expected to offer bets on all the most popular leagues and events.  The biggest betting market in the US by far is NFL football. The league just owns nearly half of the Sundays out of the year – more if you count the NFL playoffs, and even more if you're one of those maniacs who cares about the preseason (we're not judging, but yes, you're maniacs).

And Ohio is one of only seven states that fields more than one NFL team, which is yet another reason every operator wants to set up shop here. The Super Bowl promises to be the biggest sports betting event of the year, so bettors in Ohio should look forward to the game on an annual basis. You will find some of the best NFL betting apps in Ohio so if you are a bettor, this is one of the best states to be in during the 2023-2024 Season. 

The NBA clocks in as the #2 sports betting market in the United States. The long season and fast moving action during the games lends itself to the live wagering experience offered by a majority of Ohio betting sites. The Cavaliers fans can also look forward to a large array of NBA parlays, and basketball is one of two sports that you'll typically find action in round robin betting games. Check out different sites to compare NBA odds for Ohio to ensure you are getting the most for your money. 

When we talk about betting on MLB, the pace of play is a double edged sword. The games aren't as all-action as some of the other sports offer. The advantage is that the relaxed tempo gives bettors more time to find better odds for their live bets as the game moseys along. And Ohio enjoys the advantage of two MLB teams, so as long as the lockout is resolved, there'll be great chances for wagering for baseball fans of all sorts.

Betting on college sports will be legal in the state as well. Several other states have restrictions around wagering on collegiate teams who play home games in-state, but there will be no such restrictions here, which is great news for  Ohio State fans or those who want to bet on the college football National Championships. 

Ohio Sports Teams to Place a Legal Bet On

Ohioans' love for college football and their beloved NFL teams rivals any other state. However, they do not shy away from their fanatic love for all of the Ohio-based sports organizations. Below you'll find a list of the top sports teams you can legally bet on in Ohio.

Our experts will continue to monitor Ohio's top professional sports and college teams and update their odds as they will most certainly change often. If you want all of the latest news surrounding Ohio sportsbooks, there is no better place to be than right here. Bookmark this page to stay up-to-date.

For a more in-depth breakdown on your favorite NFL team, our veteran gambling experts track the Bengals Super Bowl odds daily and include their analysis of why lines have moved most recently and where they might be heading. You won't find a better resource if you're planning to bet on the Bengals. Of course the Browns could make the playoffs and this means more action for bettors. Be sure to track the latest Browns playoff chances to ensure you are betting optimally. 

Promotions & Offers At New Ohio Sports Betting Sites

When the betting operators open their doors, there will be a rush to get you and your gambling dollar. You're going to see a stampede of Ohio sports betting promos as the books compete to get you to place wagers on their platforms. You'll see plenty of promotions, so it's important to know what is available and how to use these offers.

One of the most popular introductory offers is the large bet refund. This is a cash bet where if you won, you've won and good for you. If the bet doesn't hit, you get your stake kicked back to you. For example, most of the top Cincinnati Bengals sportsbook promo codes you will find come paired with a bet refund of some sort, which means your Bengals bet is returned should it lose.

It's worth noting that this is almost always in the form of credit to use on more sports bets, as opposed to a cash refund. If you're planning on taking a big swing out of the gates, an intro deal like this can look pretty appealing. Bet-refunds come up frequently, but the dollar limit is going to be highest on that initial bet.

The Deposit Match is another popular promotional offer, and will likely appear in a lot of the OH sportsbooks as an intro promo. It's pretty much what it says it is - the house kicks in an equal amount to match your deposit. This is another situation where the best match is going to be that first time out, but matches and other bonuses on deposits still pop up afterwards, depending on the house. 

The other piece of business to keep in mind is that the house's credits will have a "rollover requirement" - a number of times you'll have to bet with the bonus before you're allowed to withdraw any of it. Fortunately, with the heavy competition among the books, the rollover requirement has been reasonably bettor friendly - only 1-3 times before you can take it out.

Referral bonuses can net you a pretty nice chunk of credits if you have a network of friends or co-workers also want to get in the game. You'll get a link you can send to people you know, and if they sign up through the link (and here's the important part) make a deposit to their bankroll, you both get a bonus for the referral.

You're less likely to see Ohio odds boosts as a welcome bonus than an ongoing promotion, with a couple of the books even rolling out a new slate every day. The odds boost allows you to place wagers with the betting lines titled toward a more favorable payout for the bettor. So if the odds of a particular Cleveland Browns running back scoring a TD were set at +140, an odds boost could kick it up to +175. It's the same circumstance to make the bet pay off, but a better figure if it does.

Everyone likes parlays. They're exciting for the bettor and tend to be pretty lucrative for the books. One way they like to encourage you to lay out for one is to offer parlay insurance. 

Suppose you have a five-leg parlay. With a parlay insurance promo, if only four legs hit, you get your stake back. So you don't win, because you didn't win. But getting your bet returned to you can cushion the blow, just make sure you read the fine print. You can only reasonably assume that you can only miss one leg, and the parlay itself will need a minimum number of legs and length in odds.

Also, a returned stake could be credits or cash, you'll need to check with your operator to see how they do business.

Legal Wagers to Make at All Ohio Sports Gambling Sites

Expect a wealth of bet types at every Ohio betting site. The most popular bet type is moneylines. Pick a side, if they win, so do you. The odds are right in front of you - plus sign for the underdog, minus sign for the favorite, the higher the number you see, the bigger the payout on an underdog, and the more you'd have to stake to get a real return on a favorite.

Ohio sportsbooks also offer parlays. Bundle two or more single wagers together into a single bet where each piece is dependent on the other. What does that mean? Every leg of your parlay makes the odds longer and the potential payout bigger. But if even one leg misses, well, that's why they call it gambling.

A popular bet type is also the totals markets or over/under. The oddsmakers set a number indicating what they think the combined final score will be. You choose whether you think it'll be higher or lower than the number given. Some places will list in terms of half points, like 30.5 points. This is to prevent having to refund in case of a push.

Spreads are a way to level the playing field if one team is likely to beat the other. Instead of picking a winner, you're betting on the difference in the final scores. If you see a 5.5 spread on a game that favors the Cincinnati Bengals over the Kansas City Chiefs, that means that to cover the bet the Bengals would have to win by 6, while the Chiefs could cover even if they lost by as much as 5.

Futures bets refer to events that are further down the road than a couple of days. These can be somewhat short term - some places offered action on the Bengals to win Super Bowl LVI after their Wild Card Weekend win. They can also be further out - such as picking the Guardians to win the World Series prior to pitchers and catchers reporting.

A prop bet is a wager around something other than the final outcome of the sporting event. For instance, you can wager on which basketball team will be the first to thirty points, or an over/under on how many strikeouts Shane Bieber will rack up in his next start. The amount and types of props can vary a lot between the operators, so make sure you're getting the prop action you like.

One of the most fun pieces of Ohio sportsbook apps is the ability to place in-game bets while an event is in progress. The odds will react in real time to what's happening on the field, and you'll see the numbers flip up and down from your seat at the game. That's why stable software is crucial - if you see odds you like, you need to be ready to jump before the lines move again.

Additional Ohio Betting Options for Anyone Over 21

In addition to the standard Ohio betting options, there are several other wagers that you can, and cannot make. 

Daily Fantasy Sports are another way to win money based on sports - build your team and score points based on how they play. Daily Fantasy is legal and available from various sportsbooks in Ohio. If you already have an account for DFS, you will not be eligible for any welcome offers. 

Wagering on horse races is also legal in Ohio, at racetracks, OTB parlors and through online wagering methods. It's worth noting that the laws keeps the Ohio sportsbooks and horse racing wagering in separate areas. So while you won't be able to bet on horses through the new sportsbook websites, it's perfectly legal to do so through the existing methods. For example you can bet on horse races in Ohio with TwinSpires.

Some people like to bet on pop culture ceremonies, such as awards shows. In 2021, New Jersey, Indiana and Michigan allowed customers to bet on the Academy Awards. Obviously the infrastructure won't be up in Ohio in time for this year's ceremony, but the sports betting bill signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine did provide for "special events", which could clear a path for awards show wagering.

Betting on eSports events is allowed under the new sports betting bill. Maybe the entire operation flies under the radar for you, but the betting market is big business. Bettors in Ohio will be cleared able to bet on the major eSports leagues and tournaments through the new sportsbooks.

Political Betting in Ohio

You might wonder whether political betting is legal at Ohio sportsbooks. The short answer is, no. You cannot legally bet on the latest Donad Trump odds in Ohio or anywhere else in the United States. The  goverment prohibits this type of betting. There can be some excpetions for noncommercial purposes and there are anomolys in the U.S.; however, these sites are continuoulsy on the verge of being shut down and sized. You can find Democratic nominee odds at various offshore sportsbooks; however, these are not considered to be safe. Some of them do not have the necessary licenses to operate; others have notorious reputations for taking bettors' money without any return. It's easy to understand that Republican nominee odds and other market odds in this area are interesting, and there are studies that predict elections fo better than polls. If you're interested in these odds, be sure to review our political betting odds tracker. 

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2023 Revenue Projection for Ohio Sportsbooks

The state legislature crunched a lot of numbers before they were able to get Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to sign off on the state's sports betting bill. The Legislative Budget Office believes that the licenses alone will generate upwards of $10 million for fiscal 2023 and will net revenue of $3.35 billion for the state over the first few years. That's a pretty nice chunk of change, and Ohio plans to use their taste to mostly to help fund the state's schools.

Legal Ohio Online Sports Betting Tax Rate

There's an estimated gross gaming revenue of $900 million at full capacity. The Ohio sports betting tax law provides for a 10% tax rate from the houses. That's honestly pretty easy on the house, especially compared to places like New York (51%). Even the traditionally gambling-friendly New Jersey takes 13%. The money will mainly go to the General Revenue Fund for schools, with 2% toward problem gambling assistance and 0.50% of license fees to a veterans' fund.

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How Ohio Sports Betting Compares to the Other Legal States

At a long-range distance, it looks as though the Ohio sportsbooks have taken some of the lessons that other places have learned the hard way. They have a competitive market structure in place and a tax rate that's comparatively friendly to the operators, so their net revenue shouldn't have too big a bite taken out of it. The accessibility of the apps should make getting started a snap. And getting the sports betting bill passed with an eye toward markets like esports and "special events" suggests the people overseeing the business are looking toward a long-term revenue stream as those markets open up.

Should I Use an Offshore Sportsbook?

No. Offshore sportsbooks are not only illegal, but they offer no protection for the bettor. This means, you could place a bet and win but have no guarantee that you will actually ever receive your winnings. Moreover, if you were to get caught, federal criminal charges could be filed against you. 

In addition to the above, by sticking to regulated, licensed Ohio sports betting sites, you can feel peace of mind in knowing your personal details and winnings are safe. Moreover, you are supporting local businesses, as well as a number of jobs in the American economy. 

Calling All Bettors - Get Into the Action at the Best Ohio Sports Betting Sites

Asking whether Ohio sports betting is legal, is no longer a question. Sportsbooks are live and legal. As long as you are 21 years of age you can place as many bets as you'd like at 19 different online betting sites or 14 retail sportsbooks. Explore everything these sites have to offer through the most comprehensive sportsbook reviews in Ohio. Learn about their features, their odds and sports markets, whether the app is worth downloading and more. If you're a new user, large promotions will be available. BetOhio is the most trusted source for legal Ohio sports betting. Choose your sportsbook, today!