All About Ohio Sports Betting Handle And Revenue

We at BetOhio.com, your home for expertise on all Ohio sports betting topics, put together this guide to explain terms such as handle, revenue and tax collections.

Ohio began its legal sports betting market on Jan. 1, 2023. The Buckeye State offers a variety of operators, and ways to bet, like no other jurisdiction. Ohio has more than two dozen outlets for either online or retail sportsbooks, with the latter being located mostly at casinos or racinos (the term for racetracks with slot machines). Ohio also offers hundreds of sports betting kiosks at businesses around the state.

Many professional sports teams in Ohio have partnerships with national sports betting brands to operate online sportsbooks. For instance, the Cleveland Cavaliers are partnered with Betway Ohio. The Cincinnati Bengals have a deal with Betfred. The NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets partner with Fanatics, the state’s two Major League Soccer teams have sportsbook deals (FC Cincinnati with Superbook and the Columbus Crew with Tipico Ohio) and even Muirfield Village Golf Club got in on the action, teaming with Parx Interactive.

As is the case in every state that offers legal, regulated sports betting, the vast majority of wagers are placed by folks using online operators to place bets at of Ohio sportsbook apps, using their smart phones, laptops or desktop computers.

In addition to those pro sports teams and facilities that have joined with online operators, there are retail sports betting outlets for in-person betting. The Cincinnati Reds have a retail BetMGM Sportsbook in Ohio and the Cleveland Cavaliers have a similar partnership with Caesars. The state’s four casinos and seven racinos also each have partnerships for retail sportsbooks.

Ohio Sports Betting, February vs. January

Ohio Sports Betting Handle and Revenue: February 2023

The typical ebbs and flows of the American sports betting calendar reared their ugly head for Ohio sports betting operators in February, with a 17.2% drop in total handle and a 41.4% decline in revenue during the month.

In total, Ohio sportsbooks took in $671,992,052 in total sports betting handle in February, down 17.2% from January’s total of $811,594,052 but up 5.1% year-over-year from the $638,822,345 taken in last February.

On the revenue front, Ohio sportsbooks’ total of $66,373,623 represented a 41.4% drop month-over-month from the $113,366,455 taken in during January. It mirrors the large slides typically seen from the first to the second month of the year across the country.

That drop in revenue resulted in a subsequent decline in tax dollars, with a total of $13,522,065 coming out in February — $13,399,424 of that was generated by online sportsbooks in the Buckeye State.

In terms of market share, FanDuel Sportsbook ($222,210,882), DraftKings Sportsbook ($221,999,234), Bet365 ($44,644,899), BetMGM ($42,562,917) and ESPN BET ($40,867,715) were the top dogs in Ohio.

Ohio Mobile Sports Betting History

Ohio Sports Betting Handle and Revenue FAQs

When was Ohio sports betting launched?

Sports betting with legal, regulated operators began in Ohio on Jan. 1, 2023.

What is the tax rate in OH from sports betting?

As of July 2023, Ohio imposes a 20% gambling tax on all mobile and retail sports betting operators. The state initially levied a 10% tax on sports betting proceeds.

How often does Ohio release its online sports betting revenue figures? 

The Buckeye State releases its monthly sports betting figures on the final day of the following month. If that day falls on a weekend, the figures come out on the next business day instead. Many online operators offer Ohio sports betting promo codes to their customers.

Where does OH sports betting tax revenue go?

Most of the tax money generated from Ohio sports betting will be earmarked toward the General Revenue Fund for schools. The state also sets aside 2% toward helping to curb problem gambling, and 0.50% of license fees go to a fund for veterans.

Who regulates sports betting in Ohio?

The Ohio Casino Control Commission oversees sports betting at online and retail sportsbooks in Ohio. The Ohio Lottery Commission oversees spots betting kiosks and releases figures from those machines, which are scattered at business establishments around the state.

What is mobile sports betting handle?

Mobile sports betting handle is the amount of money wagered on sporting events by people using online devices, such as desktops, laptops or mobile phones.

What is handle vs revenue in sports betting?

Handle (or as Ohio calls it, total gross receipts) is the amount bet within a state each month on sports – only people physically located within a state can use legal, regulated sportsbooks to place bets. Revenue is the money left after operators pay out winnings to bettors – in Ohio, revenue from mobile operators is calculated using the following formula: Handle minus winnings paid minus voided wagers. Promotional deductions are not accounted for in Ohio’s revenue formula.