Ohio Sports Betting: Launch expected in 2023
Ohio is currently in the process of legalizing online and retail sports gambling. The bills have already been signed by Governor Mike DeWine, and all that is left is to establish the regulatory framework before the January 2023 deadline.
Fantasy sports have been fully legal and regulated in Ohio since 2018. This makes them a great option for players looking to wager real money before full legal sports betting comes to the Buckeye State by January 2023.
The best Ohio Fantasy Sites – March 2022
More on Ohio Sports Betting
Ohio Sports Betting: As it stands
| Online Sports Betting | N |
| Mobile Sports Betting | N |
| Retail Sports Betting | N |
| Minimum Age | 21+ |
The bills to legalize sports betting in Ohio were signed by Governor DeWine in December 2021. This means that fully legal online and retail sports betting is coming, with the legislation setting a deadline of January 1, 2023.
Work is currently underway to establish a regulatory framework for Ohio’s new sports betting market, which some believe could be worth $1 billion per year, along with deciding how licenses will be allocated.
Neighbouring states with legal online sports betting
When Ohio finalizes its sports betting laws it will join the majority of its neighbor states in offering legal sports betting. Currently, four of the states who share a border with Ohio have legal online and retail sportsbooks.
Ohio Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports betting legal in Ohio?
While sports betting is legal in Ohio, there are no retail or online sportsbooks which are currently operational.
The bills to bring legal online and retail sports betting to the Buckeye State were signed by Governor DeWine in December 2021, and work is currently underway to bring in a regulatory framework for the new sports betting industry. This will be completed in time for a full launch by January 2023 at the latest.
In the meantime, daily fantasy sports contests are already legal and well established in Ohio, and have been offered since 2018.
When will I be able to bet on sports in Ohio?
The full launch of legal sports betting in Ohio is guaranteed to come by January 1, 2023, meaning this is the latest date when the new industry will launch. However, this date is a deadline rather than an anticipated date.
While no updated timeline guidance has been issued since introducing the January 2023 deadline, many other states have tried to coordinate the launch of their legal sports betting markets to the NFL kickoff.
With so much time between April license applications and the new NFL season, there is hope for sports bettors that the market will be at least partially alive by then.
Can I play FanDuel and DraftKings in Ohio?
Yes, fantasy sports are completely legal and well regulated in Ohio. They were first formally made legal in 2018, and have been under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Casino Control Commission ever since.
This means that you are free to play daily fantasy sports contests on market leading sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings in Ohio. With both sites also active in online sports betting, players should anticipate those services being added when the regulations are finalized by the January 2023 deadline.
Can I bet on college sports in Ohio?
While the specifics of the regulations which will govern legal sports betting in Ohio are still being finalized, it has been confirmed that players will be able to place wagers on college sports. This means that fans will be able to bet on the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes when sports gambling becomes fully legal by January 2023.
This was confirmed by Ohio Casino Commission executive director Matt Schuler when the bills legalizing sports betting were signed in December 2021.
Can I bet on the NFL in Ohio?
The success of Ohio’s Cincinnati Bengals has been a big influence on the timeline for bringing sports betting to Ohio. Tax revenue is a huge state-wide benefit of legal sports betting, and the Ohio state legislature are aware of what they missed out on during the Bengals fantastic run to Super Bowl LVI.
While no update on the timeline for introducing sports betting to Ohio has been given since the 1st January 2023 deadline, there is hope that the Buckeye State will follow others examples and get licensing in place in time for the 2022 NFL season.
Most likely Ohio sports betting sites
- BetMGM – Trusted online sportsbooks
- FanDuel – Top tier value
- DraftKings – Insightful statistical analysis
- Caesars – Amazing promotions and rewards
- Fubo – Personalised betting experience
5. Fubo
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Fubo have signed a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers to be their official mobile sports betting partner. With licenses set aside for professional sports teams affiliates, this should mean that Fubo will become one of the first legal online sportsbooks available in Ohio.
What makes Fubo stand out is their range and depth of inplay and live betting options. The service is optimized to partner Fubo TV and other live sport, but still has a full catalogue of domestic and international support for those who prefer to place their bets before the action begins.
Fubo are one of the newer online sportsbooks on the market, and currently only operate in Iowa and Arizona. However, Ohio residents should soon also be able to join in on Fubo’s exciting in-play action.
4. Caesars
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
The Caesars name is one of the most well known and respected in the world of gambling, and will likely be a forerunner for the Ohio market. The sportsbook is already among one of the most popular in the country in and operates in 11 states where online sports betting is already legal.
As should be expected from a company whose background is in hospitality, Caesars are experts at looking after their players. They have one of the most generous promotions and bonus offerings available, with enough variety to suit every player.
The Caesars sportsbook offers a full range of domestic and international sports to bet on, with a deep selection of lines for each event. They also have a thorough One Game Parlay tool, along with daily selections of boosted lines and special bets on offer.
3. DraftKings
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Players in Maryland can already access DraftKings to play in one day fantasy contests. Thanks to this track history of offering legal online sports gaming in the Buckeye State, DraftKings will surely be at the front of the line when it comes to offering sports betting too.
When players get access to DraftKings leading sportsbook they’ll find one which offers everything a stat based bettor could ever want. Each game has a special tab giving the statistical breakdown of the action, while the site also publishes daily analysis offering picks and predictions.
2. FanDuel
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
FanDuel are another daily fantasy site who currently offer their services to Ohio residents. Like other legal fantasy sports sites, they would be expected to also enter the online sports betting market when licenses begin to be assigned in April 2022.
Players on FanDuel around the national already find some of the best value lines on FanDuel. When comparing the same line from all of the sportsbooks available in states where online sports betting is already legal, the best returns are often found on FanDuel.
1. BetMGM
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
BetMGM have quickly established themself as the leading online sportsbook in the United States. They operate in 19 states where online sports betting has already been legalized, and it is easy to see why they are so popular with players.
The BetMGM sportsbook has a complete range of both domestic and international sporting events to bet on, with a deep selection of lines available on each event. The good design and layout make it easy for players to find each bet they want, and the excellent One Game Parlay builder makes it simple to back multiple lines on the same game.
There is also a generous range of promotions and bonuses on offer, along with a daily selection of Lion’s Boost bets which offer enhanced returns.
Is Retail sports betting legal in Ohio?
There are currently no retail sports betting locations in Ohio, however this will soon change. A lot of the work currently being undertaken by the Ohio Casino Control Commission is the process of assigning the new licenses.
There are 40 retail licenses to be distributed alongside the 25 mobile ones. There are also a theoretically unlimited amount of kiosk licenses available which any business with a liquor license…
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