Ohio runs one of the largest and most crowded sports betting markets in the country. When it launched on 1 January 2023, more than a dozen sportsbooks went live at once in one of the biggest single-day rollouts in US history, and the Buckeye State hasn’t slowed down since: 2025 was a record year, with sportsbooks generating more than $1 billion in revenue and paying over $200 million in tax. This guide covers what’s legal in Ohio, the rules that make it distinctive, and how to get started.
Is online gambling legal in Ohio?
Yes. Sports betting launched in Ohio on 1 January 2023, regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC). You must be 21 or older and physically located in Ohio to bet, confirmed by geolocation. Ohio allows betting on college team outcomes, but player-specific prop bets on college athletes are banned to protect student-athletes. Real-money online casino (iGaming) is not legal in Ohio, and efforts to legalize it stalled in 2025.
What you can play in Ohio
- Sportsbooks: mobile betting on every major sport from one of the deepest fields of operators in the US.
- Daily fantasy sports: legal in Ohio through DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
- Horse racing: pari-mutuel wagering for Ohio bettors via licensed ADW apps.
- Online casino: not legal — sweepstakes sites fill the gap (see below).
Online gambling in Ohio by the numbers
| Metric | Latest figure |
|---|---|
| Launched | 1 January 2023 (one of the biggest launches in US history) |
| Tax rate | 20% of revenue (doubled from 10% in July 2023) |
| 2025 revenue | Record >$1.045 billion taxable revenue |
| 2025 tax to the state | Over $200 million |
| Operators | Around 13–16 mobile sportsbooks (the most crowded market) |
| Online share | ~98% of all wagers |
| Online casino | Not legal |
| Minimum age | 21+ |
Online betting accounts for around 98% of Ohio’s handle, though the state is unusual in also offering retail sportsbooks at casinos and racinos plus hundreds of self-service kiosks at bars and businesses. That kiosk network is unusual — most states keep betting to apps and casino sportsbooks — and it gives Ohio one of the widest physical betting footprints in the country, even though the apps take the overwhelming majority of the money.
That mix of heavy participation and a 20% tax has made Ohio one of the most fiscally productive new betting markets in the country, and one of only four states — alongside New York, Illinois and New Jersey — to clear $1 billion in sports betting revenue in 2025. For bettors, the upside of all that operator competition is a deep choice of apps and consistently sharp, well-priced markets across the major leagues.
Ohio’s tax and rules
Ohio doubled its sports betting tax from 10% to 20% in July 2023, just six months after launch. Governor Mike DeWine pushed to double it again to 40% in 2025 and a separate bill proposed an extra 2% tax on total handle, but both were rejected and the rate held at 20%. The money is split between the state’s General Revenue Fund and a dedicated Sports Gaming Profits Education Fund supporting K–12 schools. Ohio has also leaned into player protection, with officials publicly questioning prop bets after athlete-harassment and integrity concerns — so the rules here can tighten faster than in most states.
The best Ohio sportsbooks
We only feature operators we work with and can verify, and all four of our sportsbook partners operate in Ohio: bet365 (the Cleveland Guardians’ betting partner, strong on live odds), FanDuel (best app and same-game parlays), Hard Rock Bet and BetRivers (iRush Rewards). They compete in one of the deepest operator fields anywhere, so shop around — the offers on this page show what’s live now.
See terms and codes on our promo codes page or the full Ohio sportsbook guide.
Betting on Ohio teams
Ohio’s sports culture drives heavy local action: the Browns and Bengals in the NFL, the Cavaliers, the Guardians and Reds, and the Blue Jackets, plus huge college followings for Ohio State and Cincinnati. You can bet on those teams to win, but remember Ohio bans player props on college athletes — so you won’t find markets on an individual Buckeye’s passing yards, only on game and team outcomes.
Popular bet types in Ohio
If you’re new, these are the wagers you’ll use most. A moneyline is a straight bet on who wins. A point spread bets the margin of victory, evening out a mismatch. A total (over/under) bets whether the combined score lands above or below a line. Parlays and same-game parlays combine several picks for a larger payout, but every leg must win. Player props cover individual performances — though in Ohio those are limited to professional athletes, since college player props are banned. Live (in-play) betting lets you wager after the action starts, with odds that shift in real time.
The NFL drives the most handle in Ohio, powered by the Browns and Bengals, but the NBA (Cavaliers), MLB (Guardians and Reds), NHL (Blue Jackets) and Ohio State’s college programs all pull heavy volume across the calendar, which is part of why Ohio so often clears $1 billion in monthly wagers during football season.
How to start betting in Ohio
Signing up in Ohio is quick — be 21+ and inside Ohio, pick a licensed Ohio sportsbook, and create an account with accurate information for verification. After opting into the Ohio promo and depositing, set your limits, place your first Ohio bet, and cash out whenever the offer’s Ohio conditions are satisfied.
Will Ohio legalize online casino?
Not yet. iGaming bills were floated in 2025 but stalled, and with the legislature already revisiting betting taxes and prop-bet rules, online casino isn’t a near-term certainty. In the meantime, sweepstakes casinos (Chumba, LuckyLand, Stake.us, McLuck) operate under a dual-currency model as the main online “casino-style” option — legal-grey-area sites we’d treat with caution. We’ll update this page if Ohio authorizes real-money iGaming.
For the full picture, see our Ohio online casino guide, which tracks whether and when real-money iGaming might reach Ohio.
Responsible gambling in Ohio
Betting in Ohio should stay entertainment, not a way to chase money or claw back losses. Every licensed Ohio operator hands you deposit, wager and time limits plus cool-off and self-exclusion tools, and the trick is to set them when you open the Ohio account rather than after a rough night. If it stops being fun, that is your cue to step away — and confidential help in Ohio is a free call or text to 1-800-GAMBLER, around the clock.
Ohio sports betting FAQ
1. Is online sports betting legal in Ohio?
Yes. Sports betting launched in Ohio on 1 January 2023, regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. You must be 21+ and physically in Ohio to bet.
2. Is online casino legal in Ohio?
No. Real-money online casino games are not legal in Ohio — only sports betting, DFS and horse racing. Legislative efforts to add iGaming stalled in 2025.
3. Can I bet on Ohio State and other college teams?
You can bet on college team outcomes (such as Ohio State to win), but Ohio bans player-specific prop bets on college athletes to protect student-athletes from harassment.
4. What is Ohio’s sports betting tax rate?
20% of operator revenue, doubled from 10% in July 2023. A 2025 push to raise it to 40% and a proposed 2% handle tax were both rejected. The money funds the state’s General Revenue Fund and K–12 education.
5. Which sportsbook is best in Ohio?
Ohio has one of the deepest fields in the US. bet365 (the Guardians’ partner) is strong on live betting, FanDuel on its app and parlays, and BetRivers on rewards — it pays to shop lines across books.
6. Do I have to live in Ohio to bet?
No — you just need to be physically inside Ohio when you place a bet, confirmed by geolocation. Your home address doesn’t matter.
7. Are prediction markets like Kalshi legal in Ohio?
Prediction markets such as Kalshi are open to Ohio residents because they count as federal financial contracts rather than Ohio sports betting. That keeps them national even where Ohio limits books, but it is genuinely unresolved — courts backed Kalshi against state regulators in 2026 and appeals continue. Ohio players should see them as a different, CFTC-governed product.
8. Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Ohio?
In Ohio, sweepstakes (“social”) casinos such as Chumba and Stake.us run on dual-currency mechanics that keep them outside Ohio gambling rules. The trade-off for Ohio players is fewer protections than a licensed sportsbook offers, and a status several states are now challenging, so approach them warily in Ohio.
9. Is daily fantasy sports (DFS) legal in Ohio?
Yes — daily fantasy sports operate in Ohio as a contest-based activity separate from Ohio sportsbook wagering. DraftKings and FanDuel lead the Ohio field, joined by pick’em apps PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
10. Can I bet on horse racing online in Ohio?
Yes — Ohio bettors can wager on horse racing via regulated ADW platforms like TVG (FanDuel Racing), TwinSpires and AmWager, a separate product from Ohio sports betting.
11. Where can I get help for a gambling problem in Ohio?
Help in Ohio is free, confidential and available 24/7 — call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or use the deposit limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion tools in every licensed Ohio app. Nobody in Ohio has to be in crisis to reach out.
21+. Must be physically located in Ohio. Gambling problem in Ohio? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.