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Online Sportsbooks in Ohio

By American.Bet TeamUpdated Nov 3, 2026Legal online since Jan 202321+
Ohio sports betting sites: hockey players chasing the puck on the ice, framed by an outline map of Ohio

Ohio went from launch to one of the biggest betting markets in the country in three seasons. Here are the licensed Ohio sportsbooks, how the state’s 20% tax and college prop ban work, and what to check before you bet.

Ohio only flipped the switch on sports betting in January 2023, and it has already grown into one of the biggest markets in the country. Ohioans wagered $658.9 million in June 2026 alone, a quiet month in the sports calendar, and the state collected $13.8 million in tax on it, per the Ohio Casino Control Commission. On a big football weekend, with the Bengals and Browns playing on Sunday and Ohio State filling the Horseshoe the day before, monthly handle routinely pushes far higher.

The market is run by the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), the age is 21, and the overwhelming majority of betting happens on a phone. One thing worth knowing: Ohio doubled its tax on operators from 10% to 20% in mid-2023, and Gov. Mike DeWine, who has publicly questioned prop betting after a run of player-harassment and integrity stories, pushed to take it higher still. For now it sits at 20%.

None of our sportsbook partners currently operate in Ohio, so this page is an editorial guide to the licensed field rather than a list of offers.

Ohio sports betting: the basics
Online betting Yes, statewide via mobile apps
Retail betting Yes, at casinos, racinos, pro venues and kiosks in bars
Legal age 21+
Regulator Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC)
Law HB 29, signed December 2021
Launch January 1, 2023
Remote registration Yes; you must be in Ohio to bet
Betting on in-state college teams Team markets yes; player props on college athletes no
Online casinos Not legal
Tax on operator revenue 20% of taxable revenue

Yes. Gov. Mike DeWine signed HB 29 in December 2021, and Ohio launched online, retail and kiosk betting together on January 1, 2023, with more than a dozen sportsbooks going live on day one. The OCCC licenses three tiers: online sportsbooks (Type A), retail sportsbooks at casinos, racinos and pro sports venues (Type B), and self-service kiosks in bars, restaurants and other businesses (Type C).

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 have been banned since early 2024, after DeWine asked regulators to act on harassment of student-athletes.

Who operates Ohio sportsbooks

Ohio has one of the deepest fields in the country. These were the six biggest online books by handle in June 2026, per the OCCC:

Sportsbook June 2026 handle June 2026 revenue Mobile app
DraftKings $213.7M $22.2M iOS and Android
FanDuel $203.1M $23.9M iOS and Android
bet365 $78.4M $6.5M iOS and Android
Fanatics Sportsbook $44.1M $3.7M iOS and Android
BetMGM $43.2M $4.7M iOS and Android
Caesars Sportsbook $20.7M $2.1M iOS and Android

Behind them sit BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet, theScore Bet and a handful of smaller books. Some editorial notes:

  • DraftKings and FanDuel took more than 60% of all Ohio handle between them in June 2026.
  • bet365 is the Cleveland Guardians’ betting partner and a strong choice for in-play markets.
  • Fanatics pays rewards in FanCash, redeemable for merchandise.
  • BetMGM and Caesars lean on their casino loyalty programs, MGM Rewards and Caesars Rewards, which tie into MGM Northfield Park and Caesars-branded properties.
  • BetRivers runs the iRush Rewards scheme and has links to Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
  • theScore Bet is Penn Entertainment’s book. ESPN Bet was rebranded as theScore Bet in late 2025, and Penn runs Hollywood Casino Columbus and Toledo.

Welcome offers at these books change often and vary by state; check each operator’s own terms page.

How Ohio sports betting works

Every Ohio sportsbook is licensed by the OCCC and uses geolocation to confirm you are inside Ohio before each bet. You can open and fund an Ohio account from anywhere, but you must be within state lines to place a wager, and you must be 21 or older.

Ohio is also unusual in its physical footprint. Beyond the apps, there are retail sportsbooks at the state’s casinos and racinos and at pro venues, plus hundreds of self-service kiosks at bars and businesses. That kiosk network gives Ohio one of the widest physical betting footprints in the country, even though the apps take the overwhelming majority of the money.

What you can bet on in Ohio

Ohio sportsbooks cover every major US and international league: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, soccer, tennis, golf, MMA and motorsport, with moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, same-game parlays, futures, player props and live in-play markets.

Betting on Ohio teams

Ohio’s sports culture drives heavy local action: the Browns at Huntington Bank Field and the Bengals at Paycor Stadium in the NFL, the Cavaliers at Rocket Arena, the Guardians at Progressive Field and the Reds at Great American Ball Park, the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, and MLS sides Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati. College followings for Ohio State at Ohio Stadium and for Cincinnati are huge. 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

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. 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.

Local and global events to bet on in Ohio

Then there is the national calendar: Ohio handle spikes for the Super Bowl and March Madness, and the NBA Finals, World Series, golf majors and Grand Slams all draw steady action. Ohio’s horse racing, from Thistledown to the Little Brown Jug, is a separate pari-mutuel product covered in our Ohio horse racing guide.

Taxes, deposits and payouts in Ohio

Ohio doubled its sports betting tax from 10% to 20% in July 2023, just six months after launch. DeWine pushed to double it again to 40% in 2025, and a separate bill proposed an extra 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 the Sports Gaming Profits Education Fund supporting K-12 schools, with a share for problem gambling services.

For bettors, winnings are taxable income on your federal and Ohio returns, and many Ohio cities levy municipal income tax on them as well. Larger wins can trigger a W-2G, and from the 2026 tax year the federal loss deduction is capped at 90% of losses.

Licensed Ohio apps take online banking, debit cards, PayPal and operator-branded options, and many let you deposit or withdraw cash at a partner casino or racino cage. PayPal and online banking usually clear winnings fastest once your identity is verified.

Ohio betting apps

How to find the best betting site in Ohio

With this many books, line-shopping pays. A half-point better on a Browns spread beats almost any sign-up bonus over a season, so compare the odds on the markets you bet most. Then weigh the things you feel every week: how stable the app is on a busy Sunday, how quickly withdrawals land, and whether a bonus’s wagering terms are actually clearable.

Choosing between Ohio books

The big two win on app polish and depth of same-game parlays; bet365 on live betting; BetMGM and Caesars on loyalty perks that carry over to their Ohio casino and racino properties. Keeping two or three accounts lets you take the best price on any given game.

How to check whether an Ohio sportsbook is legal

A licensed Ohio book shows its OCCC approval in the app or site footer, verifies you’re 21 or older, and runs a geolocation check before each bet. Offshore sites that skip ID checks or take crypto only aren’t regulated in Ohio, and you’d have no protection if a payout went wrong.

Responsible gambling in Ohio

Every licensed Ohio operator offers deposit, wager and time limits plus cool-off and self-exclusion tools, and Ohio runs a statewide Time Out Ohio voluntary exclusion program. Set limits when you open the account rather than after a rough night. The Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-589-9966, free and confidential, and 1-800-GAMBLER is available around the clock too.

Ohio Casino Control CommissionOhio Problem Gambling Helpline (Before You Bet)Ohio Department of TaxationGambleAware.org

Ohio sports betting in 2027

Tax pressure from Columbus

The 20% rate survived a 2025 push for 40%. The next state budget debate is the moment to watch for another attempt to raise it or add a handle tax.

Kalshi after the Sixth Circuit

In September 2026, the Sixth Circuit ruled that Ohio can enforce its gambling laws against Kalshi’s sports contracts. Expect the OCCC to press its case while New Jersey’s Supreme Court petition is pending.

Online casino stays on hold

HB 298, which would have legalized online casinos and regulated sweepstakes, was paused in January 2026. Any new iGaming bill would likely come in a narrower form.

What is the best sportsbook in Ohio?

DraftKings and FanDuel win on app polish and same-game parlays, bet365 on live betting, and BetMGM and Caesars on loyalty perks that carry over to their Ohio casino and racino properties. Keeping two or three accounts lets you take the best price on Browns, Bengals and Buckeyes games.

How many sportsbooks are legal in Ohio?

Ohio has one of the deepest fields in the US, led by DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, Fanatics, BetMGM and Caesars, with BetRivers, Hard Rock Bet, theScore Bet and smaller books behind them.

What's the tax on Ohio sports betting?

20% of operator revenue, doubled from 10% in July 2023. Bettors pay ordinary income tax on winnings, plus city tax in many municipalities.

Can I bet on Ohio State games?

Yes, on game and team markets such as spreads, totals and moneylines. Ohio bans player props on college athletes.

Is FanDuel legal in Ohio?

Yes. FanDuel has been licensed since Ohio’s January 1, 2023 launch and was the second-largest book by handle in June 2026.

Do I have to live in Ohio to bet?

No. You only need to be physically inside Ohio when you place a bet, confirmed by geolocation.

What's the minimum age to bet in Ohio?

21, online, at retail sportsbooks and at kiosks.

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