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. Sportsbooks here booked a record $1.05 billion in revenue in 2025 — up nearly 16% on the year before — and handed the state $209 million in tax. On a good NFL Sunday, with the Bengals and Browns both playing and Ohio State filling the Horseshoe the day before, Ohio routinely sees more than a billion dollars wagered in a single month.
The market is run by the Ohio Casino Control Commission, the age is 21, and roughly 98% of all betting happens on a phone. One thing worth knowing: Ohio doubled its tax on operators from 10% to 20% in mid-2023, and Governor DeWine — who has publicly questioned the whole experiment after a run of player-harassment and integrity stories — has floated taking it higher still. For now it sits at 20%, with the money going to K-12 schools and a problem-gambling fund.
Best Ohio sportsbooks we recommend
All four of the books we work with are live in Ohio, which makes it one of the better states for choice among our partners. You’ll need to be 21+ and inside Ohio to claim any of these.
| Ohio sportsbook | Welcome offer | Code |
|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Bet $10, get $365 in bonus bets | USB365 |
| FanDuel | Bet $5, get bonus bets if your bet wins | No code |
| BetRivers | $250 second-chance bet (1x play-through) | USBTRV |
| Hard Rock Bet | Bet $5, get $150 if your first bet wins | No code |
bet365
bet365 is the live-betting specialist, and it had a strong 2025 in Ohio — north of $75 million in handle in December alone. If you like betting games as they happen, its in-play markets and cash-out are the deepest of our four, and it streams selected events inside the app. New customers get Bet $10, Get $365 in bonus bets.
FanDuel
FanDuel and DraftKings have run 1-2 in Ohio since launch — in December 2025 FanDuel out-earned DraftKings on slightly lower handle, a sign of how sharp its pricing is. For most Ohio bettors it’s the default app, strong on Bengals and Buckeyes same-game parlays. The welcome deal is Bet $5, get bonus bets if your wager wins, no code.
BetRivers
BetRivers is the one to use if you hate rollover. Its $250 second-chance bet only needs a 1x play-through before you can withdraw, against the 25x you’ll see elsewhere, and iRush Rewards quietly racks up value if you bet the Cavs and Guardians regularly.
Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet leans on its casino heritage — the widest set of markets and jackpot-style features of our four — and its Hard Rock Rewards points carry across betting and casino play. New Ohio players get Bet $5, Get $150 in bonus bets if their first bet wins.
Which Ohio sportsbook is best for whom
There’s no single best sportsbook in Ohio — the right one depends on how you bet. Here’s the quick version:
| Best for | Ohio sportsbook | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best for live & in-play betting | bet365 | the deepest in-play markets and streaming on selected events |
| Best app & same-game parlays | FanDuel | the most-used US app, sharp pricing and the best SGP builder |
| Best bonus terms | BetRivers | a $250 second-chance bet at just 1x play-through, plus iRush Rewards |
| Best casino crossover | Hard Rock Bet | the widest game library, jackpots and shared casino rewards |
| Best all-round promos | DraftKings | the biggest app and the busiest promo calendar |
| Best loyalty perks | BetMGM | MGM Rewards shared across casinos and sportsbook |
The other licensed Ohio sportsbooks
Ohio licensed 16 online operators, so beyond our partners you’ve got plenty of choice. We don’t link to or rate these, but here’s the shorthand:
- DraftKings — co-leader with FanDuel; biggest all-round app and promo calendar.
- BetMGM — best if you collect MGM Rewards.
- Caesars — wide coverage and Caesars Rewards.
- Fanatics — FanCash rewards, growing share.
Choosing between Ohio books
Ohio is competitive enough that the line you get matters more than the brand. A useful habit: open the bet you want on two or three apps and take the best number. bet365 and FanDuel will often differ by half a point on a Bengals spread, and over a season those half-points are where the value is. Bonus terms are the tiebreaker — BetRivers’ 1x is the easiest to clear of any book here.
Ohio betting apps and what you can bet on
Every Ohio book has iOS and Android apps with geolocation; you can fund an account anywhere but must be in Ohio to bet. You’ll find all the major leagues plus heavy college coverage — unavoidable in a state this obsessed with Ohio State football — across moneylines, spreads, totals, parlays, same-game parlays, props and live betting.
How to find the best betting site in Ohio
Finding the best betting site in Ohio is less about one winner and more about matching a book to how you play. Start with price: a half-point better on a Ohio 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, how quickly Ohio withdrawals land, and whether a bonus’s wagering terms are actually clearable. Keeping two Ohio accounts so you can shop the line is the single habit that pays off most.
Local and global events to bet on in Ohio
Locally, Ohio betting tends to revolve around the Bengals, Browns, Guardians, Cavaliers and Ohio State. Beyond the home interest, Ohio bettors get every blue-riband event on the calendar — the Super Bowl, March Madness, the NBA Finals, the World Series, the golf majors and the tennis Grand Slams. The headline act for 2026 is the FIFA World Cup, co-hosted across North America and likely to draw record wagering from Ohio as it runs.
All Ohio sportsbook apps
Every legal Ohio betting app, with a direct link to each. The Ohio books we partner with show our current bonus; the rest are listed for reference.
- bet365 OH — visit sportsbook: bet365.com — Bet $5, get bonus bets — code USB365
- FanDuel OH — visit sportsbook: sportsbook.fanduel.com — Bet $5, get bonus bets if your bet wins
- BetRivers OH — visit sportsbook: betrivers.com — Second-chance bet — code USBTRV
- Hard Rock Bet OH — visit sportsbook: hardrock.bet — Bet $5, get bonus bets if your bet wins
- DraftKings OH — visit sportsbook: sportsbook.draftkings.com
- BetMGM OH — visit sportsbook: sports.betmgm.com
- Caesars OH — visit sportsbook: caesars.com/sportsbook
- Fanatics OH — visit sportsbook: sportsbook.fanatics.com
Ohio sportsbooks FAQ
What’s the best sportsbook in Ohio?
FanDuel and bet365 trade blows at the top — FanDuel for app and pricing, bet365 for live betting — with BetRivers the value play. Most Ohio bettors keep at least two.
How many sportsbooks are legal in Ohio?
Ohio has licensed 16 online operators, one of the most crowded fields in the country.
What’s the tax on Ohio sports betting?
20% of operator revenue, doubled from 10% in 2023; the governor has floated raising it again. It’s a tax on the books, not on your winnings.
When did Ohio sports betting launch?
1 January 2023, and it hit a record billion-dollar revenue year in 2025.
What’s the minimum age to bet in Ohio?
21, online and at retail.
How to check whether a Ohio sportsbook is legal
Before you deposit, confirm a Ohio sportsbook is the real thing. A licensed Ohio book shows its approval from the Ohio Casino Control Commission in the app or site footer, makes you verify that you’re 21 or older, and runs a geolocation check to confirm you’re physically in Ohio before each bet. If a site takes crypto only, claims you need ‘no ID’, or is licensed offshore, it isn’t regulated in Ohio — and you’d have no protection if a payout went wrong. Every Ohio book we list above clears that bar.
Is it safe, and betting responsibly in Ohio
Licensed Ohio books protect your funds and offer deposit, time and self-exclusion limits. If it stops being fun, the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline runs 24/7 at 1-800-589-9966, and 1-800-GAMBLER also connects you to help.