Ohio

Sports betting went live in Ohio on January 1, 2023, and since then, it has become one of the biggest sports betting markets in the country. There are 14 mobile sportsbooks available, along with a nice range of retail betting locations.

Ohio has one of the biggest college sports programs in the country, with Ohio State and plenty of other well-known universities. Under the state’s sports betting bill, residents can legally wager on these teams. Residents can also legally download and use DFS apps like Underdog to participate in college or pro sports contests.

While betting on politics remains illegal in the state, the ability to wager on eSports is available across most mobile sports betting apps in OH. Outside of sports betting, residents can also legally bet on horse racing in person or on a mobile racebook.

Online sports betting in The Buckeye State

Discussions surrounding legalized sports betting in Ohio started in 2019 when two separate bills, H 194 and S 111, were introduced. The Senate bill was supported by Governor Mike DeWine, who was the final piece of the puzzle regarding getting legislation signed.

It wasn’t until 2021 that the state had genuine momentum with a bill. Senator Kirk Schuring decided to try his hand at creating a sports betting bill in SB 176. While this bill would hit a roadblock when it made it to the House, Schuring called an audible and created HB 29, which is primarily an extension of SB 176. This plan worked, and while some of the bill's specifics were changed, HB 29 was signed by Governor DeWine in December 2021.

While some states launch retail and online sports betting on separate days, Ohio came out swinging, with both launching on January 1, 2023. Once Governor Mike DeWine signed HB 29 into law in December 2021, the state used 2022 to solidify the rules for sports betting and hand out licenses to operators.

By starting the licensing process early on, Ohio was able to have 15 mobile sportsbooks available for their residents on launch day. After one full year of legalized sports betting, 14 sportsbooks are still available in Ohio, and more are expected to join the market in 2025. Most of these sportsbooks have partnered with organizations with Type A betting licenses, including casinos and professional sports teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Technically, all organizations with a Type A license could also apply for the option to partner with a second online skin, which, if approved, would only expand the vast mobile sports betting market.

All legal OH sports betting apps in 2025 (from newest to oldest):

Recently closed online sportsbooks

Sports betting & gambling legislation in OH

Plenty of mobile sports betting apps operate legally in Ohio, but bettors must verify that they are at least 21 years old to create an account on one. Additionally, while remote registration is an option, customers must ensure they are inside state lines to place a legal wager. Most apps will use geolocation software to ensure that is the case.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission enforces all rules and regulations for bettors and operators. While the laws and regulations in the state are simple, the way taxes work for gambling can be a bit complicated. A bettors' tax rate is based on their income, and while gambling winnings are technically “other income,” they are added to an individual's total income. The tax rate scale starts at 2.85% and goes up to 4.79%.

While the sports betting market is wide open in Ohio, a few gambling markets remain illegal. Right now, online casinos and online poker are off-limits to bettors in the state, leaving the state lottery as the only other gambling product on the market.

Chili and wagers: How Cincinnati’s food rivalry could spice up sports Betting

Ohio residents are somewhat divided when it comes to Cincinnati-style chili and its popularity, as some see it as a work of art filled with deep tradition, while others think spaghetti drowned in chili sauce is a tried and true abomination. This discourse has not only fueled debates for decades, but it could become the next food-eating competition betting market. 

Sportsbooks love nice regional wagers, and Cincinnati’s chili obsession presents an opportunity. Betting on a Skyline vs. Gold Star chili-eating contest, with odds on who finishes the most coneys in five minutes, could give them the next “Nathan’s Hog Dog Eating Contest” type market. 

The question becomes whether Ohio bettors would embrace chili-themed betting markets or if they would rather stick to betting on the Reds. It may sound ridiculous, but as novelty props grow in popularity across the country, Ohio could be sitting on a potential gold mine.

Most recent updates from the OH sports betting scene

• April 15, 2025: The Cleveland Cavaliers secured the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference and are (+210) to win the conference prior to knowing their first-round opponent.

• April 14, 2025: Ohio's proposed plan to double the sports betting tax rate to 40% is removed from House Bill 96 after pushback from lawmakers and the industry. The House passed the amended bill 60-39 without the tax hike, leaving the issue unresolved as the budget heads to the Senate.

• April 9, 2025: Fanatics Sportsbook at Progressive Field closes just before its two-year mark, highlighting the ongoing decline of retail sportsbooks in Ohio. Despite its prime stadium location, the venue struggled to attract bettors as nearly all wagering in the state has shifted online since early 2023.

• March 13, 2025: Ohio orders Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com to stop offering sports-related event contracts, saying they qualify as unlicensed sports betting. The companies must confirm by April 14 that they've ceased these activities or face further action.

• March 19, 2025: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine pushes to double the state’s sports betting tax to 40%, aiming to raise $130 million for local sports facilities. While this could boost tax revenue, experts warn such a sharp hike might push bettors toward unregulated markets.

• March 4, 2025: As the MLB regular season creeps closer, the Cleveland Guardians are (+300) to win the AL Central and (+120) to make the MLB playoffs.

• February 25, 2025: Amid a three-game losing streak, Ohio State is now (+110) to reach the NCAA Tournament.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

Plenty of casinos operated in Ohio well before the state’s sports betting bill was passed. With Ohio's licensing system, plenty of smaller retail locations are scattered throughout the state.

In addition to small retail locations like bars or a casino like JACK Cleveland Casino, bettors can also find sportsbooks in their favorite pro sports teams' arenas or stadiums. The list below gives a better idea of where the major retail locations in the state are located.

Prime Sportsbook also plans to open a retail wagering spot in Geneva-on-the-Lake.

Ohio’s Lottery-run sports betting kiosks: Are they a game changer?

Ohio has taken a creative approach to sports betting by allowing state-run betting kiosks in bars, restaurants, and retail locations. This lottery-operated system provides a more accessible betting option for casual bettors who might not be comparing lines on mobile apps or taking time to visit a full-scale sportsbook. With kiosks available in hundreds of locations across the state, Ohio has successfully expanded its sports betting reach beyond casinos and online platforms.

The biggest advantage of this system is convenience—bettors can place bets while enjoying a beer and some pierogies at their local bar or while shopping at a convenience store. This setup also creates intriguing revenue opportunities for small businesses, as hosting a betting kiosk can increase foot traffic and create a group of “regulars”.

However, while kiosks provide basic betting options, they don’t offer the full range of wagers that mobile sportsbooks do. The limited betting markets and lower maximum wagers may prevent kiosks from going toe-to-toe with traditional online betting platforms.

Despite these limitations, Ohio’s lottery-run kiosks give the state a competitive edge by offering sports betting at everyday locations, making it one of the most accessible markets in the country. With prolonged success under this model, other states may follow Ohio’s lead.

Butter + Betting Apps: The Ultimate Ohio State Fair Crossover

Butter sculptures have become a defining aspect of the Ohio State Fair. It is a bizarre, beloved tradition featuring everything from astronauts to livestock carved in churned glory. With the competition aspect already in play, these butter artists could become the next group of “athletes” to be wagered on. 

A Butter Sculpture Draft novelty prop pool where players bet on this year’s theme could draw a lot of interest from frequent visitors of the state fair. Will it be Brutus Buckeye in full game-day form? Or a melting tribute to the Cleveland Browns’ Dawg Pound? 

Players taking advantage of these markets could score points for correct predictions and even place over/under on sculpture height. Not only would this market help bring more attention to state fairs, but the large range of mobile betting apps in the state also means it is more likely to be considered as a novelty market.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Ohio is surrounded by like-minded states when it comes to sports betting, as all five neighboring states offer legalized sports wagering.

Kentucky was the most recent of the five states to launch sports betting. To find out more about its betting landscape, click on the state name in the info box.

Sports betting revenue impact on Ohio's economy

Sports betting licenses in Ohio are divided into three different types. The state has made 25 Type A licenses available, which are mostly for the state's casinos and professional sports teams. Under Type A licenses, each of these organizations can partner with one online skin. Now, Type B licenses are for physical sportsbooks in the state, and there are 40 of these licenses available.

Obtaining one of these licenses is partially based on the population of specific counties in the state. Finally, Type C licenses are for all locations with liquor licenses, like bars and restaurants. Any retailer that provides lottery tickets could also apply for a Type C license. The initial licensing fees vary based on which type of license, and regardless of whether it is retail or online, the tax rate in Ohio is 20%.

Ohio performed exceptionally well in its first full year of legalizing sports betting. In 2023, the sportsbooks in Buckeye State managed over $930 million in revenue from a total of around $7.6 billion placed wagers. These figures resulted in around $187 million in tax income for the state from that year alone. Regarding the 2024 calendar year, due to a subpar December revenue-wise, Ohio missed the previous year's total revenue and tax income figures by around 3%, even though the total betting handle grew almost 16% year-over-year.

This slight decrease doesn't, however, hinder the fact that Ohio truly has the potential to solidify itself as one of the top-earning states in the US sports betting landscape in 2025 and beyond.

Ohio sports betting record months:

• Sports betting handle: January 2023 ($1,090,962,383)

• Revenue: January 2023 ($209,588,460)

• Tax income: November 2024 ($23,408,925)

Latest OH sports betting revenue report breakdown (February 2025)

Reported by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

Direct link to the latest revenue report.

• Total betting handle: $760,882,725

  • Mobile betting handle: $748,399,580

  • Retail betting handle: $12,483,145

• Winnings paid to players: $680,586,528

  • Hold: 9.89%

  • Voided wagers: $5,018,667

  • Promotional betting credits: $26,796,762

• Gross revenue: $75,277,530

  • Adjusted (taxable) revenue: $75,611,015

• Tax revenue for the state (20% on adjusted revenue): $15,122,203

Top performing sportsbook apps in the state in February 2025:

1. DraftKings (Handle: $247.9m, Revenue: $23.4m)

2. FanDuel (Handle: $247.5m, Revenue: $36.5m)

3. Bet365 (Handle: $69.8m, Revenue: $6.3m)

4. BetMGM (Handle: $59.1m, Revenue: $2.2m)

5. Fanatics Sportsbook (Handle: $31.3m, Revenue: $2.6m)

6. Caesars Sportsbook (Handle: $30.8m, Revenue: $1.5m)

7. ESPN Bet (Handle: $30.5m, Revenue: $1.2m)

8. Hard Rock Bet (Handle: $14.3m, Revenue: $145,960)

9. BetJACK (Handle: $4.33m, Revenue: $301,498)

10. Prime Sportsbook (Handle: $4.29m, Revenue: $356,234)

11. BetRivers (Handle: $5.5m, Revenue: $279,651)

12. Bally Bet (Handle: $2.2m, Revenue: $138,479)

13. Betr (Handle: $606,618, Revenue: -$52,886)

14. MVGBet (Handle: $377,459, Revenue: $17,807)

The current OH online betting market shares - Feb. 2025

Comparison: Ohio online betting market shares for the full 2024 year

Recent revenue report data - Compared to the previous year (YoY)

OH sports betting revenue in 2025

All data from the Ohio Casino Control Commission's and Ohio Lottery's monthly reports are presented in the following table for the present year. These figures include the total handle, revenue, state tax income, and the change compared to the previous month's figures (percentage in brackets).

2024 revenue data

Yearly revenue totals

Amish buggy speed bets: A respectful twist on Ohio tradition

In the center of Ohio’s Amish country, where tradition reigns heavy over technology and life moves at a different pace, a new kind of novelty wager could emerge: Amish Buggy Speed Guessing Games. While rooted in light-heartedness and local charm, the idea would be executed with deep respect for the Amish culture, focusing on sanctioned buggy parades or community fairs where friendly competition already thrives.

Attendees could place wagers on how long it would take a horse-drawn buggy to complete a designated route or which buggy would win a head-to-head race. Timed events could be overseen by local officials using hand-stopwatches, staying consistent with the community’s values of minimal tech.

If legalized as a tourism-driven novelty market distinct from high-tech sports betting, these games could attract curious visitors and inject fresh revenue into local Amish communities. Assuming even 0.01% of Ohio’s massive $8+ billion annual betting handle were directed to events like this, it could mean $800,000 in new wagers annually and over $80,000 in tax revenue, all without disrupting Amish customs. This idea may be far-fetched, but at the end of the day, it could shine a positive light on Amish communities while also possibly helping their local businesses.

From stage to sportsbook: Why the Rock Hall is Ohio's untapped betting goldmine

Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony isn't just a pivotal cultural moment each year, but it's also an untapped revenue stream for Ohio's expanding betting market. By introducing novelty betting tied to this iconic event, the state could capture a new group of bettors that include music lovers. Prop markets such as "First inductee announced," "Final song performed," or "Most surprising collaboration" could drive seasonal micro-wagering.

Assuming just 0.05% of Ohio's average of $8+ billion annual betting handle stems from Rock Hall-related wagers, that's an estimated $4 million in additional handle. With Ohio's tax rate on sports betting at 10%, that equates to approximately $400,000 in new tax revenue generated from a single entertainment event. While the state already has a ton of sports fans with multiple pro franchises, they could tap into a whole new market of bettors who care more about '80s rock than the Browns.