Ohio only recently began legislating any form of online gambling. Prior to 2023, Ohio online gambling was entirely unregulated. That will change in the near future for mobile sports betting, but Ohio online casinos and poker sites will continue to be unregulated
That means most Ohio online gambling will take place in offshore online casinos and cardrooms. If you want to bet on the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, or Ohio State Buckeyes, you can do so in a licensed online sportsbook. Otherwise, you’ll want to bet at offshore online gambling sites.
Keep reading for our guide to Ohio online gambling laws. We provide a timeline of gambling in Ohio, plus a preview of the future of OH online gambling. Finally, we answer a few frequently asked questions about Ohio gambling laws.
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Ohio Gambling History and Timeline
Ohio has a history of adapting its gambling laws to meet the demands of its residents. In 1933, the legalization of horse race betting marked the beginning of Ohio’s affinity for sports and gambling. However, until 2009, casinos remained prohibited in the state, prompting gamblers to venture to neighboring US states with established casino industries, such as Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan.
Here is a comprehensive timeline highlighting the evolution of gambling in Ohio:
- 1933: The Ohio General Assembly grants approval for horse race betting. Pari-mutuel wagering in Ohio is now 90 years old.
- 1980: Ohio voters agreed to the establishment of the Ohio Lotto Commission.
- 1980: The Ohio Legislature rejected a bill that would legalize land-based casino gambling.
- 1990: A referendum on the Ohio land-based casinos passed the legislature. In a statewide vote, Ohio residents opposed the legalization of casino gambling.
- 1996: Ohio voters again rejected legalized riverboat gambling in a statewide vote.
- 2009: Land-based casino gambling finally gained authorization. The gaming commission granted licenses for casinos in four Ohio cities.
- 2011: Ohio racetracks receive authorization for video lottery terminals. As Ohio recovered from the Great Recession, lawmakers hoped VLTs would help the flagging Ohio horse racing industry.
- 2012: The first casino in Ohio opens in Cleveland in May. Originally called the Horseshoe Casino, it became Jack Casino Cleveland after an ownership change.
- 2023: Mike DeWine signed House Bill 29, which would legalize sports betting in Ohio. The bill involved retail sports betting, along with sports betting apps.
- 2023: HB 29 does not regulate online casinos or cardrooms. If you wish to gamble online at casino games or poker, you’ll need to sign up at an offshore casino site or poker room.
- 2024: Once sports betting operators are fully licensed and launch operations, the bill will allow retail sportsbooks in casinos and racinos, but also with pro sports teams throughout the Buckeye State and in the Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Bars that have Keno machines also might have sports betting kiosks.
The Best Ohio Online Casino Sites List 2023
| Ohio Online Casino | Best Feature |
| MyBookie Casino | Best Combination Online Casino and Sportsbook |
| Big Spin Casino | The Best for Online Casino Table Games and Live Dealer Games |
| XBet Casino | Solid Combination of Casino Games, Sports Bets, and Live Casino Games |
My Bookie Casino
Is you want real money online casino gambling in Arizona, then MyBookie Casino is one of the best choices you can make. MyBookie has made a sterling reputation for itself since it launched in 2017, offering casino games, live dealer games, and sports bets. Whichever betting options you prefer, you’ll find a full range of gambling games.
MyBookie’s welcome bonus gives players a 150% match offer up to $750. Make a $500 deposit to max out the offer, then clear the 40x rollover requirement. If you prefer, you can accept a 10%, $200 first deposit cash bonus with a 1x rollover requirement. Casino players receive 50 free spins offer on deposits over $50 on Wednesday and a Weekend Casino Bonus of 200% up to $500 on deposits over $100.
MyBookie Sportsbook
Sports bettors receive a $1000 welcome bonus plus a $10 casino chip, a 50% sports welcome bonus, a 25% sports reload bonus, and an 8% horse rebate. When you consider sports betting, MyBookie features a full list of NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB bets. Wager on sports futures like the Masters, The Stanley Cup Playoffs, or NBA Championship odds. Bet on the Enlight Premier League, PGA Tour odds, the Super Bowl, and March Madness.
If you prefer, choose wagers on eSports, volleyball, golf, boxing, and MMA. Wager on less well-known sports, such as Snooker, Lacrosse, Table Tennis, and Futsal. Use the props builder tool to make betting easy, or visit the Live Betting page for the latest in-play bets and micro-bets.
What We Like:
- $1000 Welcome Bonus + $10 Free Chip
- Combines Casino Games, Live Dealer, Sports Bets
- Hundreds of Online Slots and Table Games
- 33 Sports Betting Sections with a Props Builder Tool
- Live Dealer Games with High Limits
- 17 Deposit Methods
What We Don’t Like:
- No Bank Wire Transfers for Withdrawals
- Would Like More Daily Bonuses
Big Spin Casino
If you want a site a specialty gambling site that focuses only on casino games, Big Spin Casino is an option. Big Spin Casino features hundreds of online slots, but it also has so much more than that. The social games section also features several Keno variants, plus a large list of online scratch cards. Meanwhile, you can enjoy 64 different table games ranging from a dozen blackjack games to VIP European Roulette. Enjoy craps, baccarat, several types of roulette, and Casino Hold’em. Play less well-known games like 6Up Pocket Poker, Casino Solitaire, Ride’m Poker, Bonus Texas Hold’em, Blackjack 11, and Oasis Poker.
Big Spin Live Casino
The live dealer casino has all of the games you’d expect in an American live casino: Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Super 6, Live American Roulette, and Live European Roulette. The live blackjack games have bet limits between $10 and $2500, so you should find a game that appeals to you. Early Payout Blackjack is an option, though we wouldn’t recommend it. Live Roulette has betting options between 50 cents a spin and $12,000 a spin, so the bet range is huge.
Big Spin Casino features a 200% signup bonus up to $1000, a 100% reload bonus up to $1000, and a 250% Weekend Reload Bonus up to $2000. It’s rare to find a reload bonus that’s better than the first deposit offer, so pay special attention to the Weekend Reload Bonus. Because it’s redeemable many times (once a week), it’s the most lucrative bonus at Big Spin Casino. If you don’t make sports bets, Big Spin Casino is a great gambling site option.
What We Like:
- 200% Welcome Bonus up to $1000
- 250%, $2000 Weekend Reload Bonus
- Over 60 Table Games with Much Variety
- Hundreds of Online Slots from RTG
- Visa, MasterCard, and 4 Crypto Payment Methods
- Live Casino Games for Penny Players and High Rollers Alike
What We Don’t Like:
- No Sportsbook
XBet Casino
XBet Casino is comparable to MyBookie Casino, though we place it here because its bonus is less lucrative. When it comes to casino games, XBet has everything you would want: hundreds of slots, table games, and video poker games. It has live dealer games, social games, 3D slots, and tournaments.
XBet Casino Live has huge bet limits. Live Blackjack’s min and max bets are a more standard $10 to $2,500, while the Live Roulette games range from 50 cents a spin to $12,500 a spin. Enjoy Live Blackjack, Baccarat, Super 6, American Roulette, and European Roulette.
One thing that sets XBet apart is its online sportsbook. Bet on any sporting event that Americans find important, including NFL games, MLB, NBA, NHL, UFC, NCAA games like CFF and CFB, and NASCAR. Make a wide range of bets on the Phoenix Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, or Arizona Rattlers.
What We Like:
- 100%, $1000 Welcome Bonus
- 50%, $500 Reload Bonus
- Hundreds of RTG Slots
- 3D Slots, Tournaments, and Social Games
- Sportsbook’s Live Betting Platform is Excellent
- 10 Different Crypto Deposit Methods
What We Don’t Like:
- 50x Rollover on Welcome Bonus
Ohio Online Casino FAQ
Are any sports bets prohibited under Ohio’s sports betting laws?
Yes, certain prop bets are illegal in Ohio. This includes the coin flips and which players might be injured during a game. It also involves Gatorade dumps on winning coaches, as well as statistics that involve the actions of coaches, officials, or referees (timeouts, penalties). In essence, if an official could be paid off to throw a bet, then it is illegal in Ohio.
Events that involve primary or secondary schools are off-limits. So are sporting events where 50% or more of the athletes are under the age of 18. Again, this bars betting on high school sports, but allows bets on college sports. Also, bettors cannot wager on pre-recorded events.
When I make sports bets online in Ohio, who sets the odds?
Sports gaming service providers produce the odds. Since Ohio has so many gaming operators, Ohio sports bettors should be able to shop for the best odds. If you play at MyBookie or XBet, the oddsmaker at the sportsbook will set the line.
If the betting public bets on one side enough, the oddsmaker might move the line to compensate. Keep an eye on changing odds throughout the week. Learn why the line moved an analyze whether you should bet against the betting public since they usually don’t know more than the oddsmaker.
Do odds locks when I make a sports bet in Ohio?
While the odds change for new bettors through the run-up to the game, the odds lock once you make a bet. If you bet on the Cincinnati Bengals to win Super Bowl 58 at +900, then you’ll receive a 9-to-1 payout if the Bengals win the next Super Bowl. This might be different for longtime Ohio racebook bettors, where odds change up until the running of the race.
What are the best online casinos for Ohio gamblers?
Our pick is MyBookie Casino, which offers a full range of online casino games, live dealer games, and the ability to make sports bets. If you want a straightforward online casino, try Big Spin Casino. It has all the casino games and live casino games you want, plus a slightly bigger welcome bonus for casino players. XBet Casino is another great option. It offers casino games and sports bets, though its welcome bonus is smaller than MyBookie’s bonus offer.
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