Ohio Legal Sports Betting Updates

Latest Ohio Sports Betting Updates

Sports betting in the US has been on the rise since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in a landmark Supreme Court case that New Jersey won in 2018. While New Jersey and other states have taken full advantage of a state’s permission to legalize sports gambling within their borders, some states have been slow to the draw.

One of those is Ohio. However, state Senators Antani and Manning of Ohio have sponsored a bill to the Senate Committee May 6th, 2021 with hopes to push it through by June 30th, feeling the pressure of Ohio residents to get something done.

Is Sports Gambling Legal in Ohio?

As of now, sports betting in Ohio is completely legal. The state recently legalized sports betting and went live at the beginning of 2023.

It is important to note that DFS is currently legal and available in Ohio. Not only does this include salary cap fantasy games on FanDuel and DraftKings, but includes prop-style fantasy products like PrizePicks.

Ohio sports bettors should be extremely cautious with any illegal offshore sportsbook. No license means they not obligated to pay out winnings, and have even been known to freeze or delete player accounts without warning.

When Will Sports Gambling be Legal in Ohio?

Governor DeWine signed sports betting into law but the official launch date will not be until January 1, 2023. Though Ohio sports bettors are obviously disappointed, at least they'll be able to get some action down on the NFL Playoffs.

Like most states, the legal age to bet on sports in Ohio will be 21. The overall market for sports betting in Ohio could be as large as $12 billion. This would result in a huge amount of tax dollars for the state.

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to passing a bill like this and Ohioans have finally been able to compromise. Several parties were frustrated with the licensing process, or that offering 20 of each “Type A” and “Type B” licenses would not create a free and fair market.

Type A licensees can operate one website with an accompanying app.

Type B licensees can operate one retail sports betting facility. None of these facilities, however, can be at a casino or racing track.

Why the Sudden Push to Legalize Mobile Betting in Ohio?

If there is one thing every lawmaker loves, it is a positive balance sheet. With Michigan reporting nearly $15 million in tax revenue per month, Ohio legislatures are eager to get this done and put that added tax revenue to work.

Almost all of the states surrounding Ohio have legalized sports gambling themselves (Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana) and the Ohio state government knows that they are losing business to those that drive across state lines to place bets.

New York, another state slow to legalize sports gambling, has been moving very quickly to pass a bill once their neighboring state New Jersey had record breaking years in regards to how much money was bet. Ohio may show a similar response.

Status of Daily Fantasy Sports in Ohio

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) like DraftKings or FanDuels are legal in Ohio and have been as of 2018. It is currently run by the Ohio Casino Control Commission and will most likely remain under their supervision for the near future. The legalization of sports gambling as a whole in Ohio may complicate this, but it shouldn’t compromise the ability to use major DFS websites.

Popular Sports Teams to Bet on in Ohio

Ohio has one of the richest traditions of sports in America. The Ohio League was the predecessor to the NFL. Ohio is home to professional sports teams in every major league with all of the teams located in one of the three metropolitan areas: Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland.

For betting on baseball in Ohio, the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds have winning histories winning seven World Series between the two of them. The Reds have raised the trophy most recently, although it was a whole 31 years ago in 1990. The Indians have not won since 1948, however, they have been the better team in the last few years, making it to the World Series in 2018 where they blew a 3-1 lead.

Betting on football in Ohio has recently taken a much needed turn for the better as the Cleveland Browns finished above .500 for the first time in a long time and won their first playoff game since 1994. The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping for similar success in the future as the team is still in a winning drought. Bengals’ fans, however, are excited for the rise of Joe Burrow.

Basketball betting in Ohio revolves around the sole Cleveland Cavaliers who have not achieved the levels of success they used to have when Lebron James rose to stardom and helped win them their first NBA championship in 2016.

Columbus, Ohio has only two professional sports teams to bet on: the Columbus Blue Jackets and Columbus SC, informally known as the Columbus Crew. The Blue Jackets are a 2000 addition to the NHL and won their first playoff series in 2019 while the Crew have been a powerhouse in the MLS as of late, winning their second MLS Cup in 2020.

Will Bettors Be Able to Bet on NCAA Sports in Ohio?

Ohio sports bettors will certainly be able to wager on college sports. The real question is, will the be able to bet on the Buckeyes? We have seen several states pass sports betting legislation that excludes colleges and Universities.

C. Todd Jones, the President and General Counsel of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio, spoke in favor of including only NCAA Division 1 basketball and football. Baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and other sports would be excluded from the bill.

CC. Todd Jones also included that he believed esports and club sports should be excluded from the bill. His suggestions to the bill, he believes, would allow the state to take all the revenue it wants without hurting small, independent businesses that have previously opposed the legalization of sports gambling in Ohio.

Ohio Legal Sports Gambling FAQs

As is the case for many of the states attempting to legalize sports betting, bettors in the state are curious as to the current legal status of sports betting in Ohio. We address the majority of questions and concerns in the FAQs below. Feel free to contact us if you feel we missed your question.

Is sports gambling legal in Ohio?

No. Sports gambling is currently illegal in the state of Ohio. While the start of the NFL season was the initial goal, legislators are now pushing to allow mobile sports betting to begin in the state by January 1, 2023.

Are offshore betting websites legal to use in Ohio?

No. Any website that proclaims they take bets from anywhere in the US is operating under illegal terms. Gaming licenses are given and maintained at the state level.

How can bettors prepare for legal betting in Ohio?

Currently, there is no way to legally bet online in Ohio, but users can expect to be able to register remotely (either online or in-app). Few instances require in-person registration. Sites will verify location through geolocation tracking, so one will have to be within the Ohio boundaries to be able to bet in Ohio. This is why someone in Ohio cannot bet in Pennsylvania unless they cross the state lines and enter Pennsylvania.

How many online sportsbooks will be in Ohio?

While we don't have an exact number, there could be up to 25 mobile sportsbooks within the state. This would make Ohio one of the largest sports betting markets in the country. All of the major players like DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and BetMGM will compete for business in Ohio.