Ohio Sports Betting in 2024 – Latest Legal Updates & Best OH Online Sportsbooks List

Ohio sports betting has been legalized for both retail and online gambling. That means that you have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to betting on sports in Ohio.

With that in mind, we have taken the time to review all the sports betting options in the state, the current legal details on sports betting, the latest Ohio sports betting updates, and some of the best sports and markets to bet on. Additionally, we discuss why offshore sites may still be the preferable choice for your sports bets. Keep reading to find out more.

Sports Betting in Ohio Overview

Here are some of the facts you should know about all things sports gambling in the state of Ohio before we move on to sports betting sites in detail.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Ohio?

Yes, online sports betting is fully legal in Ohio. Governor Mike DeWine passed House Bill 29 in 2021, which legalized online and retail sports betting. That means you are free to place your bets on your favorite teams from Ohio using a variety of sportsbooks.

There are a few other forms of legal gambling in Ohio at this time, including legal horse racing, fantasy sports, and pari-mutuel. Additionally, retail casinos are available in the state as well.

Ohio Sports Betting Timeline

Let’s take a look at how we have reached the point of being able to enjoy legal sports betting in Ohio.

• 2018: House Bill 194 and Senate Bill 111 were some of the first to be introduced in Ohio, but they failed to generate enough support.
• 2019: House Bill 194 continued to be pressed, but there were still concerns over taxes and regulation, so it didn’t do enough to pass that year.
• 2020: House Bill 194 was again introduced, but once the pandemic hit, it struggled to gather enough support during a trying time.
• December 22, 2021: When things began to settle, House Bill 29 was finally signed into Ohio sports betting law by Governor Mike DeWine, which legalized sports betting in the Buckeye State.
• January 1, 2023: Ohio officially launched both online and retail in person sports betting​

Who Can Bet on Sports in Ohio?

The legal sports betting age in Ohio right now is 21 years or older. You will also have to use the state-regulated Ohio betting sites within state lines. In addition, to sign up on these platforms, you have to provide your name, surname, and social security number.

Are Sportsbook Winnings in Ohio Taxable?

Yes, your sports betting winnings in Ohio are taxable. As things stand, there is an Ohio sports betting tax of 4% on your sports betting wins, which, in fairness, is a lot lower than other states that allow legal online sports betting in the US.

Pros & Cons of Betting on Sports in Ohio

Can Ohio Bettors Wager on Offshore Betting Sites?

Yes, Ohio sports bettors can use offshore sites. While you can use regulated sportsbooks in Ohio, it is our experience that these regulated sites can’t give you the same variety of markets and features that offshore sportsbooks can. From the promos you can claim to the features you can use, these offshore sites are just, all around, a better version of state-regulated sportsbooks.

Although new betting sites operate in a legal gray area, they still remain safe betting sites and secure to use. We will show you what these types of top Ohio betting sites offer for your legal sports betting experience by reviewing some of the best sportsbooks.

The Best Ohio Online Sports Betting Sites in 2024

After checking out multiple different sports gambling sites, these are the ten best sportsbooks that do an excellent job with the variety of sports you can bet on and the promos you can claim.

1. BetOnline – The best Ohio sports betting site
2. BetWhale – Offers a massive sportsbook welcome offer
3. Bovada – Easy to earn cash via a generous rewards program
4. BetNow – Excellent prop betting options
5. Everygame – The best OH sportsbook for baseball betting
6. CoinPoker – The best mobile sportsbook in Ohio
7. TG.Casino – Top crypto-gambling site in Ohio
8. MyBookie – Offers competitive odds for live markets
9. SportsBetting.ag – A wide range of promos and bonuses
10. BetUS – Offers live streaming for most sports

Top 5 OH Online Sportsbooks Reviewed

Let’s jump into some of our reviews of the best offshore sportsbooks in Ohio that you can check out.

1. BetOnline – The Best Ohio Sports Betting Site

BetOnline is a top online sportsbook that gives new Ohio sports bettors who sign up the chance to cash in on a no-strings BetOnline welcome bonus. It also regularly runs additional sports betting promos that keep your bankroll ticking over so you can keep betting on your favorite professional sports teams like the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, the Cavaliers, and more.

Thankfully, BetOnline makes it easy for you to place a sports bet on teams in leagues like the NBA, NFL, and MLB, as it covers an extensive range of markets. With more than 30+ sports, you can see why we think it is one of the best Ohio sports betting sites. It also offers a diverse array of markets, including moneyline, spreads, totals, and plenty of props.

BetOnline also has a ton of exciting features, like live betting, which comes with its own array of betting markets, and live streaming of even the biggest sporting events. Our personal favorite feature is the BetTV option, where you can find talk shows and news on all the latest sports, which can help you get better insight and even betting tips.

BetOnline sports bonus:

2. BetWhale – Offers a Massive Sportsbook Welcome Offer

BetWhale has one of the best welcome offers among Ohio online sportsbooks, offering a BetWhale deposit bonus, where new users can get a significant boost to their first deposit. You’ll also be able to get your hands on this offer by making a deposit using multiple reliable options like Bitcoin, Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal.

In addition, our team found a multitude of different sports, from the NBA, where we could bet on the Cavs, to the NFL, where we could choose from tons of markets to have a sports bet on the Browns; there were so many avenues we could take.

Moreover, the best part of the site is that we can livestream many of these matches as well. They are selective, but we saw the TV logo (indicating availability of stream) on many of the top NBA and NFL matches that we wanted to watch, which was great.

BetWhale sports bonus:

3. BetNow – Excellent Prop Betting Options

BetNow is a site that makes it easy for you to claim the BetNow bonus offer of $200 as they cover the top payment methods. You can instantly make deposits and withdrawals using methods like Bitcoin, Visa, Amex, and Mastercard. The only thing we would like to improve on is the range of cryptos they provide, as right now, you can only use Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash.

The reason BetNow is one of the best legal sports betting sites in the US, in our opinion, is largely due to the betting options it offers. Much like the other Ohio betting sites we reviewed, you can bet on the best US leagues and a host of other international sports. The markets are comprehensive and much easier to use, as there is a prop builder feature that lets you quickly access the vast range of player and team props. This feature makes creating your parlays so much faster.

BetNow offers a wide variety of prematch markets but also does a great job with live betting options. We could choose from a host of options, and in particular, the live betting options for the NFL and NBA stood out to us.

BetNow sports bonus:

4. Everygame – The Best OH Sportsbook for Baseball Betting

With an exciting Everygame welcome bonus to get you started, Everygame is a top Ohio sports betting site that you can use. It also offers free bet and parlay free bet promos you can claim along with a refer-a-friend program as well, so there are plenty of incentives to use the site already.

The real quality of Everygame shines through the sports betting options. The sportsbook is packed with all the best leagues and events where you can bet on the top professional sports teams from Ohio. For those of you that are fans of the Reds or the Guardians, you’ll find the baseball betting options to be particularly good at Everygame. It offers a wide array of markets for MLB betting, covering some of the most detailed player and team props.

The live betting options on all sports are solid as well, with ample markets to choose from and a smooth interface where you can toggle different views or filter live events per sport. The only thing we would love to see Everygame add is a live streaming feature, which would make the whole experience even better.

Everygame sports bonus:

5. CoinPoker – The Best Mobile Sportsbook in Ohio

CoinPoker started out as one of the best poker betting sites and has since branched into providing an array of sports betting options, making it one of the best gambling sites. The only thing that we want to see is a few sportsbook promos.

But, what CoinPoker does well is allowing members to get the most out of betting with their mobile devices. You can easily access 15+ sports and a wide variety of betting markets with your smartphone or tablet. These markets include everything from props to more  betting lines and totals. In addition, creating unique parlays with the CoinPoker platform is a simple task when you are able to choose from that many betting options.

As things stand, there don’t seem to be any live streaming options available at CoinPoker, but it does offer live betting, where you can find multiple live markets.

CoinPoker sports bonus:

Comparing The Best OH Sports Betting Sites

With our reviews done and dusted, let’s take a look at some of the best features of these OH online sportsbooks.

How We Rank The Best OH Sports Betting Sites

In order for us to separate the best sportsbooks from the average ones, our team has to review these Ohio sportsbooks with a keen eye on certain aspects. These factors help us determine how well these multiple Ohio sportsbooks operate.

• Safety: There is truly nothing more important than feeling safe while you bet online. These sportsbooks have to go above and beyond with their security features, which is why we review their level of encryption on each page, whether they have two-factor authentication options, how strong their firewalls are, and what their privacy policies are all about.
• Deposit & Payout Methods: You won’t be able to place bets on your beloved Ohio sports teams if you can’t find a payment method that suits you. Our team takes a closer look at these OH sports betting sites and what kind of payment methods they make available to you, from a decent range of cryptos to more traditional methods like credit/debit cards and bank transfers.
• Bonuses & Promotions: A great way to attract new users to these sportsbooks and keep them there is by having a strong range of sportsbook promos that they can claim. It’s up to us to find out more about what kind of bonuses and promotions you can cash in on with these sportsbooks, from their welcome offers to no-deposit bonuses, free bets, and more. We’ll take you through the fine print of these offers so you know exactly what to look out for.
• Range of Sports: The Ohio sports betting sites that rank well in our list have exceptional sportsbooks for users to make use of. Of course, this largely comes down to the number of sports you can bet on and the number of leagues and events that they cover for each of these sports as well. From baseball and basketball to football, tennis, golf, and more, these Ohio betting sites should cover a variety of options.
• Depth of Markets: Having plenty of sports to bet on is one thing, but you need to be able to take your pick from a number of markets as well. These markets should include options like moneylines, spreads, totals, futures, team and player props, and many more. The best OH sportsbooks are the ones where you can find hundreds of markets to use.
• Quality of Sports Betting Odds: The betting lines odds with the best OH sportsbooks should, at the very least, be competitive.
• Mobile Interface: Your betting experience can be a real pain if the site you are using is clunky and difficult to use. It’s vital that our team spends enough time using these sites, from making deposits to placing bets, to see just how fluid and easy they are, even for those new to legal sports betting online.
• Customer Service: Lastly, we spend some time covering customer support on these Ohio betting sites to make sure that you can get top-notch service 24/7. We start by having a look at the various contact methods you can use, from live chat to email.

You can read our guide on how we rank gambling sites for a more detailed read on the process.

Types of Bonuses at OH Online Sportsbooks

When you use the Ohio betting sites in our guide, you will be able to claim some exciting Ohio sports betting bonuses.

• Welcome offers: The most common type of sports betting promo on Ohio sports betting sites is welcome offers, which most often come as matched deposit bonuses. For example, you could sign up on one of these online betting sites and claim a 200% matched deposit bonus of up to $2,500.
• Free bet bonuses: There are some promos that are specific to sports betting, and the free bet is one of them. These free bet offers give you the chance to place a bet of a certain value on any sport. You usually have to place a qualifying bet to claim the offer.
• No-risk bets: No-risk promos are similar to free bets but with a key distinction. A no-risk bet lets you take a stab at an event with your own money initially. If your bet loses, you will be refunded with a no-risk bet of a certain amount. If your bet wins, you won’t receive the offer. Basically, it is like free insurance on a bet that you place with your own money.
• No deposit offers: These are offers that don’t always come around, especially for sports betting. With that said, they are not impossible to find. A no-deposit bonus gives you free cash to bet with, as you won’t have to make a deposit with your own funds to claim it. For example, you could get a $25 no deposit bonus when you sign up on an OH sportsbook.
• Cash back promos: Cash back bonuses are some of the best you can find on Ohio sports betting sites as they are ideal for legal sports betting. Cash back gives you some of your money back on your net losses, usually paid out at the end of every week or every month. For example, you could have lost $5,000 in total in the month, and you may be paid back $500 of those losses with a 10% cash-back promo. It may not seem like much, but this cash-back promo can keep you going and help you rebuild your bankroll.
• Crypto bonuses: Some of the best Ohio sports betting sites will give you crypto-specific promos that can come in the shape of matched deposit offers or even cash-back promos. For example, you could claim a 100% up to 1 ETH matched deposit offer on an Ohio betting site.

Best Ohio Online Sportsbooks & Bonuses – Quick Comparison

Now that we have taken a look at some of the types of bonuses that you can find with OH online sports betting sites, let’s look at the bonuses offered by the sportsbooks mentioned in this guide.

Popular Payment Methods at Ohio Online Sportsbooks

Whether you are using new sportsbooks in Ohio or offshore sportsbooks that have been around for ages, these cash-out betting sites have to have enough reliable payment methods. Most of them do and will cover a wide variety of payment methods as well, which will usually include the following.

Cryptocurrencies

Right now, crypto is one of the best options for making payments on offshore Ohio sports betting sites, as crypto has no restrictions on where you can make your deposits. Cryptos like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether give you near-instant deposits and withdrawal times, which is one of the key reasons that sports betting fans prefer to use them. They also have much lower fees and offer added anonymity on your transactions.

Credit/Debit Cards

If you are not quite ready to delve into the world of cryptocurrencies, that is fine, too. The Ohio best sportsbooks in this guide still provide you access to several traditional deposit methods such as credit and debit cards.

You can typically make deposits and withdrawals using methods like Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Amex on these sites. However, please note that withdrawals may take up to 48 hours to process. Additionally, credit/debit cards entail higher transaction fees.

Bank Transfers

Bank transfers have always been a staple of many online sportsbooks over the years. It is a payment method that some sports betting fans still prefer. You can generally make larger deposits with bank transfers, but your minimum deposit limits are usually higher as well, so it’s not ideal if you are just looking to bet a couple hundred bucks. Their withdrawal processing times are also some of the longest, as your withdrawal can take up to 7 days to clear.

eWallets

To be perfectly honest, eWallets are not a common option on offshore Ohio sports betting sites. However, there are a few sites that accept payments via Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal. eWallets are actually great for online sports betting as they give you instant deposit and withdrawal processing speeds. They will have higher fees than crypto, but if it’s just the speed you are looking for, then eWallets may be just the thing you are after.

How to Get Started with an OH Sports Betting Site

If you have never signed up for an online sportsbook before, you may be concerned that you will get tripped up by some of the steps. Don’t worry; the process of getting your account up and running with top sites like the ones in our guide is easy. To ease your mind, let’s take a look at how you can sign up on BetOnline.

Step 1: Navigate to BetOnline

The first thing you need to do is head to the BetOnline site using your browser. From there, select the Sign up option on the homepage, which will take you to the registration page.

Step 2: Fill in the Registration Form

All you have to do at this point is fill in some basic information on the registration page. This includes things like your name, surname, and email address. You’ll also need to enter your country, date of birth, and zip code.

Step 3: Make a Deposit

When you have finished the registration form, BetOnline will take you straight to the deposit page. You can then browse the payment methods available to you, including cryptos like Bitcoin, Mastercard, and Visa. Also, before you enter the amount you want to deposit, make sure to enter the promo code for the welcome offer.

Step 4: Explore their Sportsbook

When you have completed your deposit, and it clears in your newly opened BetOnline account, you can then head to the sportsbook. Take your time exploring the betting options. Browse the sports menu and pick out some events you might be interested in betting on.

Most Popular Sports to Bet on in Ohio

Sports fans are everywhere in Ohio. You can find them around just about every corner. It makes sense that the state is so sports-crazed because they have a ton of pro teams they can support.

These are some of the most popular sports that betting fans from Ohio prefer to wager on:

• Football: The NFL is not only the biggest sport in the US, but it’s also the biggest sport in Buckeye State. With two pro teams in the state, the Bengals and the Browns, people here are spoilt for choice, as there are many states that don’t even have one. This is where most of the sports bets in the state are going towards.
• Basketball: There is one pro-NBA team in Ohio, and that is the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have a fantastic legacy in the league, although many of the fans still feel the sting of Lebron leaving. They may not be as good as they once were, but they still have strong support from NBA fans in the state.
• Baseball: Ohioans are also keen on their baseball, with the Reds and the Guardians in the MLB being their favorites. MLB betting makes for interesting betting options as the games are longer than other sports in the US, which means you can really strategize your approach throughout the course of a game.
• Soccer: Ohio does, in fact, have a team in the MLS called the Columbus Crew that has found success in the league over the years.
• Ice Hockey: You might think that Ohio would be crazy about their NHL as well; they certainly are. There is a passionate and dedicated fan base for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets may not have picked up a Stanley Cup in their time, but that has not stopped their fans from sticking with them through thick and thin.

Popular Type of Bets at OH Online Sportsbooks

When you use the list of Ohio sportsbooks that we have in this guide, you will have the option to choose from a number of different markets and betting types. These are some of the most popular types of bets that you can use right now:

• Moneyline: A moneyline bet is where you bet on what team you think will win. For example, you can bet on the Bengals to beat the Browns in the NFL.
• Spread Betting: You can bet on the spread, which is where the sportsbook will either give an advantage to the underdog or handicap the favorite. For example, the Cavaliers must win by more than 5.5 points for your bet to succeed.
• Parlays: Parlay bets let you choose multiple different markets to combine into one bet. The only thing is, if one of these markets fails, your bet fails, which is what makes it a risky type of bet but with the chance for bigger payouts. For instance, a parlay could include both the Columbus Crew and Cleveland Guardians winning their respective matches.
• Over/Under: You can bet on whether there will be more or fewer points in a game, whether that will be for a single team or combined points of both teams. For example, betting on whether the Bengals vs. Browns game will have over or under 45 points.
• Prop Bets: Prop bets are bets that are specific to the match. For example, you can bet on things like how many touchdowns Deshaun Watson will throw for the Browns in a match.
• Live Bets: Live betting involves betting on matches while they are still unfolding. There are tons of markets you can choose from, such as who will score the next 3-pointer, half-time scores, and more.

Betting Apps & Mobile Sites for Sports Betting In Ohio

There are a few Ohio mobile sports betting options you can choose from. The offshore sportsbooks we have reviewed don’t technically have iOS and Android apps for you to download from the app stores right now, but they have optimized their sites to run perfectly on your mobile browsers. That means you can hop onto the site with Safari or Google Chrome from any of your mobile devices and start betting.

The mobile versions of these sites may not all be Ohio sports betting apps, but they give you all the same perks. From the live betting options to the HD live streaming services they provide, you can use all of these features with their mobile-optimized websites.

Retail Sports Betting Locations in Ohio

As sports betting is legal in the state, you can actually find plenty of Ohio sports betting locations to go and place your bets. There are 14 different locations in the state right now, ranging from Cincinnati to Cleveland. These retail sports betting locations are all tied to online sportsbooks. Here are some of the prime locations you can check out if you prefer to do your betting more old-school:

• Fanduel at Belterra Park, Anderson Township
• Caesars at Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs, Columbus
• BetMGM at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
• Hard Rock at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
• ESPN BET at Hollywood Casino Columbus
• BetMGM at MGM Northfield Park
• BetJACK at JACK Thistledown Racino, Cleveland
• ESPN BET at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley, Youngstown
• ESPN BET at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway
• ESPN BET at Hollywood Casino Toledo
• MVGBet at Miami Valley Gaming, Lebanon
• BetJACK at JACK Cleveland Casino
• Caesars at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland (below)

Other Betting and Gambling Options in Ohio

There are a few other sports gambling areas you can take up in Ohio, but make no mistake: Ohio has not fully adopted every kind of gambling just yet. Here are some of the other things you can gamble on:

• Retail casinos: There are a few retail casinos in Ohio right now where you can play slots, table games, etc.
• Online casinos: This is not the case for online casinos, as they remain illegal in the Buckeye State.
• Poker: There are no legal forms of poker for real money in Ohio right now.
• Horse Racing: You can legally enjoy pari-mutuel wagering when betting on horse racing.
• Fantasy Sports: DFS is legal in Ohio through multiple platforms.

Online Sports Betting in the Nearby States of Ohio

Ohio is not the only state in the area that allows for legal online and retail sports betting. Let’s check out what some of the neighboring states around Ohio allow you to do:

• Indiana: Indiana has been a state in the US that has allowed online sports betting for some time now, with many regulated online sportsbooks and retail locations available here.
• Michigan: Michigan is another state in the area that has fully legalized sports betting within its borders.
• Kentucky: As recently as 2023, Kentucky allowed sports betting both online and retail.

Responsible Gambling in Ohio

Responsible gambling is a factor you always need to consider when online sports betting in Ohio. Always make sure that you set yourself a budget and that you don’t overspend on these sites to try and chase your losses. Sports betting is just for fun and to give you more excitement watching these games.

If you do have any issues with sports gambling online, you can use responsible gambling tools like deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion tools, and more to help you curb your spending or the amount of time that you are spending on these sites. Most online Ohio sports betting sites should make these features available to you along with resources and links to agencies like NCPG as they show a clear sign that they care about the well-being of their users and how they spend their time sports gaming online.

Conclusion: Best Ohio Sportsbook

BetOnline has an array of sports that you can bet on that cover a wide variety of leagues and tournaments. From popular sports to niche options, you can find a host of markets for all of them. There are also multiple promos, including an exciting welcome bonus of $250 in free bets.

Ohio Sports Betting FAQs

Is sports betting legal in Ohio?

Yes, sports betting at the retail level is legal in Ohio. They actually have 14 different locations that you can visit where you can place your bets in person and watch the games with a community that also enjoys betting on sports.

Is online betting legal in Ohio?

Yes, online sports betting is legal in Ohio. There are a couple of regulated sportsbooks that you can choose from at this time. With that said, we highly recommend checking out our list of offshore sites for sports betting in OH. These sites have a far more comprehensive range of sports for you to bet on and superior bonus offers to claim as well.

Are offshore betting sites available in OH?

Yes, while they operate offshore, you can still access these Ohio sports betting sites with ease. They operate in a legal gray area, but no one has ever found themselves in any trouble using these sites. As we mentioned earlier, these offshore sites give you much better wagering options.

What are the best Ohio sportsbooks?

There are a couple you can choose from on our list, but we have to say that BetOnline is the top option right now. It offers plenty of superb features for sports betting, like live streaming and betting resources, such as BetTV, where you can get some insight into upcoming matches and what kind of bets you should be placing.

Is it safe to bet on sports online in Ohio?

Yes, it is absolutely safe to bet on sports online in Ohio. The top Ohio sports betting sites all take user safety very seriously by using the best encryption software to keep your accounts safe. They also have security options like two-factor authentication, which further compounds the security of your account.

Can I use a VPN for sports betting in OH?

Yes, the Ohio sports betting sites that we have reviewed have no issue with their users using VPNs to access their sportsbooks.