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Ohio Sports Betting & Promo Codes
Ohio Sports Betting
Legal Betting
Sports betting is set to launch in Ohio on January 1, 2023, and there are plenty of different sportsbooks applying to get a license in the state. This page gives Ohio sports fans a comprehensive overview of how to bet in Ohio, which sportsbooks to use, and which promos to claim!
What To Know
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Must be 21+ to bet
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Strong new user sign-up bonuses for residents
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Online sports betting is legal
Available Sportsbooks
Today’s Best Promo In Ohio
Additional Promos In Ohio
Upcoming Games To Bet On In Ohio
Sports Betting Education 101
If you are new to sports betting, don’t worry!
Here at BetSided, we want to serve all sports bettors, from the experienced ones to novice bettors, in order to help them enjoy sports betting in the best way possible.
We have our Sports Betting Education section of the website that includes breakdowns such as:
… and so much more. You can also check out our Youtube channel for video breakdowns on how to bet on specific sports.
Ohio Betting Legalization Timeline
Sports betting is technically legal in Ohio, but the systems and operators are not in place for legal sports bets to be placed. That’s why the market is set to launch on January 1, 2023.
The state passed the bill HB 29 through both chambers of the Ohio legislature back in December of 2021. From there, it was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on Dec. 22. The state won’t launch until next year because the bill states that as the deadline when the Ohio Casino Control Commission can launch sports betting in the state.
There are three different types of licenses (A, B and C) for operators in the state. Type A operators are reserved for companies operating inside of Ohio, which is why online sportsbooks are partnering with Type A licensees to operate in the state.
Tax Rates in Ohio
The tax rate in Ohio for sportsbook operators will be 10 percent of their gross revenue. This is a lot less than state’s such as New York and New Jersey, which are both over 10 percent.
Ohio State Sportsbooks
The sportsbooks that are currently legal in Ohio are:
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- PointsBet Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- Unibet Sportsbook
- Barstool Sportsbook
- Hard Rock Casino
- Bally Bet Sportsbook
- Tipico Sportsbook
- BetJACK
- BetPARX
Best Sports Betting App in Ohio
BetMGM Sportsbook App
BetMGM’s mobile app is easy to navigate for betting on games, but getting to player prop screens may be a bit more difficult than options such as DraftKings. However, BetMGM is super clean to use, and the betslip is very easy to access. It is also available for both iPhone and Android.
Grade: A
DraftKings Sportsbook App
DraftKings Sportsbook is also available for both iPhone and Android, and it offers a ton of different options for each major sport. The betslip is easy to navigate, and the odds on the same-game parlay feature make it easier to choose picks.
Grade: A
FanDuel Sportsbook App
FanDuel Sportsbook is also available for both iPhone and Android, and it is very smooth moving and quick to navigate the entire app. FanDuel’s cash out feature is also one of the best in the business.
Grade: A
PointsBet Sportsbook App
The interface for PointsBet is really fast, which is always great for bettors looking to place a wager quickly before a game. It is also available for both iPhone and Android, and it has the dark-mode available as well. PointsBet isn’t as data dense, but it still is a solid app to use.
Grade: A-
BetRivers Sportsbook App
BetRivers has a solid betslip functionality, and it is also easy to withdraw your money at BetRivers, which is obviously important. BetRivers also offers slightly less promos to the quality of some of its competitors. It is also available for both iPhone and Android.
Grade: B+
All of these apps are great options, and I’d recommend taking advantage of several of their different promo options and testing them out to see which app best fits your needs and what you desire when betting on sports. Everyone’s preferences are going to be different, so there is no harm in testing several out.
Recent Sports Betting News in Ohio
- July 2022: The Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) applied for their mobile proprietor sports betting license. This allows them to partner with two different online sportsbooks.
- July 2022: FanDuel and Fanatics applied for retail and mobile betting licenses.
- June 2022: BetMGM and PointsBet became the first two sportsbooks to apply for mobile licenses in the state.
- June 2022: The Ohio Casino Control Commission announced that sports betting will go live in Ohio on Jan. 1, 2023.
How to Place a Sports Bet in Ohio
While it won’t be legal to place sports bets in Ohio until 2023, the sign up process for mobile sportsbooks is pretty straightforward across the country.
After downloading the app of your choice, and there look to be many in Ohio, here is the general sign up process:
To sign up, you will need register with the following information. Enter your personal details:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Username/User ID
- Password
- Last four digits of Social Security Number
- Phone Number
- Home Address
You will then be prompted to set security questions and confirm that you are at least 21 years of age. After that, you can deposit into your account and get ready to start betting.
Step-By-Step Process for Ohio Sports Betting
Once you have created your account and deposited, you can navigate through the sportsbook to place your wager.
Say you want to bet on an NBA playoff game, here is the step-by-step process at WynnBET Sportsbook.
Step 1: Select the game you would like to bet on
Step 2: Select the wager you’d like to make, in this scenario, we are taking the Warriors -5.5.
Step 3: Select your bet amount and place your bet
Details of Ohio’s Sports Betting Law
Ohio’s sports betting law, HB 29, is actually an amendment, but it contains the necessary language to legalize sports betting in the state.
Right now, we know that there are three different types of licenses that can be applied for in Ohio.
Type A licenses are for companies operating inside of Ohio, and the state is allotting 25 slots for these licensees. Type B licenses are reserved for physical sportsbooks inside Ohio, and there are up to 40 that may be allowed by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Type C licenses are reserved for Class D liquor licensees in the state, which means bars, restaurants and locations that serve alcohol will be able to have sports betting kiosks.
Any other quirks within the law have yet to be revealed. Other states have rules about betting on collegiate sports that take place in the state itself.
Ohio Betting Markets: NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and More
Popular Ohio Sporting Events
- Super Bowl/NFL Playoffs
- NBA Finals/NBA Playoffs
- World Series/MLB Playoffs
- Stanley Cup Finals/NHL Playoffs
- The Memorial Tournament (PGA Tour)
- Michigan vs. Ohio State in College Football
- Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals
- NCAA Tournament
- College Football Playoff
- The Masters
- PGA Championship
Common Types of Bets/Terms
Point Spreads
The point spread in the margin of victory in a game. A team must win or lose by a specific number of points in order to cover the point spread and win the bet.
For example, if you take the Cleveland Cavaliers to cover the spread as 2.5-point favorites against the Chicago Bulls, they must win by three or more points for your bet to win.
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is simply choosing the winner of a sporting event regardless of the point spread. You can choose the favorite or underdog to win the game.
Taking Ohio State on the moneyline against Michigan? It’s a must. The spread may have more value, but fans are going to want to make sure they have their Buckeyes winning that game.
OVER/UNDER and Total Bets
An over/under or total is a bet on the total points scored in a sporting event. Over/unders are also used on prop bets.
Total bets can be extremely fun to root for, especially if you’re going to take the OVER when the high-powered Bengals offense is playing this season.
Parlay
A parlay is a bet where multiple wagers are linked together in order to increase the odds on the payout. Every leg (bet) in the parlay must hit in order for it to win.
Bettors can get creative with an all-Cleveland parlay early in the NFL season with the Cleveland Guardians mixing in for a baseball leg. Who wants to take the Bengals, Guardians and Browns all to win on the Sunday of Week 1?
Prop Bet
A prop bet is any bet placed on a game that is not not directly affecting the game's final outcome. This can include player props as well as game props.
Want to bet on Joe Burrow’s passing yards? What about Darius Garland’s points? If so, prop bets are the way to go.
Most Popular Sports to Bet On
The most popular sports to bet on in Ohio will likely include football (NFL and NCAAF), basketball (NBA and NCAAB), baseball (MLB) and hockey (NHL).
Daily Fantasy Sports in Ohio
Daily Fantasy sports have been legal in Ohio since 2018. The state set a $10,000 maximum annual licensing fee and didn’t set a tax on operators.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission was granted oversight of DFS. Some operators in the state include DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo! and Fantasy Draft.
Betting on Pro Sports Teams in Ohio
There are several different pro sports teams in Ohio, as well as multiple NFL teams in the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.
NFL Betting in Ohio
Cleveland Browns
The Browns are coming off a down season in 2021, and they'll be without star quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is suspended for 11 games, to start the 2022 season. In a tough AFC North division, the Browns will need to stay afloat with Jacoby Brissett under center early in the 2022 campaign.
Cincinnati Bengals
The defending AFC Champions are looking to get back to the Super Bowl in 2022. Joe Burrow is a legitimate MVP candidate to bet on at your favorite sportsbook, and the Bengals have some value at plus money to win the AFC North this season.
NBA Betting in Ohio
Cleveland Cavaliers
Exciting times are ahead for Cleveland basketball, as the Cavs have some serious young talent in Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. After narrowly missing the playoffs in the 2021-22 season, Cleveland could be a sneaky team in the futures market with a full year of Caris LeVert on the roster as well as first-round draft pick Ochai Agbaji.
NHL Betting in Ohio
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets finished under. 500 in the 2021-22 season, but the addition of Johnny Gadreau this offseason could help out star Jakub Vorácek as the Blue Jackets attempt to contend next season.
MLB Betting in Ohio
Cleveland Guardians
Jose Ramirez and the Cleveland Guardians have been one of the more surprising teams in MLB this season, competing for the AL Central crown despite entering the season as major underdogs to win the division. If you had a futures ticket on them, you could be cashing big come October.
Cincinnati Reds
It’s a rebuilding year for the Cincinnati Reds, but they have some fun young players in Jonathan India and Hunter Greene. It’s hard to see your team trade away stars like Luis Castillo, Jesse Winker, Sonny Gray and Eugenio Suarez, but the Reds are clearly playing the long game.
Other Ohio Teams to Bet On
You can also bet on FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew SC of MLS as well as college teams such as the Ohio State Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bearcats. There isn’t a restriction on betting on collegiate teams in Ohio.
Betting on College Basketball in Ohio
Ohio allows for betting on any college basketball team in Ohio. Other states restrict betting on teams in the state, but Ohio doesn’t have those restrictions in its sports betting law.
Ohio Online Sports Betting FAQ
Did Ohio legalize sports betting?
As of January 1, 2023, sports betting is officially legal in Ohio.
Can I bet online on my phone in Ohio?
Once it launches, you will be able to bet on your phone in Ohio. Here is a list of sportsbooks applying for licenses in Ohio, and who they are partnering with.
- BetMGM – MGM Northfield Park
- Bally Bet – Cleveland Browns
- Barstool – Penn National
- BetJACK – JACK Casinos
- BetPARX – PGA Tour/Memorial Tournament
- BetRivers – NFL Hall of Fame
- BetFanatics – Unannounced
- DraftKings – Unannounced
- FanDuel – Boyd Gaming
- Fubo – Cleveland Cavaliers
- Hard Rock – Hard Rock Cincinnati
- PointsBet – Penn National
- Tipico – Columbus Crew
- Unibet – Penn National
How old do I have to be to bet on Ohio’s legal sportsbook apps?
You will need to be 21 years old to bet on Ohio’s legal sportsbook apps once the market launches in January 2023.
Can I bet on my college football team in Ohio?
Yes, any college football team will be available to bet on in Ohio, as the law currently doesn’t restrict which collegiate teams you can wager on.
What payment options can I use for betting in Ohio?
While the market hasn’t launched yet, most other states allow options such as: credit cards, e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill, prepaid cards, and, in some cases, cash.
Ohio Casinos
- Belterra Park Cincinnati
- Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs
- Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
- Hollywood Casino Columbus
- Hollywood Casino Toledo
- Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway
- Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course
- Jack Cleveland Casino
- Jack Thistledown Racino
- MGM Northfield Park
- Miami Valley Gaming
Best Sports Bars for Betting in Ohio
Ohio will be allowing Type C licenses for restaurants, bars and other places that serve alcohol to have sports betting kiosks. Once those licenses are revealed, we will update with the best sports bars for betting in Ohio.
Common Payment Options
- PayPal
- ACH/eCheck
- Prepaid Card
- PayNearMe
- Cash @ Cage (Casino)
- Check
Sports Betting Quirks in Ohio
The biggest quirk in Ohio’s sports betting law is that mobile operators will likely partner with a Type A licensee as well as apply for their own mobile management services provider license to be eligible to do so.
State-to-State Differences for Neighboring State
One of the differences that Ohio appears to have with neighboring states is the fact that it allows for betting on collegiate teams that are within the state.
Final Thoughts on Betting in Ohio
Ohio should bring a ton of new sports bettors to the market, and it comes in an area with plenty of professional sports.
With just a 10% tax rate, Ohio should be a good place for sportsbooks to operate as well, and bettors will want to take advantage of new user promotions when the market opens on January 1, 2023.
