Online Sports Betting in Ohio

After several attempts in recent years to legalize sports betting in Ohio, it will finally be available in the state by Jan. 1, 2023. HB 29 passed through both chambers of the Ohio Legislature and was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in December 2021.

A total of 25 mobile sports betting licenses will be available, and the state has started to begin accepting applications licenses as of June 15, 2022.

Here’s everything you need to know about online sports betting in Ohio ahead of its official launch in 2023.

Recent News and Details About Sports Betting in Ohio

• Sports betting is set to launch in Ohio by Jan. 1, 2023. This comes after the amended HB 29 passed in December and was signed by Gov. DeWine on Dec. 22. In the meantime, the Ohio Casino Control Commission is responsible for coming up with regulations to govern the sports betting market.
• The state will prioritize granting mobile sports betting licenses to casinos, racinos, and sports teams. Each will receive one license and may be eligible for a second if they prove it will benefit Ohio financially.
• In addition to mobile sports betting, HB 29 calls for lottery kiosks to be converted to allow for sports betting at bars, restaurants, and grocery stores.
• The Ohio Casino Control Commission announced it would accept applications for most sports betting licenses from June 15 to July 15, and will accept applications for the remaining licenses from July 15 to August 15.
• HB 29 allows for as many as 25 online sportsbooks, and sports teams and casinos can apply for a second skin if they prove it will benefit Ohio financially.
• While Ohio hasn’t started granting licenses, several of the most popular sportsbook platforms are expected to come to the state, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and many more.

Online Sports Betting in Ohio: A Timeline

Ohio finally legalized online sports betting after several attempts over the past few years. With the passing of HB 29, the state will soon begin accepting applications for sports betting licenses, and sports teams have already started to establish partnerships with sportsbooks coming to the state. Here are some recent major developments in the Ohio’s online sports betting industry:

• May 4, 2022: The Ohio Casino Control Commission announces it will begin accepting applications for sports betting licenses on June 15. The first application window will close on July 15, with the second window beginning on July 15 and ending Aug. 15.
• April 26, 2022: The Cleveland Browns announce their partnership with Bally Bet as the team’s official sports betting partner.
• April 6, 2022: To help Ohio residents learn about sports betting ahead of the official launch of sportsbooks apps, JACK Entertainment released the free-to-play betJACK app, which lets players place bets with free tokens.
• March 14, 2022: The Casino Control Commission releases an updated set of regulations for house rules and proprietor duties.
• Feb. 8, 2022: The Cleveland Cavaliers and Fubo Gaming announce a mobile sports betting partnership. This partnership includes a 3,000-square-foot sports lounge at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
• Dec. 22, 2021: Gov. DeWine signs HB 29, officially legalizing sports betting in Ohio. The bill calls for sports betting to launch in the state by Jan. 1, 2023.
• December 2021: After receiving several amendments to allow sports betting in Ohio, HB 29 passes through both chambers of the Ohio Legislature.
• May 2021: State Sen. Kirk Schuring introduces sports betting bill SB 176. While the bill passed through the Senate, it did not make it through the House ahead of the summer 2021 recess, prompting Schuring to use HB 29 to attempt to legalize sports betting in the state.

How Do Ohio Residents Feel About Sports Betting?

Currently, there isn’t much data to show how Ohio residents feel about legalizing online sports betting. HB 29 was passed by both chambers of the Ohio Legislature and signed by Gov. DeWine, but it did not require residents to vote for it to pass. Given that gambling has been legal in Ohio for several years, and several bordering states have legalized online sports betting, it’s likely the majority of residents would approve of this recent legislation.

Are Daily Fantasy Sports Apps Legal in Ohio?

With daily fantasy sports (DFS) apps, you can create fantasy sports teams and compete against other users in daily, weekly, or season-long contests for cash and other prizes. These apps often operate in a legal gray area, as some states view them as gambling while others see them as games of skill. As a result, some states without legal sports betting still allow users to participate in DFS contests.

Daily fantasy sports apps are legal in Ohio and have been since 2018. Major DFS platforms, including FanDuel, DraftKings, Fantasy Draft, and Yahoo!, operate in Ohio with oversight from the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

Ohio Sports Betting FAQs

Editor’s Note: Information accurate as of June 15, 2022.

Neighboring States with Legalized Sports Betting

Ohio will be joining several neighboring states that already offer legal online sports betting. All but one of the states that border Ohio have already launched legal sports betting.

• Indiana: Both retail and online sports betting are available in Indiana, with the state’s first online sportsbooks having launched in October 2019. There are 13 sports betting sites available in the state, including major platforms like DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel.
• Michigan: Michigan launched legal sports betting in 2021, and since then has become one of the country’s largest sports betting markets in terms of revenue and number of online sportsbooks available.
• Pennsylvania: Online sports betting has been live in Pennsylvania since 2019. Residents have access to some of the largest sports betting platforms, including DraftKings, FanDuel, FOX Bet, and more.
• West Virginia: West Virginia has legalized both online and retail sports betting. The state began accepting sports betting wagers in 2018, and there are currently six online sportsbooks available.