Ohio Sports Betting Sites, Apps, and Promos

Sports betting has finally launched in Ohio. Governor Mike DeWine signed the Ohio sports betting bills (House Bill 29) back in 2021 and the sports betting industry is now live and running in the state.

Numerous sportsbook apps and websites are available in the state now that Ohio online sports betting is legal, it's a good exercise to dig through those sportsbooks as we dig into an overview of what this means for residents during the legal sports betting launch of 2023.

Top Online Ohio Sportsbooks

Ohio has officially launched and here are some of the sportsbooks that are in the market for new users.

Fanduel Ohio Sportsbook

Besides its extensive offering of sports and bet types, FanDuel is known for live betting and having the same-game parlay. Users can combine several different bets from one game for a shot at massive winnings. FanDuel offers a litany of different bet types and markets to choose from. You can bet on professional and college sports as well as major international events like the World Cup. Check with customer support if you are unsure of a specific sport or bet type on the platform.

Bet365 Ohio Sportsbook

Bettors in Ohio can enjoy the bet365 Sportsbook from anywhere within the state's borders. The sportsbook has great welcome bonuses, 24/7 live chat customer support, fantastic in-play betting options, and plenty more. Bet365 is making moves to compete with and other recognizable brands and is a great option for bettors in the Buckeye state.

DraftKings Ohio Sportsbook

DraftKings is one of the top-rated sportsbook apps in the sports betting market. Opening a DraftKings account has plenty of benefits. With advanced security, it remains one of the safest sports betting platforms; it offers proven, industry-leading technology you can count on and a long history of quick and easy withdrawals of your winnings.

BetMGM Ohio Sportsbook

BetMGM is a household name in betting, so it’s no surprise they will have a presence in Ohio. They are now an official sports betting partner of the Cincinnati Reds. The have solid welcome bonuses such as a no-risk bonus and more.

*Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (NV), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-981-0023 (PR).

Caesars Sportsbook Ohio

Caesars is entering Ohio as a partner with the Cleveland Cavaliers and has a retail sportsbook with a 3,000-square-foot sports lounge at Rocket Mortgage Field House. The variety of bets matches up with the competition, while the solid app, website, promotions, and odds boosts each match or exceed other offerings. Those are good reasons to join Caesars Sportsbook Ohio potentially.

OH only. 21+. New users and first wager only. Must register with eligible promo code. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Void where prohibited. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

How Do I Bet On Sports In Ohio?

Legal online betting is live in Ohio and you can use any legal online sportsbook within the state's borders. Geolocation tracking will confirm you are in Ohio and allow you to place a bet. Plenty of different retail sports betting options are also planned to be available at bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and venues like FirstEnergy Stadium, Rocket Mortgage Field, Great American Ballpark, and other stadiums as we get deeper into 2023.

Download one of the approved apps to place a mobile sports bet and complete the registration, but make sure you research to figure out what sports betting mobile app you want. Most of the apps have promotions, bet credits, or sign-on bonuses. The book will ask for your personal information, allowing the operator’s customer service team to confirm your identity. You must be at least 21 years of age to place bets in Ohio. After signing up, you can use the different options to make a deposit. With money now in your account, you can place your first bet. This is legal sports betting in Ohio, so sharing personal or bank information is safe and secure.

What are the Major Sports in Ohio to Bet On?

Prospective sportsbooks will offer nearly every sports market you can think of, including NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, WNBA, MLS, UFC, PGA Tour, college leagues, and international options like the Champions League, Premier League, and EuroLeague.

Which Sports Can Ohio bettors bet on?

There are many different sports to place wagers on as sportsbooks launch in the Buckeye State, such as baseball, basketball, football, hockey, golf, soccer, tennis, boxing, MMA, and more. Bettors will cancel wagers on events in the United States and international games.

Check your online sports betting apps and sites for more sports offerings. There might be some minor differences between sportsbooks.

Sports Teams to Bet on in Ohio

• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Cleveland Indians
• Cincinnati Reds
• Columbus Blue Jackets
• Columbus Crew
• FC Cincinnati
• Ohio State Buckeyes
• Dayton Flyers
• Cincinnati Bearcats

Sports Betting at Ohio Professional Stadiums

All Ohio sports teams and stadiums will have to conform to the rules and regulations of their particular league. Placing a bet at a Cavaliers home game could be different than at a Browns game. Therefore, keeping up with the latest Ohio sports betting news and up-to-date information will be essential.

Some Ohio professional sports teams have announced an official pro sports betting partner.

• Cleveland Browns – Bally Bet
• Cleveland Guardians – Bet365
• Cincinnati Bengals – Betfred
• Cincinnati Reds – BetMGM
• Cleveland Cavaliers – Caesars
• Columbus Crew – Tipico
• FC Cincinnati – Superbook

The Cincinnati Reds have partnered with BetMGM and have a retail sportsbook at Great American Ballpark while the Columbus Blue Jackets have partnered with Fanatics for a retail sportsbook at Nationwide Arena. Caesars has been named the Cleveland Cavaliers' official sports betting and casino partner. It has a retail sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

How to Sign Up and Place a Sports Bet in Ohio?

• Choose a sportsbook - do your research to figure out which sportsbooks you want on your mobile device. Many factors include ease of use, sports and wagers offered, and more. Compare the different promotions or sign-up bonuses as well.
• Activate Offer - many of the sportsbook apps have special offers and promotions to entice Ohio sports bettors to sign up. After downloading the app, you can put in a promo code or claim a specific offer.
• Create your account - fill out your personal information such as name, address, social security number, and date of birth so the sportsbook can confirm your identity and finish getting you registered.
• Collect any registration offers - as bettors sign up for the first time, the best mobile apps will send out prompts to show promotions or offers to collect during the registration process.
• Fund your account - after you have finished registering, you can now place your first deposit. Be sure to be aware of any sign-up bonuses or other offers claimed. These will be in your account quickly.
• Get the App for mobile betting - if you signed up online at the sports betting site instead of on your mobile device, you can now download the app and sign in to your account with your login credentials.
• Place your Bets - with your money deposited and offers claimed, you can go ahead and place your first sports bet on the app. Maybe you are interested in college sports. Navigate to see the latest line for the Ohio State Buckeyes' next matchup.

Retail Sports Betting vs. Mobile Sports Betting in the Buckeye State

Bettors have many different options for Ohio sports betting. Top online and retail locations across the state will be options for new bettors looking to find the best Ohio sports betting operator.

Sports betting in the state is estimated to generate over $3 billion in the first few years. Bettors will decide if a larger chunk of that money goes to retail locations or popular sports betting apps.

When looking at retail vs. online legal sports wagering in Ohio, you must weigh costs and experience. Going to a retail location can add up as you pay for food, drinks, and entertainment while spending the day at a sportsbook.

Mobile bettors can enjoy lines and odds from their homes and have the advantage of live betting. As odds quickly change, sports betting apps will give users the ability to place bets quicker throughout events.

Why Place Bets At Online Ohio Sportsbooks?

When placing bets at a retail location, there is the potential to see your costs start to add up. The expenses of travel, food, drinks, and entertainment can pile up quickly on top of the wagers you are making. With online sportsbook apps, you can quickly place bets from the comfort of your own home or anywhere in the state.

Another thing to consider is your interest in live betting. Live betting is much easier on your mobile device as lines quickly update for the event you are interested in or following. Mobile apps also give you quick access to different betting markets and the ability to compare different sportsbooks. You might have several apps on your phone to choose from as you shop lines compared to what the in-person sportsbook offers at the time.

How Does the state of Ohio Compare To Other States?

Sports betting licenses in Ohio were slow on the draw when it came to launching its sports betting program. Ohio borders four states with legal betting, and Michigan was the only surrounding state that took longer to get its program up and running.

With that being said, now with legalized sports betting, Ohio will be offering sports bettors many different retail and online sportsbook options to wager on their favorite teams. Ohio should benefit from the highly competitive marketplace with many offers for new users to consider while signing up.

The state has four casinos and seven racinos, which have retail sportsbooks opening in 2023. In addition, you will see most, if not all, of the state’s professional sports venues, eventually, add an on-site location for sports betting.

Ohio has three types of sports betting licenses. Type A is for online sports sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel. The Type B licenses are for traditional retail establishments, such as casinos that offer sports betting. And Type C are sports betting kiosks that will be available for bettors at bars or restaurants that are approved throughout the state.

Ohio Online Sportsbooks Promotions

No-Risk Bonus, First Bet Insurance

What Is a No-Risk Bonus? A no-risk bonus is a bet where if you lose your bet, you get something back in return. This could be a sports betting site credit or a bet bonus. Site credit or cash no-risk bonus offers are best for the customer as customers get their initial stake in addition to their winnings on winning bets.

Deposit Bonus

You make a deposit, and the sportsbook will reward you with bonus money. For example, with a 100% Deposit Bonus, if you deposit $20, they'll give you $20 bonus money. Your deposit (contributed money) and bonus money will be added together to form your bonus balance. You'll play through your contributed money before using your bonus money.

Reload Bonus

A reload bonus is a type of promotion offered by sportsbook apps to encourage an existing customer to make additional deposits or "reload" their account. It is similar to a welcome bonus that is offered to new signups, but it would only be available to users who have already made a deposit and have an existing account in Ohio sportsbooks.

Odds Boost

An Odds Boost always moves the odds in favor of the bettor. The sportsbook operator will give up some or all of the vig for these specific wagers. There are times when the odds are boosted enough that the sportsbook operator will actually forgo their entire house edge for a specific event.

Loyalty Bonus

These are bonuses provided to customers that consistently place their wagers with the same betting site. The more you bet, the bigger the return!

Parlay Insurance

Sportsbooks offer parlay insurance to encourage bettors who come close to winning on parlays to try again. The way parlay insurance works are that if all legs of your parlay hit except for one, you get a refund. There are two types of parlay insurance, cash-back insurance, and bet bonus insurance.

Refer-a-friend

Several sportsbooks will reward users for referring their friends. This type of bonus could be a bet bonus if you get a friend to sign up as a new user of the app. A friend would have to sign up through your unique referral link and make a deposit for your sportsbook account to cash in. Common bet credits earned from referrals can range from $50-$100 and might include a rollover requirement.

Bet Match Bonus

A bet match for sports wagers will be another Ohio sports betting promotion new users will see. Your bet is matched regardless if you win or lose. For example, you might see sportsbooks in Ohio with an offer of a first-bet match bonus of $1,000.

What are the Ohio Sportsbook Deposit Options?

• Visa/Mastercard
• American Express
• PayNearMe
• PayPal
• ACH
• PrePaid Card
• Wire Transfer
• Skrill
• VIP Preferred e-Check
• Cash (retail locations open)

What are the Ohio Sportsbook Withdrawal Options?

Most of the options above for deposit are also withdrawal options for sports gaming. The minimum withdrawal amount is typically $20, and a maximum limit of $10,000 per day. Digital withdrawal methods are processed within 48-72 hours. There are no withdrawal fees, but there is a difference in the processing time for each method. Most range from instant to 5 days, with physical checks taking up to 14 days.

Why Sign Up For Multiple Ohio Sportsbooks

One of the biggest edges you can have as an Ohio sports bettor is to "shop" around multiple lines to find the best price for the bet you are planning to make. You could see one book has the Cincinnati Bengals moneyline at -115 while another is at -135. A slight difference in any line creates value for the sports bettor. Access to multiple apps can give you an advantage when looking to place your wagers.

You might also see a difference in bet offerings. There might not be the same betting options available. If you have a particular bet type or sport of interest, be sure to do your research before placing a deposit. For example, DraftKings allows users the ability to place same-game parlays on more sports than FanDuel. So having both apps could be valuable if one isn't offering the same-game parlay you are looking for on a particular night.

A couple more important reasons to have multiple Ohio sports betting apps would have to be your comfort level and the sportsbook rules. Each mobile app has different features and designs, which is something to consider as you get comfortable using the app and placing bets. Finally, there are the rules of the sportsbook to consider. It is vital to learn how certain bets are paid out because it could differ between books.

Available Sports Betting Options At Legal Ohio Online Sportsbooks

• Spread(Run line) - A points spread requires you to bet on whether or not a team will win despite starting with a deficit.
• Totals - This is also known as an over/under bet. It's based on the total number of points scored in the entire game. For example, the over/under for the Browns vs. Texans game might be 42.5. If you think 42 or fewer points will be scored combined by both teams, you would bet the under.
• Moneyline - One of the most basic fixed odds bets, add a moneyline to your bet slip, and you're wagering money on the outright winner of an event.
• Parlays - In a parlay bet, the bettor wagers on the outcomes of multiple games or events. Now, all of the bets have to hit for you to win the parlay. You would receive a higher payout than if you had placed each bet individually.
• Prop bets - You can bet on specific outcomes within a game. These wagers can focus on actions by a player (player props) or a team (team prop bets).
• Futures - A future is a bet on a specific outcome that will happen at some point down the road. For example, you might place a futures bet on the Browns to make the playoffs before the season even starts. If the Browns go on to make the playoffs, you would win the bet. The payout will be based on the odds at the time of the bet. If you think you have a hunch on where a season will go early, this is a bet type you would want to consider.

Ohio sports betting FAQ

Is Online Sports Betting in Ohio Legal?

Yes. Sports betting launched on January 1, 2023. Many sportsbooks are up and running in the state.

What is the minimum age to bet in Ohio?

Ohio residents must be at least 21 years old to bet

Who regulates sports betting in Ohio?

The Ohio Casino Control Commission will regulate sports betting and handles licenses.

Are retail sports betting legal in Ohio?

Plenty of different retail sports betting options are available at bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and venues like FirstEnergy Stadium, Rocket Mortgage Field, Great American Ballpark, and other stadiums.

Can I use offshore Betting Apps in Ohio?

There are currently no federal laws that prohibit you from using an offshore sportsbook in Ohio. There are a few things to consider when using an offshore book. First of all, they might not be as secure as a legal book regulated in your state. This means your personal information might be vulnerable. Another advantage of a regulated sportsbook would be excellent and guaranteed promotions. A fully regulated sportsbook is going to be a better experience and much easier to be in contact with if there are issues that arise.

Can you bet on college sports in Ohio?

Yes. The sports betting legislation in Ohio allows you to place wagers on college sports. This was confirmed by Ohio Casino Commission executive director Matt Schuler back in December of 2021. In February 2024, the Ohio Casino Commission banned player props on any college sporting event.

How do Deposits and Withdrawals work for Ohio Sports Betting?

Sportsbooks accept deposits and withdrawals from PayPal, major credit cards, and online banking. You can also check with your sportsbook of choice to see all of the options that are available.

Are Ohio sports betting sites safe?

Yes. The apps which have acquired online sports betting licenses are safe, secure, and vetted.

What are the sports bet bonuses in Ohio?

Many of the sportsbooks will be offering bet bonuses and credits for signing up. Check with each sportsbook for their latest offer for new users.

What do I need to create an Ohio sports betting account?

You need to be at least 21 years of age and be an Ohio resident to sign up. Be prepared to enter in personal information such as social security number, address, and birth date.

OH only. 21+. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER