State Sen. John Eklund and Sen. Sean O’Brien introduced Senate Bill 111, which would regulate sports betting in Ohio. The bill would give oversight to the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
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Ohio’s online gamblers can play games on the Internet without fear of fines or prosecution. While Ohio hasn’t regulated online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites yet, the state’s law enforcement officials do not punish individuals who play for real money online. OH residents therefore can join an offshore online gambling site with no repercussions. You won’t have consumer protections, so you should read honest online casino reviews before joining a site.
In this guide to online gambling in Ohio, we give a full rundown of current gaming laws. We discuss Ohio’s current gambling laws, as well as new forms of gambling, which might be passed in the near future. We provide a timeline of OH gaming laws, an FAQ section for common questions bettors have, and links to reviews and recommendations involving online casinos.
Ohio regulates land-based casinos and racetracks, while its lawmakers have discussed legalized sports betting. In fact, most experts predicted that Gov. Mike DeWine would have signed a sports betting bill by now.
Instead, the two houses of the legislature continue to split on which agency would regulate sports betting: the Casino Control Commission or the Lottery Commission. Until the two sides can end the impasse, sports betting remains up in the air.
Otherwise, Ohio has a permissive attitude towards land-based gambling.
Ohio residents who play at online casinos must do it at offshore online casino sites.
People say these sites are unregulated, but that only means a U.S. agency doesn’t regulate them. They are licensed, regulated, and legal in other countries such as Canada and Panama. It is legal for Ohio residents and all U.S. gamblers to join and play.
Ohio residents thinking of gambling online should read through our Ohio gambling law summary before they play casinos games online. The best unregulated gambling websites accept Ohio residents, much as they would in California or New York.
Private poker rooms in Ohio have much different laws, because they set their own age requirement for their gambling establishment. Per the establishment, you must be at least between the ages of 18 and 21 to play in private poker rooms in Ohio. All land-based casinos in Ohio have a minimum age of 21 to play.
Offshore online poker rooms accept Ohio residents.
These sites offer daily and weekly tournaments, bonuses, and promotions. You can play Texas hold ’em, Omaha, H.O.R.S.E., and five or seven card stud. Read our poker reviews, choose a card site, and begin playing right away for hours of poker entertainment.
Read our poker strategy section to gain the outcomes you want more often.”
Online sports bettors in Ohio must play at offshore bookmaker sites, but that might not always be the case. After former Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine won the governor’s race in 2018, he stated that “sports betting is coming”.
State Sen. John Eklund, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, introduced a sports betting bill to the Ohio Senate. At present, Ohio lawmakers and Gov. Dewine disagree on regulated sports betting’s details, though both seek to legalize sports betting in land-based casinos and racinos. Eklund’s bill would set a 6.25% tax rate, $100k licensing fees, and no integrity fee for sports leagues.
Licensees could partner with online sportsbook operators for internet wagering, while remote sign-ups would be allowed. Online sports betting could take place inside Ohio’s borders.
At present, Ohio residents that enjoy betting on their favorite sports teams can sign up at offshore online sportsbooks, which offer mobile betting and live in-play betting for sports betting on the go. Download the app for mobile betting for your Android phone or tablet, iPhone, or iPad and bet anywhere, anytime. Sports bettors can bet on games while they are in progress with live betting. Our recommended online sportsbooks offer an array of sports to bet on, including top American sports and a full list of international sports and prop bets.
Yes. The Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section regulates charitable gaming in Ohio. Three types of licenses exist: traditional bingo games, bingo tickets alongside bingo games, and instant bingo tickets.
On the Internet, Ohio players can enjoy online bingo gaming, where you’ll find games like 75-ball American Bingo and a variety of international bingo games.
Bingo sites also offer 90-ball European Bingo, 30-ball bingo, and 80-ball (keno) cards.
Ohio takes a hardline stance against private home games and office pools. These games are illegal under Ohio law, though law enforcement rarely enforces the rules.
That being said, anyone hosting a private poker game at their home should not take a cut of the action. If you organize an office pool, don’t make a profit.
Ohio does have a form of social gaming in establishments called “social clubs”, like Close Quarters in Columbus, Ohio. These social clubs are places that people can gather to play video games and are not the same as social gaming in the privacy of one’s home
| State Code Section | Ohio’s gambling laws are contained in Ohio Revised Code § 2915 et seq. and § 3769 et seq. |
| Definition of Gambling | Ohio laws ban bookmaking, “any game of chance conducted for profit,” “establishing odds or determining winners,” “betting or in playing any scheme or game of chance as a substantial source of income or livelihood,” or conducting a sweepstakes. |
| Internet Gaming | Ohio does not have statutory language specifically addressing internet or online gaming, merely banning any game of chance or establishing odds. |
| Online Poker | There is no provision regulating Ohio online poker. |
| Casinos | Ohio land-based full-service casinos are located in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo. There are also racinos, which are slot parlors attached to horse-racing tracks.
Online casinos are not covered by any language of the Ohio Revised Code. |
| Sports Betting | Ohio prohibits sports betting, though its statutory language focuses on bookmaking and setting odds. |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Ohio Daily Fantasy Sports are legal so long as the operator receives a valid license. |
| Horse Racing | The following types of horse racing are legal in Ohio: live horse racing at regulated race tracks, on-track simulcasting, and on-track pari-mutuel betting. There is one off-track betting location in Ohio. |
| Other Forms of Gaming | Ohio exempts private gaming where no cut or seat fee is required, social gambling, and nonprofit organization bingo and raffles from any penalties so long as proper regulations are followed. There are also licenses for tag fishing tournaments available. |
The state of Ohio regulated gambling for brick-and-mortar casinos and racetracks, but no existing laws govern online gambling. Ohio lawmakers legalized land-based gambling piecemeal, so the gambling age can be a little confusing too. Regulated online gambling in Ohio remains a possibility, though no bills exist at present for online poker. Ohio remains a GOP-leaning state, but the Buckeye State is enough of a swing state that politicians on both sides of the aisle try to find middle of the road solutions to gambling regulation. For instance, in late 2018, Gov. Mike DeWine said legal sports betting in Ohio is only a matter of time.
Ohio residents should not fear prosecution when they join offshore internet casinos, bookmaker sites, and card rooms. They won’t have the consumer protections or responsible gaming tools a regulated gaming regime would. It’s important to find legit online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites in 2021, so read our reviews and recommendations to find the safest online betting sites. While the Ohio Lottery Commission or Casino Control Commission do not license and regulate these online casinos, the sites we review receive licenses from international regulatory agencies.
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Yes. Individual online sports bettors are not at risk of going to jail for gambling online. Operators of online gambling websites are at risk of going to jail in Ohio, because sites operated in the state are illegal. Gov. Mike Dewine believes a sports betting bill is possible in 2021; Dewine likely would sign any such bill that passes the legislature.
Bovada is the best online bookmaker for bettors in Ohio. Sports gamblers who use Bovada can collect a $250 welcome bonus after their first deposit. Players can enjoy a full list of point spread, totals, moneyline bets, and prop bets. If you prefer live in-play betting, Bovada has a dedicated live betting odds page. It also has a feature where bettors who are winning early-on can cash out their bets early.
We recommend Cafe Casino for Ohio online casino players. Cafe Casino features a 350%, $2,500 welcome bonus for those who make a first deposit. Online slot gamblers can play games with progressive jackpots like Diamond Dragon, Samurai’s Path, Dirty Martini, and Hercules.
Those who enjoy table games can play several versions of blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, while enjoying newer games like Spin The Wheel, Roll The Dice, and Andar Bahar. Try out the live dealer games, which feature two versions apiece of blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
Ohio does not have regulated online poker, but real money players can sign up at unregulated offshore online poker rooms. Finding a safe and reputable online cardroom is key, so read our poker reviews before depositing money on an online poker site.
Ignition Poker is our top pick for Ohio online poker players. Ignition is one of the largest US online poker rooms and it offers a $1000 welcome bonus for new depositors. If you deposit using Bitcoin, you’ll receive a bonus as high as $1250. Ignition supports a weekly $150k guaranteed poker tournament, turbo tournaments, sit-and-go events, jackpot SNGs, monster stack poker tournaments, and $1.5 million per week in guaranteed prize money. The poker platform offers Zone Poker and anonymous tables.
Online gambling is safe for Ohio residents that choose to join one of our preferred sites that are found on this page. These offshore sites are legal and legitimate for Ohio residents. Our preferred sites are also safe and secure. We suggest reading the privacy policy at individual gambling sites for more information.
The legal age for betting on the lottery or Keno games is at least 18 in Ohio. If you wish to place bets on pari-mutuel horse races, you’ll need to be 18. If you want to buy charitable bingo cards, you’ll need to be 16 or older. If you want to play inside a land-based casino, you’ll need to be 21 or older. Online betting sites require players to be at least 18.
While there isn’t one specific Ohio gambling app, our top-rated online casinos, sportsbooks and poker rooms ALL offer mobile gambling via your smart device’s browser. Apple, Android and Windows mobile users can access Ohio online gambling sites.
