Best Ohio sportsbooks: Review the best Ohio betting sites and apps

Sports betting was legalized in Ohio in December 2021 with Gov. Mike DeWine’s signature on multiple statewide bills. Jan. 1, 2023 was the official launch date of Ohio sports betting.

The commission has granted licenses to PointsBet, Caesars Sportsbook, bet365, SuperBook and BetFred.

Rank Betting Site Bonus States

$200 Bet $1+ and get $200 in bonus bets

NJ, CO, VA, OH only.
New customers only. Must be 21+. Full T&C apply.

First Bet Offer Up to $1,000 in bonus bets with TRIBUNEMGM

AZ, NJ, IN, CO, DC, IA, MI, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY only.
New customers only. Must be 21+. Welcome offer not available in NY & PA. Full T&C apply.

10x Your First Bet - Up to $200

AZ, CT, IA, IL, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, WV, WY Only.
New users only, 21 or older. Full T&Cs apply.

Bet $5, Get $150 in bonus bets

AZ, CT, IA, IL, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, WV, WY Only.
New users only, 21 or older. Full T&Cs apply.

$1,250First Bet on Caesars + 1000 Tier Credits + 1000 Reward Credits® with code TRIBUNEFULL

AZ, CO, IN, IA, IL, KS, LA, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA & WV
New customers only. Must be 21+. Welcome offer not available in NY & PA. Full T&C apply.

$4002nd chance bet with code SPORTS

AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, MI, NY, PA, VA only.
21+. New customers only. T&C apply

$100Bonus Sports Bets

Available in NJ, PA only.
New users only, 21 or older. Full T&C apply.

$100In Bonus Bets

CO, VA only.
21+; New Customers only. Full T&Cs apply.

$250In Bonus Bets

Offer available in NJ, MI only.
New users only, 21+. Full T&C apply.

Best Ohio betting sites and apps

FanDuel: great parlay options, excellent sign-up bonus
BetMGM: wide array of markets
Caesars Sportsbook: big maximum payouts, generous odds
BetRivers: good interface, live spreads and prop options
Sports Illustrated Sportsbook: excellent bonuses and easy to use interface

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud plays against Michigan during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) (Jay LaPrete/AP)

Ohio sports betting sites and apps

FanDuel

New FanDuel customers in all states can take advantage of the return of the No Sweat First Bet up to $1,000. FanDuel’s excellent odds on virtually every college football game make it a great choice for all interested Ohio bettors.

Claim these generous offers from FanDuel

BetMGM

BetMGM offers new users a generous new customer offer. Currently, new players can get their first stake returned in full — capped at $1,000 — with the bonus code TRIBUNEMGM.

BetMGM’s live betting also allows players to make adjustments as the game changes and their updated statistics give users an excellent opportunity to make wagers during the game.

Get the BetMGM promo code

Caesars Sportsbook

Caesars Sportsbook has capitalized on its casino’s original reputation for high stakes betting after taking over for William Hill Sportsbook. They offer big, quick payouts for winners as well as insulating players from losses with first-play insurance.

Ohio bettors have a great chance for winnings with Caesars Sportsbook’s variety of offers. Additionally, Ohio sports bettors can get up to $100 in credits and a chance to win tickets to a Cavaliers game.

Get the Caesars Sportsbook promo code

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, center, is defended by Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, left to right, forward Mamadi Diakite, forward Lamar Stevens and guard Darius Garland during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson) (John Munson, AP)

Ohio sports betting current situation

Gov. DeWine signed the bills legalizing online sports betting in Ohio in December 2021. The official launch was on Jan. 1, 2023.

Online sports betting in Ohio allows for a wide variety of markets including outcome wagers on collegiate sports as well as the standard betting options on professional sports like player props and parlays.

Under the current legislative framework, online betting will be restricted to users 21 years or older.

Ohio is one of just 13 states that has sports franchises in all of the major leagues which offers users an excellent opportunity to place bets in a variety of markets. Additionally, the Ohio State Buckeyes are always a huge draw for Ohioans, as Ohio Stadium is one of the largest in the country and Buckeyes football has been a consistent national championship contender.

In February, Fubo finalized the first deal between an online sportsbook and a professional sports team when they agreed to terms with the Cleveland Cavaliers. As part of the deal, Fubo agreed to be the official mobile sports betting partner of the Cavaliers and is building a 3,000-square-foot sports lounge at the team’s arena.

The application period for licenses will open in June 2023. BetMGM and PointsBet submitted online license applications already and BetMGM also submitted a retail license application.

SuperBook agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati FC and will be the exclusive sports betting partner of the MLS club.

Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Cincinnati. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images North America/TNS)

History of Ohio sports betting:

As noted, Gov. DeWine signed multiple bills legalizing online sports betting in the Buckeye state last December. This came in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) as unconstitutional which put the legislative decisions around online betting back to the states.

Legislation was initially put forward in Ohio in 2019 and 2020 but eventually failed because the two representatives for each bill were unable to reach a compromise. State Sen. Kirk Schurling introduced a bill in 2021 that was eventually signed into law by Gov. DeWine.

How to bet on sports in Ohio:

Now that online sports betting is officially live in the Buckeye State, the actual betting process will be very familiar to experienced bettors in the state. For the inexperienced, review some of the different options and offers the biggest sportsbooks provide.

Live betting

As streaming services become more prevalent and online betting increases in popularity, live betting has become a more important factor when choosing your book. Live betting allows users to alter their wager in real time, whether you’re sitting at home watching the game or at the stadium’s concession stand.

FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook and BetMGM have excellent interfaces for live betting and many offer live-streaming of the sporting events on the app. BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook also have live statistics to help you make an informed bet.

Ohio is in a somewhat unique position because, as opposed to neighboring states, they are slated to allow for collegiate betting. So far, indications from legislators imply that they’ll limit it to outcome betting like moneyline and spread bets while steering away from player props.

New user offers

All the biggest sportsbooks offer some kind of new user bonus or promotion. Caesars Sportsbook is currently the highest at $1,500 but each book provides excellent new customer offers in the form of bonus bets.

The specifics on the amount changes from book to book, and some even offer extra incentives, like FanDuel’s offer of three months of NBA League Pass with sign-up.

Types of licenses

There will be three types of licenses granted under the Ohio legislation: Type A, B and C. Type A is the most broad and will be allotted to casinos, professional sports organizations and/or venues. Under the current legislative framework, up to 25 Type-A licenses will be granted.

Type B licenses are designed for sportsbooks only. There will be up to 40 Type-B licenses granted under this legislation, which means that up to 40 additional sportsbooks could come to the Buckeye State in 2023.

Type C will likely be the most common and the most direct. These licenses will be awarded to for a retail kiosk that can be placed in a facility that already has a liquor license. They will only offer totals, spread or moneyline bets and will have a withdrawal cap of $700 a week.

Ohio sports betting FAQ

Is sports betting legal in Ohio?

Yes, it was launched Jan. 1, 2023.

Sports betting was legalized in December 2021 with Gov. DeWine’s signature on multiple bills. Several big-name sportsbooks have already applied for licenses in the Buckeye State and several more will likely apply in the coming months.

Is collegiate sports betting legal in Ohio?

Ohio State’s sports have always drawn a huge crowd, with Ohio Stadium being one of the largest in the nation and the OSU men’s basketball team making some noise in the national rankings.

Ohio Casino Commission Executive Director Matt Schuler has confirmed that wagering on college sports is allowed under the framework of the current bill.

Is NFL betting legal in Ohio?

Yes, it is and playoffs will be starting in January 2023.

What sportsbooks are legal in Ohio?

The Ohio Casino Commission is accepting applications for online sportsbooks from now until June, 2023. BetMGM and PointsBet submitted licenses for online sportsbooks already. The former has also submitted an application for a retail location.

The commission has granted licenses to PointsBet, Caesars Sportsbook, bet365, Superbook, BetFred and BetMGM.

OH only. 21+. New users and first wager only. Must register with eligible promo code. Bet amount of qualifying wager returned only if wager is settled as a loss. Maximum bet credit $1,500; must be used within 14 days of receipt. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Void where prohibited. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Originally Published: Dec 08, 2022 at 4:53 pm