Real Money sports betting in Ohio is currently only available at a select few sportsbooks. Without the ability to bet on games at brick and mortar locations, bettors are required to place their wagers online. Thankfully, there are plenty of top Ohio sports betting sites offering real money action to residents of the Buckeye State.

  • The only current way to bet on sports in Ohio is via online international books like Bovada. For the full gamut of Ohio gambling laws, you can visit the official state repository § 2915.02 here. While there are no regulated sports betting options in Ohio, there are a number of offshore online bookies that are willing to accept Ohio.
  • Bills would broaden legalization of sports betting; last two would create a task force to study sports betting. Latest news: Ohio: H 714 S 316: Placeholder bills express intent to legalize sports betting. Latest news: Oklahoma: H 3375 S 1175: Bills would legalize sports betting as part of tribal gaming package; 'sports pools' language removed.

In this guide, we’re going to take an in-depth look at the current legal climate of online betting in the state of Ohio, what betting options are available to residents and guests, and how you can get started with your first real money wager today.

As things currently stand you cannot legally wager on sports in Ohio. Unlike neighboring states such as Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, Ohio is yet to pass a bill to legalize sports.

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Why Are These the Top Ohio Sports Betting Sites?

Just because you don’t have as many online sportsbooks to choose from as other states does not mean you should have to settle for subpar options. Our team continues to work hard to ensure we’re only recommending the best Ohio online betting sites available. If there are no great options at any point in time, we’d rather leave this list empty than peddle some second-rate sports betting site.

Thay Payout Real Money Fast

All of these Ohio betting sites offer the fastest payouts available in the US. While the exact times you’ll have to wait for payment will vary based on the method you choose, the amount you withdraw, and which site you are using, the average wait time is between a few days and a week at most real money Ohio betting sites. Some options, like cryptocurrency, are much faster with payouts coming in a few hours. Other options, like check by courier, are slower and can take up to 14 business days to arrive.

Online sports betting ohio

Wide Array of Betting Options

No matter if you’re looking to bet on OH sports, national sports, or international events, these top online sportsbooks have you covered. We ensure each site covers all major games and offers extensive action on each game. It’s easy to offer one or two bets on a game, but it takes a quality real money sportsbook to offer more. We don’t settle for anything less than the best quality betting sites for Ohio residents.

Safety and Security

You will see zero online sports betting options recommended here that have not passed our rigorous tests for safety, trust, and security. Online betting in Ohio is supposed to be fun and convenient. If you have to worry about the security of your account or your money, all of that becomes impossible. Rest assured, you have nothing to worry about except picking winners when you use these Ohio sports betting sites.

How Popular Is Real Money Sports Betting in Ohio?

Residents of Ohio love to gamble. In 2018, the gross gaming revenue at casinos was an impressive $1.86 billion. This put the state 8th on the list in the US for that year. Couple this with all of the major professional and college sports teams in the state, and you have a recipe for sports fans looking to bet quite a bit.

Once fully-regulated sports betting is rolled out in the state, we’ll be able to get a much more accurate picture of just how popular sports betting sites in Ohio really are.

State Of Ohio Sports Betting

Ohio Sports Betting Laws

Currently, even the best Ohio sports betting sites operate in a bit of an undefined and gray area. In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court repealed legislation that made sports betting illegal across the states. For many, this victory for betting moved online sportsbooks from the gray area into the light.

Sports
While they may be right, there’s still a little ambiguity in the process. Technically, the repeal of the legislation just opened up the right for states to make their own laws and rules around how real money sports betting and Ohio sports betting sites would operate.

Many states jumped at the opportunity to secure more tax dollars and rolled out full plans for sportsbooks. Other states, like Ohio, have yet to move forward with legislation. Does this make it illegal for residents? This is the gray area. If you look at the laws laid out by the federal government, there are no issues. If you look at the absence of laws by the states, it could be construed as an issue.

There are full regulation bills currently moving through the state legislature as of April of 2019. The bill, House Bill 194, is receiving bipartisan support with co-sponsorship from Rep. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) and Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati).

But the aim is simple—create regulations for real money sports betting in the state of Ohio. The main tenants of the bill would be a 10% tax on sports betting revenues and the granting of oversight of the industry to the state’s lottery commission.

We’re currently awaiting word on the success or failure of House Bill 194 to see what its impact on Ohio sports betting sites will be. For now, you’ll need to use your best judgment on whether you are comfortable betting online in Ohio or not. While we aren’t lawyers, we see absolutely no issues for players using the online betting sites we’ve recommended in this guide. They’re safe, fully-vetted, and have been servicing Ohio residents with real money online sports betting for decades.

Is It Safe to Bet on Sports in Ohio?

Ohio sports betting sites are 100% safe to use as long as you follow some basic safety guidelines.

  • Always use the safest Ohio online betting sites that have been vetted.
  • Never use a weak password.
  • Don’t log into your sports betting account from any public devices.
  • Stay away from your real money betting account if you’re intoxicated, emotional, or not in a clear state of mind.
  • Never wager with more money than you are comfortable losing. There is no such thing as a “lock.”

FAQ on Real Money Betting Sites in Ohio

Getting started with online betting in Ohio is easy and only takes a few minutes. As long as you have access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you're ready to get started.

Select one of the best Ohio sports betting sites recommended here and head over to their website. From there, create your free account. Once created, navigate over to the deposits page and make your first real money deposit. After you do that, navigate over to the sports betting page and pick out your first bet! It's that easy.

Online Sports Betting In Ohio Betting Ohio

You'll have extensive options to put money into your Ohio sports betting account. Different sites will offer different real money deposit options. Typically, they will include:
  • Credit Cards
  • Debit Cards
  • eChecks
  • PayPal
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Other e-wallets
  • Direct Bank Transfers

Like the blue-collar state that it is, Ohio is going slow and steady in its two-year march toward legalizing sports betting.

After not getting so much as a committee vote in 2019 despite eight hearings held in the House Finance Committee and sitting dormant for nearly the first half of 2020, the Ohio sports betting bill came to life before summer recess.

The Ohio House passed the bill on May 28. The plan is for House and Senate leaders to work out their differences on the matter during the break so that the Senate can move the bill when it comes back in September.

The future of Ohio sports betting

With a legislative schedule that goes to the end of the year, Ohio probably has the best chance of any state to legalize sports betting during the second half of 2020.

The primary sponsors of the OH sports betting bills believe the House and Senate versions are 90% similar.

The biggest difference is on what regulatory body would oversee the industry. The Senate wants the Ohio Casino Control Commission in charge while the bill passed by the House pegs the Ohio Lottery Commission.

This divide has existed since early 2019 with no attempt at a resolution, but Rep. Dave Greenspan, after getting H 194 through, said that he plans to meet with Senate sponsor Sen. John Eklund this summer.

Gov. Mike DeWine has said he wants an Ohio sports betting bill passed before the November election.

When will online sports betting launch in Ohio?

Both proposals include statewide mobile sports betting in Ohio with remote registration.

Four of the five states surrounding Ohio — Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana and West Virginia — have legalized online wagering.

If the legislative effort to legalize OH sports betting this year succeeds, Ohioans are likely to have online wagering sometime in 2021.

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