Ohio Sports Betting — Best Sportsbooks and Apps | OutKick

A general view of betting odds on the video board at the Westgate SuperBook sports book on Aug. 4, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

Ohio sports betting has been around for over three years, launching on Jan. 1, 2023. Bettors can choose from 13 legal sportsbook apps all licensed by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Below you will find an overview of sports betting in Ohio and reviews of the apps available. 

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Ohio?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Ohio. It can be done using mobile apps or in person for anyone over 21 years of age. In Ohio, you can bet on any professional sporting event and collegiate event, but you cannot wager on college player props. 

Best Ohio Sportsbooks and Betting Apps

Determining which sportsbook is best for you can be a difficult task. We’ve taken into consideration things like user interface, experience, withdrawal and deposit options, and overall accessibility. Hopefully, this will help you determine which app is right for you. 

FanDuel Sportsbook Ohio

• FanDuel Sportsbook provides unique betting opportunities on a wide range of sports and games.
• FanDuel allows users to make parlays that other sportsbooks won’t, for example, on college football futures.
• The bet builder function is easy to use and navigate.
• They offer unique options for betting that other books don’t, and they started the same game parlay trend.
• The search functionality of FanDuel is not always easy to use to find what you’re looking to bet on.

BetMGM Sportsbook Ohio

• BetMGM has virtually every sport you can imagine as an option to wager on.
• The rewards for BetMGM are some of the best in the business and can be used on a wide range of options.
• The Edit My Bet feature is very cool for adding or altering a wager after you’ve initially placed it.
• The user interface is great and easy to use.
• There can be very slow loading times, especially when there is a larger game happening.

bet365 Sportsbook Ohio

• The very best sportsbook if you want to bet on soccer games, even from obscure markets.
• Offers competitive odds with typically lower juice than other sportsbooks
• The live betting option is potentially the best in the market.
• Bet365 offers early payouts for a wide variety of bets, like when a team goes up 20 points in basketball.
• There is no loyalty program for bet365 sportsbook, so there isn’t much incentive to keep coming back.

Fanatics Sportsbook Ohio

• Fanatics Sportsbook provides one of the cooler rewards programs if you like sports memorabilia and apparel.
• They offer strong stability during major sporting events, without much lag time for placing wagers and monitoring games.
• The app is very clean and easy to find what you’re looking for. You can also theme it with your favorite teams.
• There can often be errors with promotional terms, but sometimes this is on the user instead of the app.

theScore Bet Ohio

• theScore Bet offers as many or more player props than any other sportsbook.
• Withdrawals are processed very quickly, giving users their money typically within 24 hours.
• theScore Bet has one of the smoothest interfaces you’ll find, and the integrations with the media network provides users with quick updates on games.
• Verification errors tend to be the biggest complaint of theScore Bet, with many users saying there are delays before they can use the account.

Hard Rock Bet Ohio

• Users of Hard Rock Bet can find lines posted earlier than most other competitors.
• The app is one of the more reliable out there and provides bettors with consistent play.
• In-game betting is simple and wagers can be placed very quickly.
• There are not often a ton of promos provided to Hard Rock Bet users, especially in comparison to other apps.

Ohio Sportsbook Welcome Offers

Welcome offers are a great way for you to try a new app. Ohio sportsbooks offer new users profit boosts, deposit matches, and bet-and-get offers, among others. A profit boost will often give you double your odds, so if you bet $100 on a +100 wager and use a 100% profit boost, you’ll receive $300 total if it wins instead of $200. 

Deposit matches give you a 1:1 match for every dollar you deposit. These are bonus funds, and are not the same as real cash, but can be used to place wagers. A bet and get offer is typically betting a small amount to receive bonus funds. For example, betting $10 on a game and receiving $250 in bonus bets. 

How to Sign Up for a Sportsbook in Ohio

1. Download the Ohio sportsbook of your choice.
2. Enter your personal information.
3. Go through account verification and location checks.
4. Deposit funds into your account.
5. Claim the welcome offer. Note: This step may be completed during the sign-up process.
6. Place your first wager. (You must be within the state limits to wager, and note that being by the border of a state could fail the geolocation check).

Ohio Sports Betting Laws and Timeline

On Jan. 1, 2023, sports betting became legal in Ohio with Governor Mike DeWine signing House Bill 29. The actual signing took place in December 2021, but the first app wasn’t available until January 2023 after being cleared by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Since the launch, over 10 different sportsbooks have been legalized for online or retail use.  

Teams and Markets to Bet On in Ohio

There is no shortage of professional and college teams to bet on in Ohio. In the NFL, you have two teams that you can choose from, with the Bengals and Browns taking center stage. There are also two MLB teams you can wager on with the Guardians in Cleveland and the Reds in Cincinnati. The Cleveland Cavaliers are an option for NBA fans, and the Columbus Blue Jackets give hockey fans an extra incentive. Ohio State is also one of the most popular college football programs in the country. 

College Sports Betting Rules in Ohio

The professional level is not the only way to bet on sports in Ohio. Instead, you can bet on college-level games. You can bet on sides, totals, and spreads with Ohio and national college teams. However, you cannot place wagers on player props from college games. 

Retail Sportsbooks in Ohio

There are 13 retail sportsbooks in Ohio. The vast majority of these retail locations are found within casinos. However, there is one at Dayton Raceway and another at JACK Thistledown Racino.

Licensed Retail Locations:

Belterra Park (FanDuel) – Anderson Township

Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs (Caesars) – Columbus

Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati (Hard Rock Bet) – Cincinnati

Hollywood Casino Columbus (ESPN BET) – Columbus

Hollywood Casino Toledo (ESPN BET) – Toledo

Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway (ESPN BET) – Dayton

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley (ESPN BET) – Youngstown

JACK Cleveland Casino (betJACK) – Cleveland

JACK Thistledown Racino (betJACK) – North Randall

MGM Northfield Park (BetMGM) – Northfield

Miami Valley Gaming (MVGBet) – Lebanon

BetMGM Sportsbook at The Banks – Cincinnati

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Caesars) – Cleveland

Responsible Gambling Resources in Ohio

• Gambling Network of Ohio 614-750-9899
• 1-800-589-9966
• 1-800-GAMBLER
• 1-800-MY-RESET
• National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700
• Gam-Anon and Gamblers Anonymous

Ohio Sports Betting FAQ

Is sports betting legal in Ohio?

Yes, sports betting has been legal in Ohio since January 1, 2023. There are 13 or more sports books or betting apps within the state that are approved for use.  

What is the best sportsbook in Ohio?

The best sportsbook in Ohio is open to user interpretation. The guide above should help provide you with different details to consider when choosing which sportsbook is right for you.  

Can you use more than one sportsbook in Ohio?

Yes! You should use more than one sportsbook as they offer different odds, incentives, and other benefits to using more than one app. 

How old do you have to be to bet in Ohio?

You must be at least 21 years of age and located in Ohio when placing the wager in order to bet on sports in Ohio. 

Can you bet on college sports in Ohio?

Yes, you can bet on sides, totals, and spread options in Ohio, but you cannot bet on college player props.

Do you have to live in Ohio to bet there?

No, you do not need to be a resident, but you must be physically located in Ohio in order to place the wager. 

How many sportsbooks are legal in Ohio?

There are at least 13 sportsbooks that are legal in Ohio for you to use. 

Can you bet on sports in Ohio without an app?

Yes, there are retail locations where you can place a wager if you prefer to do that instead of betting via an app.