Ohio Gambling
Legal Ohio gambling options consist of casinos, sports betting, horse racing betting, a state lottery, and charitable gambling. Ohio casinos offer the typical variety of games and are not subject to restrictions on table games as is in the case in some other states.
The minimum age to gamble at a casino in Ohio is 21, while the minimum age to bet on horses, buy lottery tickets and participate in other forms of gaming is 18.
- Sports betting: in person (retail sportsbooks) and online sportsbooks and betting apps
- Horse racing: Live, off-track and online betting
- Lottery: Scratch-off, lotto and keno sales at authorized retailers
- Slots, video poker and table games: Four regional resort casinos
- Live poker: Regional casinos and private clubs
- Video lottery slots and video poker: seven racetrack casinos (racinos)
- Bingo and raffles: only at registered charities
- Daily fantasy sports: Online
Legal Ohio Gambling Sites
21+ and present in OH. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Online Gambling in Ohio
Three forms of online gambling are legal in Ohio
- Online sports betting apps
- Daily fantasy sports
- Advance deposit horse racing wagering
Most major online sportsbook brands, daily fantasy sites, and horse racing wagering operators operate in Ohio today. This means sports fans have plenty of options to choose from to bet on sports and horse races with operators that are legal and headquartered in the USA.
Ohio Sports Betting
Online sportsbooks, retail sportsbooks, and self-serve betting kiosks are legal and regulated in Ohio.
The most prominent Ohio sports betting apps incude:
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- Bet365 Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- Fanatics Sportsbook
- ESPN Bet
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
Sports Betting Laws in Ohio
The Ohio legislature had been trying to pass legal online sports betting since the federal ban was lifted in 2018. Proponents finally succeeded in December 2021 with the passage of HB 29 to legalize online sports betting, retail sportsbooks, and sportsbook kiosks at qualifying establishments.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission regulates all Ohio sports betting activities.
The decision to give the Ohio Casino Control Commission regulatory oversight authority was the subject of some negotiation, as many in the legislature wanted the Lottery Commission to regulate sports betting in Ohio. Other lawmakers believed the Ohio Casino Control Commission was the better choice as it could foster a competitive marketplace.
One significant difference in the Ohio sports betting bill, compared to other states, is the authorization of thousands of sports betting kiosks at local bars, taverns, and restaurants.
Ohio Casinos
There are two types of casinos in Ohio:
- Four resort-style casinos regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission
- Seven video lottery casinos regulated by the Ohio Lottery Commission
Each of the four resort-style casinos has a monopoly in its region of the state and is able to offer a full range of Vegas-style games. These include slots, video poker, keno, live poker, craps, roulette, blackjack, three card poker, and more.
The seven video lottery racinos may only offer video lottery terminals that look and function nearly the same as traditional slots.
List of Brick and Mortar Casinos in Ohio
List of Ohio Racinos
| Scioto Downs | JACK Thistledown Racino |
| MGM Northfield Park | Miami Valley Gaming |
| Belterra Park | Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway |
| Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course |
Ohio Casino Laws
After attempts failed to legalize Ohio casinos in 1980, 1990 and 1996, a constitutional amendment was approved by voters in 2009. This opened the door for four regional casinos in the state. The first Ohio casino opened in Cleveland on May 14, 2012.
The four regional casinos may spread any slot or table game available in major gaming markets. The casino tax rate in Ohio is 33 percent. There is also an initial $1.5 million application fee, a $50 million licensing fee and a commitment to invest at least $250 million. There is a renewal tax every three years of $500,000 for the application and $1.5 million for the license.
Ohio casinos may not have more than 5,000 machines and all machines must provide a theoretical payout percentage of at least 85%. There is no cap on the number of table games or poker tables. Ohio casino law is governed by ORC §3772.
The seven racinos in Ohio operate under the state lottery and may offer video lottery terminals (VLTs) under ORC §3770.21. VLT racetrack operating standards, licensing information, and other resources are available through the OH Lottery website here.
Video lottery race tracks are also subject to an initial licensing fee of $50 million and may have no more than 2,500 machines. VLT race tracks are subject to the tax scheme described in ORC §3769.087.
Tax revenues collected from VLT race tracks are used for municipal management and public education.
Ohio Poker
Poker is legal at Ohio’s four regional casinos. This includes cash games and tournaments of Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud and mixed games. Casinos charge a rake to cover the costs associated with the game.
There are also dozens of poker clubs in Ohio. These are open to the public and require a membership fee. The tables offer food and beverages and do not take a rake at the tables.
Poker Laws in Ohio
Poker is considered a game of chance under Ohio Revised Code 2915.01(D) and is therefore illegal unless offered through a licensed casino or the game is organized in a matter to meet social gambling exemptions.
Private poker clubs are legal as long as they do not charge a rake. Private clubs may charge a fee for membership, which works in effect like the time charges used by cardrooms in other states. While casinos are limited to guests 21 and older, private cardrooms may accept guests who are 18 or older.
Ohio Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports contests were legalized in Ohio through the passage of HB 132 in December 2017.
The law (OAC §3772-74) establishes a minimum age of 18 to participate, requires operators to pay an annual licensing fee that ranges from $3,000 to $30,000 depending on the number of players from Ohio who played in at least one paid contest with that operator over the previous year.
The fantasy division of the Ohio Casino Control Commission oversees the conduct of fantasy operators.
Ohio Lottery
The Ohio State Lottery has been in operation since 1974 and offers instant games, tickets to large drawings and keno. The lottery also oversees the conduct of race tracks with video lottery terminals.
To date, the lottery has provided more than $25 billion to public education across the Buckeye State.
Intrastate Ohio Lotto Games
- Pick 3
- Pick 4
- Pick 5
- Rolling Cash 5
- Classic Lotto + Kicker
Interstate Ohio Lotto Games
- Lucky for Life
- Powerball
- Mega Millions
Ohio Lottery Law
The Ohio Lottery was established by a statewide referendum in 1973. The measure passed by a nearly 3-to-1 vote and the first game went on sale the following year.
Lottery proceeds originally went to the general fund but shifted to funding public education after action from the Ohio Legislature in 1983. In 1987, Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment to permanently earmark Lottery revenues for public education. Taxes generated by the lottery may not supplant existing education funding.
Ohio Horse Racing Betting
Ohio is home to seven major horse race tracks. Online wagering is permitted through advanced deposit wagering operators, although the legality of online racing betting has never been formally decided one way or another.
All seven tracks also offer video lottery terminals (VLTs) regulated by the Ohio Lottery Commission.
Ohio Horse Racing Betting Laws
The Ohio State Racing Commission was established by the Ohio Legislature in 1933 when pari-mutuel wagering was legalized. Horse racing betting is taxed at a rate of one percent for the first $100,000 in daily racing handle. That goes up to two percent at $200,000 and three percent at $300,000. Any daily handle amount over $400,000 is taxed four percent.
Exotic wagers have an additional tax rate of 3.5 percent. There is also a rate of 0.1 percent per meet for handle under $5 million and 0.15 percent if handle is above $5 million for a meet.
Mobile horse racing betting exists in a legal gray area in Ohio. Online racing betting (also known as Advance Deposit Wagering or ADW) is not specifically addressed by state law. However, the Ohio State Racing Commission has adopted rules governing the operation of ADW services.
Horseracing bettors must be at least 18 years of age. This includes live and online betting. Patrons of the attached video lottery racinos must be at least 21 years of age.
Ohio Esports Betting
Esports are not specifically addressed by Ohio gambling law. One would need to determine the level of chance involved. Players making wagers between one other are likely to fall under skill-based gambling exemptions while spectators placing wagers on the outcomes of other people’s matches would almost certainly run afoul of criminal laws regarding illegal bookmaking.
Ohio Skill Games
Ohio’s gambling definition under Ohio Revised Code 2915.01(d) states that an outcome that is determined “largely by chance” is illegal if it is not a part of a licensed gaming activity. This allows for some amount of chance to be legal in a competition in which entrants pay a fee and compete for prizes.
Ohio Charity Bingo Laws
Ohio permits charities that qualify as a nonprofit under IRS Code 501(a) or 501(c)(3), as well as local public service departments, to operate raffles and bingos. The Ohio Attorney General’s office regulated charitable gaming. There is a fee of up to $200 to get registered. Charities must be in operation for at least two years before being granted a bingo license.
Ohio Gaming Regulator Directory
- Ohio Casino Control Commission
- Ohio Lottery
- Ohio State Racing Commission
- Ohio Attorney General (charitable gaming)
Ohio Problem Gambling Resources
Ohio is home to several state-level gambling resources as listed below. Additionally, anyone who has a question about problem gambling or who is worried about a loved one who may have a gambling problem can make use of national resources such as the National Council on Problem Gambling, Gamblers Anonymous, Gam-Talk and GamblingTherapy.com.
- Ohio for Responsible Gambling
- Get Set Before You Bet
- Play It Safe Ohio for Licking County, Knox County and Butler County help