Online casinos — not yet legal

Online gambling in Ohio doesn’t include online casinos for real money at this moment in time. However, with Ohio recently introducing sports betting legislation and horse racing, it might just be a matter of time for the state to also regulate slots and table casino games.

Until that happens, players in Ohio can opt to play casino games at sweepstakes casinos like Wow Vegas or maybe even at social casinos like BetRivers.net. These types of casinos offer the same online gaming experience you’d find in other states. The only difference is that you don’t play for real money.

At social casinos, you can play for free, but there’s no money to withdraw. At sweepstakes casinos, you can still play for free, but you have a chance to convert your virtual coins into redeemable prizes.

Online betting sites — legal since 2021

In December 2021, House Bill 29 was signed into law, which was the first step to online gambling in Ohio. It took until January 2023 for Ohio gambling laws to come to fruition. In just a few days, Ohio saw significant sports betting sites moving into the state – this was because the law wanted all the different operators to launch simultaneously. The licensing process is ongoing, and we may see other sportsbooks entering the Ohio arena. In the meantime, social sites like Fliff sportsbook offer some more variety.

There is no doubt that this launch is a test to study the viability of introducing online casinos. So far, it’s been quiet on that front, but we have a feeling online casino regulation is just around the corner.

What else is legal in the state?

Ohio gambling laws have quickly caught up with the times when it comes to sports. However, we’re still seeing some movement in the Buckeye state regarding casino play. As for the gambling age in Ohio, this tends to vary according to which type of activity you want to go for.

While the gambling age in Ohio for casino and sports betting is 21 years old, 16-year-olds can legally play bingo offline. Most other activities, including lottery and horse racing, have a legal age of 18 years.

• Poker: This popular table game has yet to be available online. However, land-based casinos can offer poker games with different stakes and buy-ins. Private poker at unregulated establishments is also considered illegal.
•  Lottery: The gambling age in Ohio to play the lottery is 18 years old. So far, an online lottery is yet to be available in the state. Offline you can get your tickets from authorized retailers. You can play in eight different lotteries, including Powerball and MegaMillions. Progressive jackpot games and Keno are also available.
• Daily Fantasy Sports: DFS betting was introduced in 2018, but it took until 2020 to be available online to players in the Buckeye state. Players can now choose from websites such as DraftKings DFS and FanDuel. 
•  Bingo: All bingo games in the state are highly regulated and can only be conducted by charitable organizations and used as fundraising tools.

How to choose the best Ohio online gambling sites

Choosing the online gambling site in Ohio that is right for you should be straightforward. This section will show you precisely what we look for when deciding whether a particular site should make it into our ranks. This way, you’ll be armed with the knowledge you need to choose the gambling site that best fits your needs.

Is online gambling in Ohio safe?

Yes, gambling in Ohio is safe if you do this at licensed operators. Remember that the state regulates only sports betting and horse racing. Online casino games like slots, poker, and table games are not. So if you find yourself gambling on any casino games in Ohio, there’s a chance you’re doing this at an offshore casino. Offshore casinos aren’t bad as such, but they are not under any scrutiny of US jurisdiction, which keeps you safe.

Here at Time2play, we’ll only point you towards those operators licensed in the US, in this case, legal Ohio gambling sites. So far, we can only provide links to sports betting in Ohio and a selection of sweepstakes and social casinos.

Ohio gambling laws through time

 

Latest updates for online gambling in Ohio

Ohio gambling laws have come a long way regarding online sports betting and horse racing in just a few years. The next step will be the introduction of online casinos and poker. Here are some of the latest news that can give us an indication of when this can happen.

• Just one month after the launch of sports betting in Ohio, the projections are already going way above what was predicted, so sports betting in Ohio is a complete success. According to The Athletic, the trend is so positive it might also help build new stadiums in the state.
• Even though progress on the legalization of online casinos has been slow, there’s still hope online casino regulation might be just around the corner. This is because the recent launch in sports betting is being used as an indicative test, and just one month in sports betting revenue is considerably higher than expected.

FAQs