Online betting in Ohio

What Gambling Is Legal in Ohio

Sports Betting in Ohio

Is sports betting legal in Ohio? Yes. Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 29 in December 2021, and the market went live January 1, 2023. 

You have to be 21 to place a bet, and it applies to both online and retail wagering.

Fantasy Contests in Ohio

You should know that fantasy contests are legal too. House Bill 132 authorizes them, and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3774 codifies them. 

Operators need a license from the Ohio Casino Control Commission before offering paid contests here. What’s more, the age here drops to 18, three years younger than sports betting.

Ohio Online Casinos

Ohio online casinos don't exist, and that's unlikely to change soon. The state has never authorized real-money online casino games. Still, Senate Bill 197 would allow up to 11 online casino brands. It also includes online lottery and horse racing betting. The proposed tax rate would range from 36% to 40%, depending on the ownership structure.

House Bill 298 takes a narrower approach, though. It would limit licenses to Ohio's existing casinos and racinos. The bill also sets a 28% tax rate and would ban dual-currency sweepstakes casinos. Neither bill has passed yet, but HB 298 isn't dead. Lawmakers revisited it in September 2026 and added a provision that would steer iGaming promo credits toward physical casinos. 

Online Poker in Ohio

Is online poker legal in Ohio? The answer is no. 

It was never cut out separately from the broader online casino prohibition. That said, the same "not authorized" answer applies here too.

Gambling Age in Ohio

Gambling age in Ohio actually depends on what you're doing. Sports betting and casino gaming both require you to be 21. Yet, fantasy contests, the Ohio Lottery, bingo, and pari-mutuel horse racing all require 18.

Worth a note here: There's no Ohio law banning the dual-currency sweepstakes model right now. The only sweepstakes-ban language anywhere is buried in HB 298's stalled bundle.

Who Regulates Gambling in Ohio

The Ohio Casino Control Commission

One body handles both legal online products here. The Ohio Casino Control Commission licenses: 

• casino gaming, 
• sports gaming, 
• fantasy contests, and 
• skill-based machines, 

This means both online products you can use in Ohio answer to the same regulator.

The Ohio Lottery Commission

The Ohio Lottery Commission runs the state lottery directly.

Notably, it also helps administer sports gaming kiosks placed in liquor-permit venues, working alongside the Casino Control Commission on that specific piece.

Where to Get Help

Check the Commission's own licensee register before trusting any operator claim you see online. 

For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-589-9966, or text 4HOPE to 741741. The national line, 1-800-MY-RESET, is also available.

Where You Can Bet in Ohio

Sportsbooks in Ohio

14 online sportsbooks are currently live in Ohio, well under the state's cap of 25 licenses.  Always compare them directly on our Ohio sportsbooks page instead of just guessing.

Fantasy Contests in Ohio

Any operator offering paid fantasy contests here needs that same Commission license first.  Our Ohio fantasy contests page breaks down which ones actually hold one.

What Is Not Available Here

If you searched for online casino or online poker, neither exists legally in Ohio right now.  Retail sportsbooks and gaming kiosks do exist around the state too, alongside the online options already covered.

Tax on Gambling Winnings in Ohio

Ohio State Tax on Winnings

Ohio moved to a flat 2.75% tax on nonbusiness income above a $26,050 zero bracket for 2026, under House Bill 96.  That's down from 3.125% in 2025, which itself was cut from the old 3.5% top rate. Gambling winnings get folded into that same calculation, with no special rate of their own.

What Gets Withheld and When

Withholding on lottery, casino, and sports gaming winnings tracked that same schedule downward.  It moved from 4% to 3.125% in 2025, then down to 2.75% in 2026.

Why Losses Don't Help Here

Here's the part that catches a lot of Ohio bettors off guard. Ohio sports betting tax rules allow no deduction for gambling losses at all.  The state starts its calculation from your federal AGI, which already includes your full winnings. Most Ohio cities also add their own municipal income tax on top of the state rate, typically somewhere between 1% and 3% depending on where you live. Please know that this is not tax advice.

General information only; not tax advice.

Pending Ohio Gambling Legislation

The Two iGaming Bills

Ohio can legalize online casino gaming through an ordinary statute.  There’s no need for a ballot measure or constitutional amendment, so the issue comes up again and again each session. House Bill 298 and Senate Bill 197 were both introduced in 2025 to do just that.

What Would Change If One Passed

HB 298 would limit licenses to Ohio's existing casinos and racinos. It would tax iGaming revenue at 28%. And the bill would also ban sweepstakes casinos. SB 197 takes a broader approach now. It would allow up to 11 online casino brands, along with online lottery and horse racing. The tax rate would range from 36% to 40%, depending on the ownership structure.

What Has Not Changed

SB 197 has not advanced beyond committee since its introduction. HB 298 was also referred to committee, but neither bill has passed. The debate has also become part of Ohio's 2026 political discussion. Gov. Mike DeWine has publicly opposed expanding gambling to online casino games.

Frequently asked questions

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