Ohio Sports Betting – Is Sports Betting Legal In Ohio?

• Bally Bet: Bally Bet launched in Ohio on Aug. 30, 2023, which coincided with the start of the Cleveland Browns’ season. The Browns are partnered with Bally Bet.
• Bet365: Bet365 was one of Ohio’s first sportsbooks, launching in the state when sports betting went live on Jan. 1, 2023. They’re the sports betting partner of the Cleveland Guardians.
• Betfred: Betfred also launched in Ohio on Jan. 1, 2023, and partnered with the Cincinnati Bengals. Ohio is one of 10 states where Betfred is legal.
• betJACK: The sportsbook arm of the Jack Casino located in downtown Cleveland, this sportsbook is Ohio’s version of a local sportsbook.
• BetMGM: The “King of Sportsbooks” launched in Ohio the first day that sports betting was legal in the state. It has a physical sportsbook at MGM Northfield Park outside Cleveland.
• betPARX: betParx launched on Feb. 14, 2023. It has a partnership with the Memorial Tournament, a PGA tournament located at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Columbus.
• BetRivers: BetRivers launched in Ohio on Jan. 1, 2023, and is the sports betting partner of Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
• Betr: Betr soft-launched in Ohio on Jan. 1, 2023, before going live two weeks later. It’s the official sports betting partner of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
• Betway: Another sportsbook that’s been legal since sports betting became legal in the state, Betway was once the sportsbook partner of the Cavaliers.
• Caesars: One of the biggest sportsbooks in the state, Caesars has a partnership with the Cavaliers, which includes a physical sportsbook inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
• DraftKings: DraftKings launched its mobile sportsbook in Ohio in January 2023. It has a partnership with the Guardians and has a physical sportsbook in Hollywood Casino in Toledo.
• Fanatics: A newer sportsbook, Fanatics launched in Ohio in June 2023. It has physical sportsbooks at Progressive Field (the home of the Guardians) and Nationwide Arena (the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets).
• FanDuel: An official betting partner of the Browns, FanDuel launched in Ohio in January 2023 and has a physical sportsbook at Belterra Park in Cincinnati.
• ESPN BET: One of the newest sportsbooks on this list, ESPN BET launched in Ohio in November 2023.
• Hard Rock: Hard Rock Sportsbook has a large presence in the southwestern side of Ohio thanks to the physical Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati.
• MVGBet: Another local sportsbook, MVGBet is the sports betting arm of Miami Valley Gaming, a racetrack and casino in Warren County.
• Prime: This Sportsbook launched in Ohio in September 2023. One plus is that it doesn’t put any limits on sharp bettors.
• SuperBook: SuperBook launched in Ohio in January 2023 and has a physical presence in the state at Taft’s Ale House.
• Tipico: Tipico launched in Ohio in January 2023 and is a sports betting partner of the Columbus Crew.

The legal sports betting age in Ohio is 21. If you’re under 21 and try to sign up for a sportsbook in Ohio, you won’t be able to register.

Sports betting apps have age verification tools to block underage users.

Ohio is like most states when it comes to setting the legal gambling age at 21.

Between Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio has a bevy of professional sports teams.

• Cleveland Cavaliers

Founded as an NBA expansion team in 1970, the Cavaliers were a strong team in the mid-1980s and into the 1990s.

After several years of poor performance, the Cavaliers received the top pick in the 2003 draft, selecting Ohio native Lebron James. James led the Cavs to five NBA Finals appearances, helping them win their first title in franchise history in 2016.

• Cleveland Guardians

Cleveland’s MLB team has played under several names since being founded in 1894 (Rippers, Lake Shores, Blues, Broncos, Naps, Indians). In 2021, the team changed its name to the Guardians after the “Guardians of Traffic” statues near the field.

Cleveland’s baseball team won two World Series titles—one in 1920 and another in 1948. The team has the longest active championship drought in baseball.

• Cleveland Browns

The original Browns first played in 1946, named after head coach Paul Brown. In 1996, that team moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens.

To facilitate the move, the NFL guaranteed the city of Cleveland a team under the old name, logo and branding a few years later. In 1999, the Browns played again, although they’re one of the few NFL teams that have never made a Super Bowl appearance.

• Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets played their inaugural NHL season in 2000 but haven’t had much success. They made their first playoff appearance in 2009, and their lone postseason series win came in 2019. They have yet to win a Stanley Cup.

• Columbus Crew

Founded in 1994, the Crew are one of the charter members of MLS. Their inaugural season came in 1996 and they’ve won three MLS Cups, most recently in 2023.

• Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have been around since 1882 and were one of the first MLB teams. They won their first World Series in 1919 before winning another championship in 1940.

They dominated the 1970s as “The Big Red Machine” and won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. Their last championship came in 1990.

• Cincinnati Bengals

Founded in 1967, the Bengals became a team right before the AFL-NFL merger. They have played in three Super Bowls (all losses), with their most recent appearance coming in 2022 in Super LVI – a loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

• FC Cincinnati

Originally a member of the United Soccer League, FC Cincinnati was founded in 2015 and joined MLS in 2019.

Ohio also has a number of notable college programs. While Ohio sports bettors are unable to wager on college player props, they can still bet on team and game props/markets.

• Akron Zips

The Zips, named after the rubber overshoes made by BF Goodrich, have been a Division I football program since 1987, becoming the first team to move from Division I-AA to I-A. They won their first Mid-American Conference Title on the gridiron in 2005 and have played in three bowl games.

The Zips have made six NCAA Tournaments on the hardwood along with reaching the Division II Championship game twice in the 1970s. They’ve never won an NCAA Tournament game but have won three games in the NIT.

• Bowling Green Falcons

Another MAC school, Bowling Green has made four NCAA Tournaments in basketball, with its last appearance coming in 1968. The Falcons’ lone NCAA Tournament championship came in 1963 when they defeated Notre Dame.

The Falcons have had more success in football, winning 12 MAC Championships along with a United Press International National Championship in 1959. Their main rival is Toledo.

• Cincinnati Bearcats

Cincinnati’s first football team was fielded in 1885, making the program one of the oldest in the country. The Bearcats have won over 600 games since then. They also became the first Group of Five team to make the College Football Playoff in 2021, where they lost to Alabama.

The Bearcats also have a strong resume on the hardwood with more than 1,880 wins. They’ve made it to 33 NCAA Tournaments and won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 1961 and 1962. Their most famous basketball alumni is Oscar Roberston, who played for the Bearcats from 1957 to 1960.

• Cleveland State Vikings

The Vikings have made it to three NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2021. In their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1986, they advanced all the way to the Sweet Sixteen. They compete in the Horizon League.

• Dayton Flyers

Named after the Wright brothers, the Flyers have had a football team since 1906. They were a Division I team until 1976 but are now in the FCS. Their list of notable alumni includes Jon Gruden, Chuck Noll and Brandon Staley.

The Flyers have become one of the nation’s top mid-major college basketball programs and received the program’s lone first-place vote in the final AP poll in 2020. Dayton was projected to be a No. 1 pick in that year’s tournament had it not been canceled due to COVID-19.

• Kent State Golden Flashes

The Golden Flashes have only made five bowl appearances in their history. They recently found success from 2018 to 2022 under coach Sean Lewis before he left for the University of Colorado.

Kent State has enjoyed more success on the hardwood, however, making seven NCAA Tournaments. The Golden Flashes put together one of the best Cinderella runs of all time when they made it to the Elite Eight in 2002 and have turned into a mid-major powerhouse under Rob Senderdoff.

• Miami RedHawks

Miami’s football program is perhaps best known as the “Cradle of Coaches” after producing several successful head coaches, including Sean McVay, John Harbaugh, Jim Tressel and Woody Hayes. The RedHawks have won more than 700 football games.

Their basketball team has made 17 NCAA Tournaments, with the last appearance coming in 2007. Their highest-profile basketball alumni are Ron Harper and Wally Szczerbiak.

• Ohio Bobcats

A charter member of the MAC, Ohio’s football program has tallied over 600 wins and played in 15 bowl games. The Bobcats were a powerhouse in the 2010s under head coach Frank Solich, who led OU to bowl games nine times during the decade.

The Bobcats have made it to 14 NCAA Tournaments and have five NIT appearances. They’ve advanced to the Sweet Sixteen three times and made it to the Elite Eight in 1964.

• Ohio State Buckeyes

One of the nation’s biggest college teams, the Buckeyes have won eight national championships in football, with the most recent win coming in 2014 (the first year of the College Football Playoff). They’ve had seven Heisman Trophy winners, including the only two-time winner (Archie Griffin).

While the Buckeyes haven’t had the same kind of success on the hardwood, their resume is strong there as well. They’ve won one NCAA Tournament (1960) and have made 10 Final Fours in 27 appearances.

• Toledo Rockets

The Rockets’ best football season came in 1970 when they finished the season at No. 12 in the AP poll — one of four seasons in the Top 25. The Rockets have won 15 MAC titles and appeared in 20 bowl games.

The Rockets have appeared in four NCAA Tournaments in basketball with their last appearance coming in 1980 – one of the longest droughts in NCAA history. They’ve only won one MAC title on the hardwood.

• Wright State Raiders

The Raiders’ first sponsored men’s basketball team came in 1970, with the team winning a Division II National Championship 13 years later. The Raiders became a Division I program in 1987 and have made four NCAA Tournaments in the time since.

• Xavier Musketeers

Another mid-major powerhouse on the hardwood, the Musketeers have made over 25 NCAA Tournaments and have played in the Big East since 2013. They earned their first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2018 and have won the NIT twice.

• Youngstown State Penguins

The only Division I program to have a Penguin as its mascot, YSU competes at the FCS level in football, where it won four national titles under Jim Tressel in the 1990s.

The Penguins compete in the Horizon League in basketball and have yet to make the NCAA Tournament. They made it to the Division II Sweet Sixteen in 1972 and recorded their first Horizon League regular season championship in 2023.

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