Ohio Online Gambling / Ohio Online Casinos

Ohio Online Casinos: Status of Online Casino Gambling in OH

By: Maria Alstrom Last updated:

Online gambling is becoming more popular in Ohio. Fortunately, there are currently a few different gambling options in Ohio. In this guide, we will also look at social and sweepstakes sites where Ohio residents can play casino games online.

Best Ohio online casinos 2023

For the time being, only sports betting is legal in Ohio:

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Are online casinos legal in Ohio?

As previously mentioned, Ohio does not entirely provide online casinos. Thus, there are currently only a few options available to Ohioans who want to play casino games online. Traveling to a neighboring state with authorized real-money online casinos is one option.

Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are the three states that border Ohio, and all allow legal online casinos. However, online casinos are on their path to becoming legal in Ohio with the help of the Ohio sports betting market.

Playing at one of Ohio’s social and sweepstakes online casinos is another choice. Users can play video versions of table games and online slots on these websites using virtual currencies rather than actual money. The websites occasionally give users the option to exchange their winnings for cash rewards.

Who will launch online casinos in Ohio?

Once online gambling is permitted in the state, it is reasonable to anticipate that some currently operating land-based casinos in Ohio will launch online gambling sites. In the end, we won’t know until businesses in Ohio are able to launch their own online casinos legally. Now is the perfect time for Ohio residents to explore the top Ohio online casinos.

Given that Hard Rock already runs a sizable casino in Cincinnati, it would be especially well-situated to offer Ohio residents a reputable online casino.

Legal gambling age in Ohio

The legal gambling age in Ohio is 21, and you must be that age to enter a casino or poker room. Bingo in Ohio has a 16-year-old minimum gambling age, but keno, horse betting, and lottery games all require an 18-year-old minimum. The minimum age for playing casino games at offshore casino sites in Ohio is almost always 18. However, offshore online casinos are illegal and not regulated. Therefore, most offshore casinos are not good for players. There are also a minimum age requirement of 18 for playing poker.

Ohio’s online casino laws

When it comes to Ohio’s legal online casinos in recent years, there hasn’t been much to discuss. Voters approved an amendment to the state constitution that allowed casinos in Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati, and Columbus in 2009, which was the only significant piece of legislation. Despite being legal, tribal casinos are not present in the state.

Ohio doesn’t really have very many laws governing online gambling. The state forbids the operation of both online casinos and sportsbooks. Additionally, there are no poker-specific online gambling regulations in Ohio. 

Who would regulate Ohio online casinos?

Ohio online casinos will be governed by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The Ohio Casino Control Commission has served as the primary supervisory authority for daily fantasy sports under the law. It’s interesting to note that a failed sports betting law in 2020 entrusted control of internet sports betting to the Ohio Lottery Commission. This anomaly has been resolved by the new law.

What games can be found at Ohio online casinos?

Each of the state’s four physical casinos has a substantial selection of game options.

You can test your luck at live poker, table games with live dealers, and slot machines at those four establishments. Roulette, craps, blackjack, and baccarat are a few examples of table games.

There are some forms of casino gambling available at the state’s seven racinos as well. However, the state has limited the racinos to video poker machines (VLTs) and slot machines. The VLTs have a traditional slot machine’s appearance, behavior, and occasionally even sound. None of the racinos offer poker rooms or live dealer table games. Additionally, they provide pari-mutuel betting along with live and simulcast horse racing.

Ohio has legalized sports betting, and authorities have made it available both online and in physical locations. Before launch, both Hollywood Casino Toledo and the other three facilities owned by Penn National Gaming will debut Barstool Sportsbooks.

Responsible casino gambling

Many people find gambling to be enjoyable. However, gambling problems can arise if excessive. Therefore, it’s necessary to think about the potential impacts of gambling when it’s practiced recklessly. Furthermore, gambling addiction hurts not just the person who is suffering it but also everyone around them.

Fortunately, there are a lot of resources available to assist people who have gambling problems. In Ohio, there are numerous government organizations that help those in need. A non-profit group called the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio aims to offer information and referral services about gambling addiction.

Online casinos frequently give materials and resources to preserve responsible gambling practices and offer support when required. These contain a number of precautions to aid users in monitoring their gaming behavior. Users frequently have the choice to set a deposit cap on the maximum amount that may be put into their accounts.

Furthermore, they may place a time cap on how long they are allowed to gamble on the website. Online casinos frequently also offer users connections to support services if they feel they need further assistance. It’s crucial to get help if you believe you have a gambling issue.

What legal casino options in Ohio are available?

Here are some legal casino options available to Ohio residents:

Horse racing

This is one of the fun options available to Ohio residents. Ohio residents can bet on horse racing at racetracks or websites that accept bets from Ohioans.

Land-based casinos

Currently, there are four casinos in Ohio, along with a few more racinos that include horse racing and casino games. A physical casino is a terrific place to play casino table games, video slots, and other games that Ohio internet casinos do not currently provide. Casino gambling in Ohio is one of the most popular forms of legal retail gambling.

Daily fantasy sports

DFS is a legal kind of online gambling in Ohio as of 2018. Daily fantasy sports tournaments are a good way to get into sports while waiting for legalized online sports betting in the state. DFS is accessible at FanDuel Sportsbook Ohio.

Ohio lottery

The Ohio State Lottery is a sophisticated system that has been in place since the 1970s. In-state and multi-state draw games, instant win games, scratchers, and other possibilities are all available through the lottery. There isn’t currently an online lottery available in Ohio, therefore players must buy tickets in person from a licensed store.

Ohio’s sweepstakes casinos

Residents of Ohio can legally gamble online at sweepstakes casinos. It works through the purchase of virtual coins. Moreover, these coins are available for use in online casino games. This is how sweepstakes operate. Such games include online poker, keno, or slots, depending on the website. Users that play can earn extra coins that can be exchanged for cash rewards. In Ohio, numerous online casinos that provide sweepstakes are now in business. These casinos include:

  • Chumba Casino
  • Luckyland Slots
  • Funzpoints
  • Global Poker

Ohio sweepstakes casinos offer a fun way to gamble online legally.

Future of online casinos in Ohio

The future of online casinos in Ohio is promising. Since the introduction of daily fantasy sports in 2018, it has become abundantly evident that Ohio politicians are amenable to the concept of online casinos. Furthermore, they understand the advantages of boosting the state’s gaming options.

Currently, legal sports gambling is a top priority for legislators because it will be made available to Ohio residents by January 1, 2023.

After this point, we anticipate a greater emphasis on Ohio’s decision to legalize internet casinos.

We anticipate that some of the top online casinos will offer their services in the state once the law specifies the rules for Ohio online casino sites. Residents of the state can anticipate using their desktop or mobile devices to access all of their favorite casino games. These services are available to everyone who is of legal gambling age.

Legal Ohio casinos vs offshore casino sites

It is true that offshore websites allow citizens of Ohio to access online casinos. However, playing at offshore internet casinos entails a number of significant hazards.

First, it is more challenging to tell whether an offshore website is reliable. It’s not always easy to determine whether a website is trustworthy and accountable to its customers. If there is a problem, the operator might not be required to assist the player or promise its online gamblers a good time. In these situations, problems with payments and a lack of customer service are not unusual.

Additionally, websites that are based outside of the US might not have the same level of regulation at the outset. This suggests that the online casino may shoulder even less obligation for offering its customers high-quality services. It might not be possible for users to get in touch with a regulatory agency to express complaints or grievances in the event of a problem with the operator.

In the end, using an offshore casino site to play online does not guarantee customer safety. An offshore website might not have the same security measures in place to protect users’ personal information. Customer-sensitive data, such as banking credentials, is required in order to deposit money or withdraw prizes. Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that this information would be secure on an overseas server. Overall, it is advisable to hold off on playing casino games online until Ohio legalizes online casinos. Using offshore sites is simply not worth the risk.

Launch of Ohio online casinos

Once online casinos is permitted in the state, it is realistic to anticipate that some of these currently operating land-based Ohio casinos will start online gaming sites. Given that Hard Rock already runs a sizable casino in Cincinnati, it would be especially well-situated to offer Ohio residents a respectable online casino. The BetMGM Sportsbook would probably be interested in entering the internet casino gaming market when the time comes, given MGM’s Northfield Park Racino.

In the end, we cannot be sure that businesses in Ohio can create their own internet casinos legally. Now is the perfect moment for Ohio residents to explore the top Ohio online casinos.

FAQ Ohio casinos online

What Ohio cities have casinos?

Each of Ohio’s four main cities has a casino. The Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati is run by Hard Rock in Cincinnati. Hollywood Casino Columbus offers casino games to locals in the Columbus area. The Hollywood Casino Toledo, which has more than 2,000 games, is located in Toledo. In the center of Cleveland, you can find Jack Cleveland Casino.

What are online casino options in Ohio?

Even though there are currently no online casinos or sportsbooks in Ohio, residents can still choose from a wide range of other online casino opportunities. Furthermore, Ohio law allows for the operation of online casinos that offer a variety of casino games. Online poker, keno, and slots are a few examples. Users can play using virtual money that can be exchanged for cash prizes on these websites.

Is there any tax on winnings?

Yes. In Ohio, both the state and the federal government have the right to tax gambling earnings. The total amount of your earnings will determine how much tax is due. However, it is still illegal to play at internet casinos, different tax laws may apply.

Who shall regulate online casinos in Ohio?

Three different regulatory entities in Ohio are in charge of casino regulation. Casino and daily fantasy sports regulation is presently the responsibility of the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The Ohio Lottery Commission, on the other hand, is in charge of managing lottery-related operations. Moreover, the Ohio Racing Commission is also in charge of certain other off-betting places in addition to racetracks.

Which lottery games are legal in Ohio?

The state of Ohio offers a wide range of lottery games. These include instant win games, scratchcards, and intra- and interstate draw games. You can buy lottery tickets at any authorized shop. There isn’t an online lottery in Ohio right now.