Sports fans in Ohio will have to wait until January 2023 to place bets on their favorite leagues.
Is sports betting legal in Ohio?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Ohio, though no sportsbooks have launched yet.
The sports betting bill, HB 29, passed both chambers of the Ohio Legislature in December 2021 with bipartisan support and Governor Mike DeWine signed the bill to legalize Ohio online sports betting shortly after. The bill, which took effect March 23, 2022, allows sports gaming through licensed operators of online sportsbooks and brick-and-mortar establishments.
When will sports betting in Ohio launch?
Ohio sports betting is set to launch on January 1, 2023, a universal launch date that includes online and retail betting. The date was announced by the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) in June. However, HB 29 designates that date as the deadline for the OCCC to launch in the state.
What is the legal age for betting?
The legal gambling age in Ohio is either 16, 18, or 21. You can play bingo as a 16-year-old, you can play keno, lotteries, and bet the horses at 18, but you must be 21 to make casino bets. Sports betting is likely to follow the 21-year-old limit.
Highlights of the Ohio sports betting bill:
- All betting revenue is taxed at 10%, with 2% of taxes going towards problem gambling assistance.
- There are no major restrictions on the types of wagers eligible to be offered by sportsbooks, which is great news for fans of Ohio State University, who will now be able to wager on their favorite team.
- 25 Type A mobile sports betting licenses that could ultimately allow for up to 50 sportsbook skins in Ohio. Professional sports teams and casinos can apply for a second sportsbook skin, however, they must demonstrate an economic benefit to the state in order to partner with a second sports betting site.
- 40 Type B retail sports betting licenses with strict location requirements. Brick-and-mortar Ohio sportsbooks cannot be placed in a county with less than 50,000 residents, and preference is given to professional sports leagues and teams to receive a Type B license.
- Type C licenses will allow Class D liquor-licensed businesses to establish sports betting kiosks.
Sports betting becoming legal in Ohio means that the state will keep the tax revenue that was being spent by bettors making legal wagers in bordering states. Ohio joins neighbors Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan in legalizing sports betting. Kentucky has yet to garner the support needed to legalize sports betting.
For more information and updates, please refer to the OCCC page.