Gambling Laws in Ohio

Ohio gambling laws are fairly permissive with most activities being widely available in the Buckeye State. However, online gambling is still largely unregulated. Online and offline sports betting was the most recent type to be legalised, with the first bets taken in 2023.

Which Gambling Activities Are Legal in Ohio?

The Ohio gaming laws are covered in the Revised Code sections 2915.01 and 3769.01. These allow a variety of activities, but most forms of online gambling are still unregulated in the state. Gambling in Ohio is regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

Playing Casino Games

This is legal and the state is home to 4 commercial casinos and seven racinos. These venues offer betting opportunities on slots, table games and Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs). There are no tribal casinos in the state of Ohio.

Online casino gambling in Ohio is currently illegal. The legislation focuses more on operators though, so if any new online casinos were to be established in the state, the owners would be prosecuted and not individual players.

Poker Gambling

Poker gambling is legal, with eight venues operating games in the state. The four commercial casinos are home to well-stocked poker rooms, while four standalone clubs offer games and tournaments on a slightly smaller scale.

Online poker gambling is unregulated. As is the case for online casino gambling, the law focuses on prohibiting operators and professional players.

Bingo

Bingo gambling is legal with ten halls currently providing entertainment to residents. These establishments are all run by charities which are the only entities permitted to run bingo games in Ohio. Online bingo gambling is not permitted but there are many offshore sites which accept residents from the state - but shouldn't do.

Lottery Tickets, Instant Win Games and Keno

The Ohio Lottery offers tickets for popular draw-based games such as Powerball and Mega Millions, plus scratch cards, instant wins and keno. Residents can buy tickets and games at numerous retailers across the state.

The state lotto once offered the facility to buy tickets online, but this option was suspended and is now considered an illegal activity.

Social Gambling and Online Crypto Casinos

Social casinos that allow players to enjoy games using only play chips are permitted in Ohio. Home-based poker games are also permitted, as long as no commercial-style profiting is made. Modern forms of gambling, such as lootboxes and skins have not yet been addressed regarding legalities, leaving these activities unregulated.

Ohio accepts Bitcoin and other virtual currencies, with residents able to buy cryptos via the many ATMs in the state. However, none of the existing venues in the Buckeye State accepts these as payment. There are plenty of crypto-gambling sites which accept Ohioans though and residents playing at these will do so at their own risk.

Ohio Sports Betting Laws

Sports betting is legal, with recent law changes allowing residents to bet on various markets via licensed operators. Sportsbooks are offered at casinos, racinos and various sports venues across the state. Online sports betting is also legal in Ohio.

The state's seven racinos and one dedicated racetrack can offer live and off-track horse racing, with online parimutuel betting on horse races also allowed via sites such as TwinSpires.

Daily fantasy sports betting is legal, with top operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel offering opportunities in the state.

Minimum Age to Gamble in Ohio

The legal gambling age varies depending on the activity. Those aged 16+ can legally play bingo, while only those aged 18 or over can play keno or lottery games or bet on horse races. You must be 21+ to play casino games or bet on sports at the upper end of the scale.

Tax Regulations on Gambling Winnings

Ohio gambling tax regulation means sports betting operators are charged a 10% tax on gross revenue. However, there are plans to increase this tax rate to 20%.

For players in the state, gambling winnings are liable for a 4% tax at the state level, while a 24% withholding tax is charged at the federal level.

A Brief History of Gambling Laws in Ohio

The first form of gambling to be legalised was parimutuel horse race betting in 1933. Lottery gambling was legalised and the Ohio Lottery was launched in 1974, with charitable bingo gambling permitted shortly afterwards in 1975.

Casinos were legalised in 2009 when it became apparent that residents were travelling to neighbouring states to gamble. The first casino in the state, the Jack Cleveland Casino, opened in May 2012.

Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) were permitted in racinos from 2012.

Daily fantasy sports betting was legalised in 2018.

Online and offline sports betting were legalised in 2023.

Key Facts

• Casino gambling is legal and available via four casinos and seven casinos.

• Online casino gambling is unregulated.

• Poker gambling is legal and offered at the state's four casinos and four standalone poker clubs.

• Online poker gambling is illegal.

• Bingo gambling is legal, but only charitable organisations are allowed to run games.

• Online bingo gambling is not permitted.

• Lottery gambling in-person is legal via the Ohio Lottery but playing online is illegal.

• Sports betting is legal in both online and offline forms.

• Daily fantasy sports betting is legal.