During its first eight months of legal sports betting in the state, Ohio has generated more than $4.5 billion in handle from its customers. With numbers from the early part of the football season unavailable, it appears that Ohio sports betting is on track to average more than $500 million per month during it’s first full year since the January 1, 2023 launch. The economic impact for the state can’t be brushed aside since through August, nearly $70 million in tax revenue had been generated.
With Ohio being one of only 34 states where you can bet on sports in the U.S., there are plenty of events to wager on nightly. With baseball’s final series upon us, the pro basketball and hockey seasons underway, and football season in full swing, there’s no better time to get in on the action. Here is a closer look at some of the top OH sportsbooks. If you’re not from Ohio, see a larger list of USA sports betting sites. If you’re not from Ohio, see a larger list of USA sports betting sites.
Top Ohio Sports Betting Sites and Mobile Apps
FANATICS SPORTSBOOK
Already a leader in fan gear, Fanatics Sportsbook opened in 2023 and is establishing itself as the “most rewarding” sportsbook.
- WHAT TO KNOW: when you play with Fanatics, you can earn up to 5% FanCash on your bets, which you can spend on team swag from Fanatics or use to place more bets.
- BETS & BOOSTS: Fanatics offers generous odds boosts, Same Game Parlays, trending bets and more.
FANDUEL
FanDuel was long known for its Daily Fantasy games, but is now a major player in sports betting with a wide variety of markets, sports and leagues so there are more ways to win.
- WHAT TO KNOW: FanDuel claims to be “America’s #1 sportsbook” and offers a large menu of bet types.
- BETS & BOOSTS: FanDuel promotions include odds boosts, parlay insurance, big win bonuses and more.
DRAFTKINGS
Also with roots in Daily Fantasy Sports, DraftKings has emerged to be another popular sportsbook that gives you more ways to “have skin in the game” and get closer to the games you love.
- WHAT TO KNOW: DraftKings has thousands of ways to bet on sports, including pick’em and props pools.
- BETS & BOOSTS: the DraftKings wagering menu includes live/in-game bets, cross-sports parlays, moneylines and more.
BETMGM
Long known for its resorts and casinos, BetMGM also offers a mobile sportsbook app for all your favorite sports betting games, including all major and professional sports.
- WHAT TO KNOW: BetMGM touts itself as “the king of parlays” as it has extensive options for that bet type.
- BETS & BOOSTS: the BetMGM app features boosted bets, in-game betting, Same Game Parlays and more.
CAESARS
Another well-known brick-and-mortar brand with glitzy properties from Atlantic City to Las Vegas, the Caesars Sportsbook app offers hundreds of ways to wager.
- WHAT TO KNOW: in addition to sports, the Caesars app also offers casino games.
- BETS & BOOSTS: Caesars Sportsbook offers odds boosts, parlays, Same Game Parlays and Quick Picks.
BET365
Well-known for sports betting in the UK, bet365 has made its entrance into the US with a sports betting app that offers a wide range of sports and bets in select states.
- WHAT TO KNOW: the bet365 app has a personalized display to help easily navigate to sports you bet on.
- BETS & BOOSTS: bet on a wide range of in-play and pre-match sports including football, baseball, basketball and more.
How do I choose the best Ohio sportsbook?
- BONUSES: sportsbooks often offer generous promotions and bonuses, especially for new customers. You should review the best sports betting promo codes and offers before choosing your sportsbook.
- REWARDS: some sportsbooks offer cash back or other rewards based on your betting activity. For example, Fanatics offers up to 5% FanCash on every bet, which you can use to for more bets or team gear from Fanatics.
- ODDS: every sportsbook sets its own line on each market, so it is important to find the best odds in order to maximize your return when you win. Many bettors use multiple sportsbooks to “shop” for lines and there are sites that allow you to compare odds from multiple sportsbooks.
- MARKETS: each sportsbook will allow you to bet on different games and events (“markets”) in different ways. In addition to common bets like spread, total and moneyline, you’ll want an app with same game parlays, props, futures and other fun bet types. Markets vary by state.
What to Know: Ohio Sports Betting Sites
1. Fanatics Sportsbook: In addition to offering standard markets and unique sign up bonuses, Fanatics offers customers the ability to earn FanCash by placing sports bets. FanCash is earned at the rate of 1% on Straight Bets, 3% on Parlay Bets, and 5% on Same Game Parlays. It can be redeemed for sports betting bonuses or for the purchase of sports merchandise on their sister site, Fanatics.com. The Discover page on Fanatics Sportsbook offers marquee games, trending bets, promos, and rewards all in once place as compared to numerous places throughout the website / app.
2. DraftKings Sportsbook: The most popular sportsbook in terms of monthly handle (as of July 2023) among Ohio bettors, DraftKings offers a variety of betting markets and its rewards program caters especially to those who are daily fantasy sports players. Rewards points are earned for most wagers and can be redeemed for free bets, merchandise, or DFS entries in any sport DraftKings offers. New customers can bet $5 and receive $200 in free bets with their current promotion. The sportsbook is also known for its frequent and generous profit boosts that customers can used on specific bet types, including Same Game Parlays.
3. FanDuel Sportsbook: A top-two sportsbook in the state in handle since launch in January 2023, FanDuel offers a complex wagering menu similar to its chief competitor, DraftKings. Live betting markets and SGPs are often enhanced with specific profit boosts on the site and the interface is one of the cleanest and easiest to use among the offerings. Unlike its competitors though, FanDuel does not offer a rewards program for its customers at this time.
4. BetMGM Sportsbook: The signup offer in Ohio caters more to larger players, a $1500 risk free offer which will credit a customer with bonus bets in the event their first real money wager loses. The boosts and risk free offers on the site cater to smaller players as the limits for those tokens are generally less than the other sites. With a friendly interface and a rewards program that can be redeemed for bonus bets or MGM Resort credit, this sportsbook is one of the best in the business for a reason.
5. Caesars Sportsbook: Similar to MGM, the rewards program is what Caesars is most known for in that customers can redeem their wagering credits for use at Caesars properties. New customers can get up to $1000 in bonus bets if they lose their first bet. The sportsbook offers an extensive betting menu and specializes in specific boosts related to your home state teams.
6. Bet365 Sportsbook: One of the largest betting operators in Europe that is rolling out in selected states to gain market share in the U.S. Their signup offer of bet $1, get $365 might be the most generous of any competitor in the space. While the SGP offerings aren’t as extensive as other sportsbooks, the wagering menu, specifically rare leagues and sports are covered by Bet365.
Ohio Sports Betting History
Ohio sports betting is more than halfway through its inaugural year, as online sports betting went live on Jan. 1, 2023. The Ohio sports betting law passed both chambers of the Ohio Legislature in December 2021 before Gov. Mike DeWine signed it into law.
The state reported $1.1 billion in combined retail and online sports betting handle in its first month before dropping by 42.6% in February, but it still ranked fourth in the nation behind New York, New Jersey and Nevada for February handle. Most of the money is being placed at online sportsbooks, with $348.37 million of June’s $362.1 million coming via online wagering.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission reported an August sports betting handle of $378.8 million, up 14.4% from July. Residents in Ohio have many sports to wager on throughout the year, including college football, NFL, NBA, college basketball, NHL and MLB. In fact, the state has a team in every major league in the country. Ohio has the seventh-highest population in the United States, so its early sports betting success has not come as a surprise.
Ohio Sportsbook Apps Need to Know
| Sportsbook | Platforms | App Features* |
| Fanatics | iOS and Android apps | FanCash Rewards, bettable search, Discover page, cash outs, easy sign up, secure deposit, Withdrawal Tracker |
| FanDuel | iOS and Android apps, desktop and mobile web | Quick bets, secure deposits, horse racing, casino, cash outs, fast payouts |
| DraftKings | iOS and Android apps, desktop and mobile web | Casino, fast withdrawals, secure deposits |
| BetMGM | iOS and Android apps, desktop and mobile web | Easy deposits and withdrawals, 24/7 access, safe and secure transactions |
| Caesars | iOS and Android apps, desktop and mobile web | Caesars Rewards, casino, Quick Picks |
| Bet365 | iOS and Android apps, desktop and mobile web | Cash outs, personalized display, alerts, edit bets, My Teams, search, sports stats |
Sports Betting on Ohio Teams
Cleveland Browns: The Browns are one of four teams to have never appeared in a Super Bowl, but they played in seven NFL Championship games prior to the Super Bowl era. They also have one of the most dedicated fan bases in the country, despite posting just three winning seasons since resuming operations in 1999. Their two playoff appearances came in 2002 and 2020, winning less than one-third of their total games. They are the only team in the NFL without a logo on their helmet.
Cincinnati Bengals: Despite having more success than Cleveland as a franchise, the Bengals generally get less attention than the Browns within the state. Cincinnati won the AFC championship in 1981, 1988 and 2021, losing to the 49ers in the first two Super Bowl attempts. The Bengals won their first playoff game in 31 years during the 2021 season, ultimately losing to the Rams in the Super Bowl. They made it back to the AFC Championship in 2022, losing to the eventual Super Champions, Kansas City. Their home games are played at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds: The Reds were a charter member of the American Association in 1881 before joining the National League in 1890, making them one of the oldest teams in baseball. They have won five World Series titles, with the most recent coming in 1990. Their best stretch came in the 1970s when they won two World Series and four National League pennants, colloquially known as the “Big Red Machine.” They have an all-time record of 10,775-10,601 (.504).
Cleveland Guardians: Established 20 years after the Reds, Cleveland is the other MLB team in Ohio. The Guardians have not had nearly as much championship success as the Reds, winning just two World Series titles (1920, 1948). They have the longest active championship drought among all 30 teams, blowing a 3-1 lead against the Cubs in the 2016 World Series. Cleveland won 22 consecutive games from August 24 to September 14, 2017, marking the longest winning streak in American League history and the second-longest winning streak in MLB history. Their overall record is 9,760-9,300 (.512).
Cleveland Cavaliers: The state’s NBA team resides in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers compete in the Eastern Conference. They began as an expansion team in 1970 and experienced most of their success in the 2010s. LeBron James led them to an NBA Finals victory in 2016 after returning from a stint in Miami. The Cavaliers lost 26 consecutive games during the 2010-11 season while James was with the Heat, but he returned to lead Cleveland to four straight NBA Finals appearances. Their win over Golden State marked the city’s first major sports title since 1964 and the first time a team had ever erased a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals.
Ohio State Buckeyes: The Buckeyes have the largest overall sports endowment of any campus in North America, and they are one of seven universities to have won an NCAA national championship in baseball, men’s basketball and football. They have also won national championships in multiple smaller sports. Ohio State’s elite athletics have resulted in top-25 finishes in the Athletic Director’s Cup every year since its inception (1993). The Buckeyes have won eight national titles in football, with their most recent victory coming under coach Urban Meyer in 2014. Some other notable colleges to bet on in Ohio include Cincinnati, Ohio, Xavier, Miami (OH), Dayton and Kent State.
Top betting terms for New Ohio bettors
Against the spread: The spread is a score adjustment that accounts for expected win probability in any given game. If the Bengals are favored by 3.5 at home against the Browns, that means that a bet on Cincinnati only cashes if the team wins by four points or more. It’s one of the more popular sports betting methods.
Money line: A money line wager is simply a bet on which teams is going to win the game but the payouts are then adjusted to reflect expected win probability. In that same Bengals vs. Browns game, Cincinnati might be the -170 favorite on the money line. That means that a wager of $170 would return $100 if Cincinnati were to beat Cleveland outright.
Over/under: One of the simplest sports bets, a line is set on the expected number of total runs, points or goals scored and you simply bet whether or not the total finishes above or below that number. If the over/under for Cavaliers vs. Knicks is 204.5, an over bet cashes when 205 points or more are scored.
Parlay: A parlay is a string of bets put together that increases payout substantially. However, every leg of the wager must be successful in order for the ticket to cash. So if you bet the Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, Kings and Bruins together in an NHL parlay, all four teams must win.
Live Betting: With the popularity of online sports betting allowing thousands of players to bet at the same time, live betting or in-game wagering has surged in popularity. Odds are adjusted in real-time throughout any given matchup and you can bet against the spread, money line and total while even making hundreds of prop bets for individual games.
Futures: These bets are related to a team’s season-long outlook. Futures bets are updated throughout the season, but the best time to get value is often before the season begins. They can include win totals, division odds, championship odds and player awards.
Handle: This is the amount of money wagered at a sportsbook. It can be used for monthly/annual revenue, but it can also be used to talk about a specific game or sport. The handle is generally larger for playoff games than regular season contests, as they attract more attention from fans and bettors.
Odds-on favorite: If a favorite is heavier than even money (+100), they are considered an odds-on favorite. This is any team or player that is -101 or shorter in the betting market.
Teaser: Teasers are similar to parlays in that they combine multiple bets into one ticket, but they are different in that they allow bettors to adjust the point spread. For example, a bettor can adjust Cleveland from a 7.5-point underdog to a 13.5-point underdog and Cincinnati from a 7.5-point favorite to a 1.5-point favorite at worse odds to make it a safer bet.
Prop Bet: Bets that are not included in the spread or total are referred to as prop bets. They can be player props, team props or game props, and they are particularly popular during the biggest games of the year, giving bettors unique ways to wager.
Both Teams To Score: A wager in hockey and soccer where bettors can bet for or against both teams to avoid a shutout. Generally the odds are much more favorable for at least one team not to record a regulation goal.
Will There Be Overtime?: Customers can bet on a game in any sport going to extra time, which can yield a significant payout in the lesser chance that occurs.
No Runs First Inning (NRFI): A fun wager for action bettors that no runs will be scored combined between the top and bottom of the first inning. Depending on the pitchers and strength of the top of both teams’ lineups, value may be found on betting against there being any scoring before at least the second inning.
You can also bet on sports in states like New York, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Kentucky.
