Ohio Online Gambling Sites & Legal Casinos 2024

While real money online casino gambling is still illegal in Ohio, there are plenty of ways to wager money and earn a return on your investment. Below we list our recommended social and sweepstakes casinos which are perfectly legal and completely safe.

Online Casino Laws in Ohio

Online casino games are still illegal in Ohio. However, with online sports betting very close to launching, it’s only a matter of time before real money slots and table games will be available for Ohio gamblers. For now, gamblers at Ohio online casinos are restricted to opening accounts at play-money social casinos and sweepstakes gambling sites.

• Casino games and slots are legal at commercial casinos in Ohio.
• Online social casinos are legal and offer many top-name slots.
• Online rewards programs offer benefits and perks.
• Online sweepstakes casinos offer a way to win real money.

The Gambling Age in Ohio

As per the Ohio Casino Control Commission, the minimum gambling age in the state is 18 for bingo, lottery, Daily Fantasy Sports, and parimutuel horse racing betting. The minimum age for Ohio poker rooms and land-based casinos is 21. At the time of writing, online casinos weren't legal in Ohio, but online sports betting was. The minimum age for online gambling in Ohio is 21. This applies to online sports betting apps and, in the future, online casinos.

Are there Taxes on Gambling Winnings in Ohio?

Gambling in Ohio isn't a tax-free activity. This means you'll be liable for state and federal tax on your gambling winnings. You'll be issued a Form W-2G when your winnings exceed certain amounts. The information on this form must be included in your annual state and federal tax returns.

Federal tax rates range from 10% (up to $11,000 worth of income) to 37% (over $578,126 worth of income). Ohio has six tax rates ranging from 0% (under $22,150 worth of income) to 4.797% (over $221,300 worth of income).

You might find that a gambling operator withholds 4% of your winnings to cover your tax liability. This will be detailed on the Form W-2G and can be deducted from your total income. What you can't deduct, however, is losses.

How are Ohio Online Casinos Regulated?

Online casinos aren't legal in Ohio at the time of writing, but sports betting sites were. These online gambling sites are regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. This regulator also oversees land-based casinos in Ohio. These venues can offer casino games, sports betting, bingo, and poker.

The Ohio State Racing Commission is responsible for parimutuel wagering in the state, while the Ohio Lottery handles all lottery draws. Social and sweepstakes casinos abide by federal laws, but they're still overseen by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

Social Casinos vs. Sweepstakes Casinos

Ohio residents can already get their fill of online slots and table games. Sweepstakes casinos offer a legal way to win real cash by playing classic gambling games. The sweepstakes model is rather unusual in terms of Ohio online gambling. You start by purchasing virtual Gold Coins to play slots and games. You can then win Sweeps Coins which can be redeemed for cash prizes. It’s totally legal and permitted under existing laws.

Ohio online gambling also stretches to social casinos. Some of Ohio’s commercial casinos and racinos offer free-play social casino gaming online. Sites such as Hard Rock Social are examples of legal social casinos in Ohio. You can log in and try out great video slots such as China Shores and Double Ruby. Plus, you can join the Mychoice Rewards Program to earn benefits, or opt-in to prize slot leaderboard challenges and win a ton of credits to use on games of your choice.

BetRivers.net Social Casino

In lieu of being able to use real money online casinos in Ohio, social sites are great alternatives. BetRivers.net is among the best social online casinos in Ohio. We can say this with a high degree of confidence because it's the free-play version of a major real money casino. That real money online casino is BetRivers, a subsidiary of Rush Street Interactive.

For context, Rush Street Interactive is a software developer that creates some of the industry's top games. Therefore, what you get with BetRivers.net is a free-play platform that looks and feels like a real money online casino. It has hundreds of games, including hits like Big Bass Bonanza, Cash Machine, and Lightning Roulette. Add to this a ton of promotions and a slick interface, and BetRivers.net is the next best thing to an online casino real money Ohio gaming experience.

Top Features:

• Hundreds of popular games, including slots and live dealer tables
• Free-play casino tournaments
• The best online casino Ohio players can access via their mobile

Promotions: Free credits every four hours, daily prize draws, loyalty rewards

What Casino Games Are Available in Ohio?

The best Ohio online casinos for social and sweeps play match their land-based counterparts in terms of gaming options. There will be more variety when online gambling Ohio real money casino apps get approved by lawmakers. Until that happens, you'll be able to play the following games at brick and mortar casinos, as well as social sites:

Slots

Slots make the online gambling world go round, quite literally. You'll be able to spin reels of slots that come in a variety of forms. From three-reel classics and five-reel video slots to progressive jackpot games, there's something for everyone. What's neat about Ohio online gambling sites that offer social casino games is that you get to play unique creations and free-play versions of real money hits.

Blackjack

The quest to make 21 with two or more cards is as old as the gambling industry itself and, today, you can play online blackjack in a variety of ways. From traditional games you'll find in brick and mortar casinos to innovative online variants with bonus payouts, such as Lightning Blackjack, are all available in Ohio.

Roulette

In general, social online casinos in Ohio offer classic versions of online roulette, which means you'll be playing on American or European tables with payouts topping 35x. What you'll find at some of the best online casinos that offer social gaming is that you can also play modern variants. BetRivers.net, for example, has live dealer roulette and Lightning Roulette, a variant that offers payouts worth up to 500x.

Poker Games

Poker might not be as popular in the social casino gaming world as it is in the real money arena, but you'll still be able to find a few table games online. Pulsz Casino has a selection of custom-made games, while BetRivers.net has nine options, including Caribbean Stud, Casino Hold'em, and Three Card Poker.

Video Poker

Video poker takes the fundamental premise of games such as Texas Hold'em (i.e. making the best five-card hand) and puts it into a digital setting. This means you're not playing against anyone else but lady luck. You start with five cards and have the option to change as many or as few as you want. Your final five cards are assessed after the second deal and, if you've made a qualifying hand, you win a prize. Simple! Every Ohio casino online that offers social and sweepstakes games has a variety of video poker variants, including Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Double Double Bonus.

Live Dealer Games

The majority of Ohio casinos online don't have live dealer games. That's understandable because these games feature human dealers and, therefore, different costs to digital casino games. As such, you only really get to play live games at real money online casinos. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule. The most notable exception is BetRivers.net. As we've said, this is the closest thing to real money online casino Ohio gaming you'll get until regulations are passed. In line with this, it offers free-play versions of popular live casino games such as craps, baccarat, roulette, and blackjack.

Bonuses at Ohio Online Casino Sites

Bonuses are most commonly associated with real money online sportsbooks and casino sites. Indeed, when regulations allow, you'll be able to use our reviews to find the best real money online casino Ohio no deposit bonuses. For now, you can get exclusive bonuses at our recommended Ohio online sports betting sites, as well as the state's top social casinos. Some of the social gaming offers you can take advantage of are...

Sign-up Bonuses

Ohio bettors who join a new social casino will always get free Gold Coins and, in some cases, Sweeps. Getting free Sweeps Coins is great because you can use them to play for credits that you're able to swap for prizes, including cash payments.

Deposit Bonus

Real money online gambling in Ohio wasn't legal at the time of writing, which means deposit bonuses aren't available. However, despite not being able to make deposits to social casinos, you can still get something extra when you purchase Gold Coins. For clarity, there's no obligation to buy coins but, if you choose to, operators will often give you discounts and other rewards.

No Deposit Bonus

A social Ohio online casino no deposit bonus is one that isn't preceded by a financial transaction. These offers usually manifest themselves as sign-up incentives, loyalty rewards, and login bonuses. In fact, because social casinos don't offer real money, they can't process deposits. This means every offer you claim is, technically, a no deposit bonus.

Would Promo Codes Be Available at Online Casino Ohio Sites?

The first Ohio online casinos will want to attract customers and the best way to do that is with a full suite of games and promo codes.

At OH casinos online, you’ll be able to join up and enter a special bonus code on the registration form. The casino will match your deposit with bonus funds and may even award some free spins to use on popular slots such as Gonzo’s Quest or Wheel of Fortune.

You can unlock free cash just by meeting the casino’s wagering requirements. This will mean betting on enough games and slots until you’ve cleared the total bonus amount.

Best of all, you’ll be able to join the highest payout online casino rewards that allow you to redeem player points for cash. You might also get to join a VIP program offering gifts and bespoke offers.

Land-Based Casinos in Ohio

Ohio operates a healthy range of commercial casinos and racinos across the state. Play table games or slots at the biggest commercial casinos, or play VLTs at the racino while putting in your parimutuel bet down by the track. Land-based casinos you will find in Ohio include:

Deposit and Withdrawals

You have the option to purchase Gold Coins (aka virtual credits) at almost every social casino. You can do this via bank transfer and, in some cases, credit or debit card. When it comes to Ohio sports betting sites, there are more ways to pay. The following payment methods can be used for sports betting and, eventually, online casino gaming in Ohio:

• Debit card (Visa, MasterCard, Diners, AMEX) 
• Online bank transfer
• Wire transfer
• e-wallet (Skrill, PayPal)
• Play+ prepaid card
• PayNearMe (in-person at 7-Eleven)
• In-person at Ohio casino sites

What Forms of Gambling Are Legal in Ohio?

Real money online casinos might not have been legal in Ohio at the time of writing, but that doesn't mean you can't spin slot reels or play table games. In fact, other than restrictions with regards to real money online casino gambling, Ohio is a fairly liberal state. The current gambling laws permit the following activities:

Land-Based Casinos

Ohio passed a bill in 2009 that permitted four commercial casinos to be built in the state. These casinos are spread across four regions: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo:

• Jack Cleveland Casino
• Hollywood Casino Columbus
• Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
• Hollywood Casino Toledo
   

In addition to commercial venues, Ohio residents and those visiting the state can use racinos. The minimum age for these casinos is 21.

Sports Betting

Ohio lawmakers legalized online sports betting in 2022, and the first apps launched in early 2023. The regulations also made it possible for brick and mortar casinos in Ohio to offer sports betting. Today, various online sportsbooks are available in the state to anyone aged 21 or over, including DraftKings, Bet365, and BetMGM.

Horse Betting

Parimutuel betting on horse racing has been legal in Ohio since 2000. The new law not only made it possible to bet on racing, it amended the Horse Racing Act of 1978 to permit electronic betting terminals at racinos.

Ohio Lottery

The Ohio Lottery Commission is responsible for regulating all draws within the state. Anyone in the state aged 18 or over can buy tickets for a variety of lotteries, including Mega Millions, Powerball, and Luck For Life.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily Fantasy Sports betting has been legal and regulated in Ohio since 2017. Operators must apply for a state license and can only accept deposits from customers who are 18+. Some of the top DFS sites in Ohio are FanDuel, DraftKings, and Underdog Fantasy.

Charitable Gaming

Registered charities in Ohio can host raffles if they meet certain conditions, one of which being that the event can't yield a profit for the organization. Charities don't need a license but they must ensure they're allowed to host gambling-based events before doing so.

Responsible Gambling in Ohio

It’s important to practice responsible gambling, whether you’re gambling at Belterra Park, purchasing state lottery tickets or gambling at Ohio online casino sites. Luckily, Ohio operates a range of treatment programs if you need help. The Ohio Lottery Commission funds the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS) to help problem gamblers in the state.

OMHAS Recovery Services

Phone: 1-866-614-9588 (Toll-Free)

Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline

Phone: 24-hour toll-free support (1-800-589-9966)

You can also join the Ohio Voluntary Exclusion Program which applies to all racinos and casinos around the state for one year.

What the Future Holds for Online Casinos in Ohio

You may have to hang on a little longer to enjoy the top Ohio online casinos. Online casino gaming is still illegal in the Buckeye State so if you want to play real-money slots and table games you’ll have to drive over the border to Pennsylvania or West Virginia.

For now, legalized online sports betting is your best bet for regulated gambling. Plus, of course, you can try out free-play slots at social OH casinos online. But with the state’s neighbors pushing ahead with regulated casinos, it’s only a matter of time before Ohio online casino sites will open their doors. If and when they do, we’ll be there to bring you the full lowdown.