The state of Ohio is one of the most critical states in the country regarding sports betting. Moreover, the state legislature is working hard on passing new laws that can help bring in more money for casinos and racetracks.
As outlined by the Ohio Casino Control Commission, there are currently plans to legalize online gambling in the state. However, there are still some things you need to know about how betting works in Ohio. We take a look at some recent developments with Ohio betting laws:
Sports betting is now legal in Ohio.
The state has approved a law to allow sports gambling at casinos and racetracks throughout the state. It’s the first such law passed in the Midwest since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on sports betting earlier this year.
The new law allows casinos, racetracks, and other gambling establishments to offer sports betting as long as the Ohio Casino Control Commission licenses them.
The law also allows for fantasy sports contests with cash payouts, which the state previously banned due to concerns that they could skirt gambling laws.
State legislators are expected to vote on a separate bill that will regulate daily fantasy sports contests later this week.
When can Ohioans start betting?
At the beginning of this year, the Buckeye State became the first state to legalize sports betting. But when can you start placing bets on your favorite teams? The answer is: not yet.
The law requires that the state’s seven existing casinos have a chance to apply for licenses, and none of them have done so yet. That leaves at least a few months before any legal bets can be placed or accepted in Ohio. But there’s good news for those who are eager to get their action going: The deadline for applications isn’t until Dec. 31, 2019 — so if there are any delays or setbacks, it’ll likely be well into 2020 before you can place your first wager on an Ohio game.
What kinds of bets are legal in Ohio?
There are a few different bets that you can place at an Ohio casino or racetrack. These include:
- Sports bets. You can place bets on any professional or college sporting event. For example, you can bet on whether the Cleveland Browns will win their next game or the final score in a football match between two teams.
- Casino games. These include blackjack, baccarat, other casino games, slots machines, and poker tables. In addition to betting on these games directly, you can also place side bets on them with other players while they’re being played.
- Racebooks. You can make wagers on horses at the track by using a “pick six” ticket or an exotic wager like daily doubles or triples.
- Lotteries. Ohio offers two lottery games — Pick three and Pick 4 — both of which allow players to make straight wagers on each number selected in the lottery draw.
How to place a sports bet in Ohio
To place a sports bet in Ohio, you will need to first open an account with an online sportsbook. Once your account is open, you can fund it by depositing it with a credit card or other payment method. After depositing money into your account, you will be able to place bets on sporting events taking place around the world.
Ohio residents can place wagers on different sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. It is also possible to bet on horse racing events such as the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown races.
Sports betting websites offer odds on all kinds of different sporting events, including:
- College football games
- Baseball games
- Basketball games
- Hockey games
Where will sportsbooks operate?
Sports betting is expected to be offered at many Ohio casinos and horse racing tracks, not the state’s dog and horse tracks.
The legislation provides five casino licenses, with three awarded by the end of 2022 and two more by 2024.
Horse racing tracks would be allowed to operate up to four sports betting facilities. The legislation allows Ohio’s eight greyhound racetracks to apply for one license each.
Final Takeaway
In the end, it’s up to the discretion of lawmakers and regulators to decide what the best laws are. With this regulation in place, sports betting is now legal in Ohio. There’s always room for improvement. Though, something like an “integrity fee” would still benefit all parties involved: it would help protect against match-fixing and referee bias while also generating much-needed revenue for state programs and government agencies. One day, hopefully, Ohio sports gambling will get there.
