Sports Betting Goes Live In Ohio On Jan. 1
Sports betting in Ohio is going live on Jan. 1, 2023.
At a meeting Wednesday, the Ohio Casino Control Commission officially announced the sports betting date. Gaming regulators previously said sports wagering would not be allowed in Ohio until the first day of next year.
The sports betting bill that Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law late last year requires legal sports betting to start no later than Jan. 1, 2023, though it could have started earlier. Therefore, the best Ohio online sportsbooks will become available as soon as we get into 2023.
No Early Season Football Betting
Some lawmakers were hopeful sports betting would begin in time for college and pro football season in late August and early September.
Under the new law, Ohio bettors will be allowed to legally wager on college and professional sports and other events, including the Olympics.
Ohio is home to popular college teams such as the Big 10’s Ohio State Buckeyes and the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals were the most recent AFC representative in the Super Bowl, losing 23-20 to the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 13.
Though some in Ohio had hoped wagering would begin at least in the early fall, the commission recently revealed on its website that sports betting would not be live in time for the start of football season or Major League Baseball’s World Series.
With a Jan. 1 start date, bettors will still be able to legally wager on college football title games, the NFL playoffs, and the Super Bowl early next year with well-known brands, which will launch on the same date just in time for the NFL playoffs.
Gaming officials said they need time before the end of this year to ensure everything is in order before anyone in Ohio can place a legal sports bet. Still, local bettors will get to use the amazing Ohio betting bonuses on NFL playoffs.
Gaming authorities must investigate 3,000 applicants seeking a license to operate online sportsbooks or ticket windows at brick-and-mortar sites, among other tasks.
All Bookmakers Start On Same Day
The new law allows Ohio to have as many as 50 mobile sportsbooks and 40 land-based betting sites.
According to a Casino Control Commission report, the land-based sportsbooks can be located at four casinos, seven racinos, and 10 professional sports venues.
In addition, betting kiosks will be available in bars and restaurants with liquor permits.
Unlike New York and other places that allowed bookmakers to start on different dates, Ohio’s authorized bookmakers, whether mobile or retail, will begin on the same date.
Sports Betting Legal In Surrounding States
Ohio is the seventh most populous state, with more than 11.7 million residents. Due to its large population, sports wagering is expected to be popular in Ohio.
The state is home to teams in every major professional sport, including football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, and soccer.
Of the five states bordering Ohio, sports betting is already legal in all except Kentucky. A bill to legalize sports betting in Kentucky died in the legislative session's final hours this year.
