Online Casinos Ohio

Currently, there are no legal online casinos Ohio can offer within its borders. Also known as the Buckeye State or the Birthplace of Aviation, this state is only limited to land-based tribal casinos, lottery and bingo games. While there is no absolute clear law about legal online gambling in Ohio, online operators are considered illegal.

  • Laws on gambling in Ohio checked by experts.
  • Thorough overview of the Ohio online gambling scene.
  • The future of Ohio online casinos.
  • 0 Legal Online Casinos
  • 11 Legal Land Based Casinos
  • 10 Legal social Casinos
  • 16 Legal Bingo / Lottery Games
  • Responsible Gaming
  • Ohio Casino Control Commission

Ohio Online Casinos – Laws in Ohio

As we mentioned earlier, at the time of writing this article, there are no online casinos Ohio can offer to its citizens. This is also true for any other type of online gambling in Ohio. The only available establishments are land-based tribal casinos and racinos. Lottery and bingo halls are also legal in the Buckeye State.

According to our research, while Ohio online casinos are not legal, players can join offshore operators. We do not recommend it though, as even recreational OH players may be pursued by the authorities for a minor misdemeanor. Someday, the laws might change. If you would like to stay on top of the online gambling Ohio laws’ future, then check our guide or visit the TrackBill website.

Ohio Online Gambling Laws

As per the Ohio online gambling laws, online casinos operating within the borders of the state are illegal. Players from Ohio could join offshore sites, but it is not recommended as it is still considered against the law.

In general, any type of online gambling in Ohio is illegal and there might be a change in the future. The only forms of legal gambling in Ohio are bingo, lottery, daily fantasy sports and the 11 tribal-owned land-based casinos and racinos.

An alternative to the real money online casinos Ohio can offer are the social casinos, where players do not wager actual money, therefore they are not considered illegal.


History of Gambling in Ohio

Gambling in Ohio began back in 1933, when the first pari-mutuel horse race betting was made legal. Later, in 1974, lottery games were legalized, as well as bingo games in 1975. These were the only gambling options in the state up until 2009, when the Ohio Revised Code allowed Vegas-style land-based casino establishments.

Up to this moment, the Ohio online gambling laws state that any form of online bookmaking, chance or skill games where money is wagered are illegal. Yes, offshore operators are an option, but they are still considered against the law. Your only option is to physically go to one of the Ohio land-based casinos and gamble there.


USA’s General Gambling History

Believe it or not, the history of gambling in the country began with the first settlers. The first casinos and horse race betting were embraced after the emerging of the upper class in the 1680s. While Ohio online casinos are illegal, here are the only states in the US with legal online casinos and licenses:

The Wire Act’s Effect on Ohio Gambling

In general, the 1961 Federal Wire Act prohibited any wagering that is done by wire (phone) across the country. While this did affect the Buckeye State and made it impossible for punters to place bets on horse races through phone, the Ohio online gambling laws remain unchanged and any online wagering activities are prohibited.


Black Friday and Online Gambling Ohio Laws

The event that is called Black Friday happened on the 15th of April 2011. The US Justice Department raided the then top three poker sites in the industry – Absolute Poker, PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. This had a strong effect on the whole country. While there are no Ohio online casinos to speak of, there were online poker Ohio players that visited these offshore sites and were affected.


Top Online Casino Games in Legal US States

While there are no online casinos Ohio can offer, there will definitely be certain types of games popular if online gambling was legal. In the coming sections, we will be going over just that theoretical possibility and showing you what our recommendations are based on our professional expertise, and comparing trends at legal US states.

This part of our guide is created specifically for players that have not been fully introduced to online casino gambling and the games offered. While the selection of casino titles can vary depending on the operator, we will show you the top casino games that are generally available at most legal US online casinos. Here are the most common games in states where online casinos are legal:

Online Blackjack Games in Ohio

If there were any real money Ohio online casinos, then blackjack will definitely be one of the top casino game categories that players visit. It is considered as both a game of skill and chance, you can find at the legal land-based establishments in the state, but not online. In general, online blackjack games are divided into RNG and live dealer titles.

If online blackjack in Ohio was legal, then Double Exposure Blackjack would certainly be one of the top titles played. We came to this theory by researching the trends in states, where online casinos are legal. As one of the most popular blackjack online games, you can enjoy it in New Jersey, Delaware, Michigan, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Ohio Online Roulette

If some day, there are online casinos Ohio can license and legalize for its citizens, then roulette will also be a very popular game to play. With flexible bets and multiple ways to play, you can enjoy this game in the legal land-based casinos in Ohio. We hope that in the future, OH players will be able to enjoy it online as well.

After looking at the bigger picture of what is popular at online casinos in legal US states, we can safely say that nearly any version of roulette is quite popular. If we had to pick a favorite, then it will surely be the classic American Roulette. It is available in both RNG and live dealer formats and can be enjoyed online in Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Potential Best Online Slots in Ohio

If online casinos in Ohio were legal, then they will surely feature hundreds, if not thousands, of slot titles for players to enjoy. Slots are the most popular type of online casino game in the world. New titles are being developed and released daily that feature unique graphics, sound design and gameplay mechanics.

As we said, Ohio online casinos, if legalized, will offer hundreds of varied slot games to OH players. One of the main draws of such games are the jackpots that can be fixed or progressive. We are certain, that if online slots in Ohio are legal, then Cleopatra will be the most popular title. One of the best places to enjoy online slots legally is West Virginia.

Online Poker in Ohio

We might be sounding like a broken record by now, but the Ohio online gambling laws are strict and even online poker Ohio sites are not allowed. The only way to enjoy this game in the Buckeye State is to go to one of the legal land-based establishments. This will be your only option for poker until the online gambling Ohio laws are changed.

Let’s get back to going over the potential legalization of online casinos in Ohio and share with you which poker game we think will be popular if legalized. After researching other states, we consider Texas Hold’em to be the most likely contender for potentially most popular online poker Ohio title. A few of the legal US states where it can be played are Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware.

Ohio Land-Based Casinos

In this section, we will be covering pretty much the only legal option for gambling in Ohio. We are of course talking about the land-based casinos. There are currently 11 tribal-owned brick-and-mortar casinos in Ohio that can offer slots (also known as VLTs) and table games to OH players.

From the Hollywood Casino brands that are in the capital of Columbus and Toledo, to the JACK Cleveland Casino and MGM Northfield Park. These 11 casinos and racinos are the only options that you have, but on the other hand, they have much to offer. Here are our top 3 picks below:

Ohio Land-Based Casinos Overview
Fred Williams Author and Casino Expert
MGM Northfield Park 🍒 2000+ slot machines, 🃏 0 table games
JACK Cleveland Casino 🍒 1000+ slot machines, 🃏 100+ table games
Hollywood Casino Toledo 🍒 2000+ slot machines, 🃏 80+ table games

Comparison Between Ohio Online Casinos and Land-Based Casinos

Unfortunately, there is no way to make a comparison between the two types of casinos as there are no legal online casinos Ohio can offer. Still, we would like to give you a short overview of the general advantages and disadvantages of both so that you will have an idea of what to expect in the future if the online gambling Ohio laws change.

As part of traditional gambling in Ohio, land-based casinos can offer you a great atmosphere and excellent games that you get to experience in a visceral way. In general, nothing can replace the feeling that you get when you step into a real casino. On the other hand, online casinos can offer you thousands of great titles that play just like the real deal. All of that can be done from the comfort of your home or mobile phone.


Ohio Online Casinos Future

After researching as much as we can regarding the Ohio online gambling laws and the trends in the state, we cannot make any predictions on the future of online casinos. We remain hopeful though, as the 2018 decision of the US Supreme Court stirred the “gambling laws pot” enough that every state will be reviewing their legislations at some point.

Online casinos are legal and very popular in many parts of the world and due to the technological boom, they are the most logical step forward. If you want to remain updated of any changes, you can regularly visit us and we will make sure to showcase to you our best Ohio online casinos when they become legal.


The Future of Gambling in Ohio

We can’t be sure with what is going to happen with gambling in the state. Currently, the only legal gambling activities are limited to land-based casinos, lottery, bingo, horse racing and daily fantasy sports. Sports betting will probably soon be legalized as the lawmakers have reached a consensus on royalties and licensing. Hopefully, the Ohio online gambling laws will follow too.


Final Thoughts – There are No Legal Online Casinos in Ohio

Well, our online casinos Ohio guide is coming to an end and we would like to give you a short overview of what we have said up to this point. Unfortunately, all forms of online gambling are illegal in the state. The Ohio online gambling laws don’t show any signs of change in the near future, but you can always go to the legal land-based casinos and enjoy yourself. You can even play some bingo, lottery or daily fantasy sports.

Gambling in Ohio is very limited with only land-based options being available to OH players.
Fred Williams Author and Casino Expert

Ohio Online Casinos Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we would like to showcase to you the most popular questions that players have towards the situation with online casinos in Ohio. We recommend going over each query and answer in order to bolster your knowledge. Make sure to check-in regularly for any updates on the online gambling Ohio laws.

👮 Are Ohio online casinos legal?
There are currently no legal Ohio online casinos. According to the laws on online gambling in Ohio, all forms of internet or wire-based wagering are considered illegal. Your only option is going to one of the legal land-based casinos in the Buckeye State.
🤔 Are social casino sites legal in Ohio?
Fortunately, yes, social casino sites accept Ohio players. Social sites are not prohibited on the territory of the state as they are not considered real gambling. Hopefully, the future of online gambling Ohio laws is bright and changes will be made to allow real money online wagering.
📍 How do I spot a fake Ohio online gambling site?
Pretty much any operator claiming to be a legal Ohio online casino can be considered as a fake. Ohio online gambling laws prohibit internet wagering at the moment of writing this article. If you are an OH player and you want to play casino games, your only options are the Ohio land-based casinos.
⚖️ What forms of gambling are legal in Ohio?
According to the Ohio online gambling laws, all forms of online gambling are illegal in the state. There are 11 land-based tribal casinos that are licensed and legal. On top of that, you can enjoy lottery, bingo, and daily fantasy sports, which are also considered legal in the state.