The best online casinos in Ohio 2023
We’ve rated the best casinos in Ohio, which due to current legal status are all social or sweepstakes only. Our experts have put together this guide to online casino gambling in Ohio, covering everything you need to know about game selection, retail venues, bonuses, security, and more. Read on to discover how you can legally gamble online in Ohio. (Edited by Steve Bittenbender)
Our top recommended Ohio online casinos
Sites to avoid
The best online casinos in Ohio
Both social casinos and sweepstake casinos contain all of your favorite casino classics as well as the best slots around. While you play for free at both, if you’ve picked up Sweeps Coins in play or been awarded them up as part of bonuses or promotions in a sweepstakes casino, you can play for cash prizes.
With so many options available, you may easily forget that you’re not playing at a real money casino. Check out our top picks below.
Pulsz Casino
Established in 2006, Pulsz Casino boasts a massive collection of over 300 slots from the industry’s top developers. At Pulsz, you can gamble on the go via the site’s awesome casino app and optimized mobile browser site. Alongside a generous welcome bonus, the casino offers daily promotions and an attractive VIP program, which will keep its players coming back for more.
Gambino Slots
Slots by name, slots by nature. You’ll find online slot machines beyond your wildest dreams at Gambino Slots. Whatever your preference, this social casino will keep you entertained for hours. Better yet, you can gamble on various platforms, including your desktop, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and even Facebook!
Fortune Coins
This sweepstakes casino provides a wide selection of casino games, from slots to video poker, keno, and multiplayer “Fish Games”. Ohio bettors also have a generous 140,000 Gold Coins + 500 Free Fortune Coins welcome bonus awaiting them as a welcome bonus.
WorldWinner
WorldWinner has been around for over two decades, so the brand knows exactly what it takes to be an excellent Ohio gambling site. Instead of your traditional online slots and casino games, WorldWinner provides something a little more unique. For example, you can find arcade-style games like "Scrabble", "Tetris", and "Wheel of Fortune".
MyJackpot.com
This social casino is home to video slots, traditional online fruit machines, scratch cards, and lotteries from around the world. Furthermore, upon registering with the site, MyJackpot.com will reward you with 150,000 free coins to kick-start your gambling adventure.
Stake Casino
Stake has been providing its social casino offering in OH for several years so that Ohio players can play casino games for free. You also can buy currency on Stake and use this to play, with any winnings eligible to be exchanged for cash. Stake is a cryptocurrency social casino, so you can purchase with Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and more. You can play a range of exclusive Stake slots and other games provided by top developers.
Stake Casino Bonus: Get started with 10,000 Gold Coins and 1 Stake Cash Coin for free.
Golden Hearts Games
There is no other social casino quite like Golden Heart Games, which lets you purchase on-site currency, and donates a part of your purchase to charity. Not only that, but you can choose which charity the money goes to. If you want to risk your money, you can play for free but can’t exchange any winnings for cash. The social casino provides slot games and bingo games starting every 10-15 minutes.
Golden Hearts Games Bonus: Golden Hearts Games matches the first donation of all new customers, providing a 100% match paid for with game coins.
BetRivers.net
BetRivers.NET’s social casino in Ohio has plenty of free casino games, including slots and table games you can play with credits. They offer daily promotions giving you the opportunity to win more credits to play with. BetRivers offer an excellent mobile app for both iOS and Android, and you can play via web browser too.
BetRivers.NET Casino Bonus: 1,000-coin welcome bonus for new players.
Casino match
What game do you want to play most?
Online gambling in Ohio
Over the past decade, the online gambling landscape in Ohio has slowly but steadily begun to change. After several failed attempts to pass legislation, Governor Mike DeWine signed HB 29, a bill legalizing Ohio sports betting, on December 8th, 2021. The first batch of sportsbooks are currently projected to launch on January 1st, 2023, in the Buckeye State.
This gives hope for players in Ohio that legal online casino gambling may be on the horizon. Until then, bettors in Ohio won’t be able to place real money wagers outside of the state’s commercial casino venues.
Online gambling’s legal status in Ohio
There are currently no legal online casinos available for Ohioan bettors. While you can play legally at social and sweepstake casinos, you can’t play with real money from these sites.
The gambling age in Ohio?
The legal gambling age for Ohio casinos and sports betting is 21. However, you can wager on horse racing and play the Ohio Lottery from 18.
Are there taxes on gambling winnings?
All gambling winnings are taxable in Ohio. A casino withholds 24% of any winnings over $5,000 for federal tax purposes. Ohio casinos will also withhold 4% of any winnings, whether over or under the $5,000 threshold, for state tax purposes. The casino will then issue you a W-2G form for you to report your gambling winnings.
Online casinos and sports betting in the US
Find the latest online gambling legislation updates for your state below.
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Which online casino games are available in Ohio?
Ohioan players can enjoy a wide variety of games at social and sweepstake casinos, including:
Slots
You can find hundreds, if not thousands, of online slot games at social casinos. These can include video slots, progressive jackpots, online fruit machines, and more, each with a distinctive theme and bonus features like free spins and wilds.
Blackjack
Blackjack is a casino staple that comes in many different forms, but the basic premise is simple: beat the dealer to 21 without going bust. Blackjack will often make up the bulk of an online casino’s table game selection.
Roulette
A true casino classic, roulette comes in many shapes and sizes, but the most popular versions are European Roulette, American Roulette, and French Roulette. Each game has slightly different rules, which you’ll need to pay close attention to as a beginner spinner.
Poker
Poker is a highly popular casino game of skill, tact, and careful bluffing. Alongside featuring in the table games section of an online casino, you can find multiple dedicated poker sites which provide more specialized gaming options.
Video poker
Video poker combines the skill of poker with the fun of online slots, making it an ideal choice for beginner players. Giving you slightly more time to think about your next move, you can often find multiple variations at sweepstakes casinos.
Live casino
Some sweepstakes casinos offer live dealer games that recreate the authentic casino experience in the comfort of your home. Streamed from dedicated studios across the globe, live casino games allow you to play against and chat with other players in real-time.
Sports betting
When the first Ohioan sportsbook come to market, they’ll allow you to place real money wagers on your favorite sports teams. The top US sportsbooks cover dozens of worldwide markets with a wide range of betting options to choose from.
Fantasy sports
Fantasy sports have been live and legal in Ohio since 2016. The process involves using pre-existing data and statistics to form your own imaginary sports team.
State lottery & bingo
Run by the Ohio Lottery Commission, the Ohio state lottery officially began back in 1974. You can buy a scratch ticket from 18 years of age, and the games include Classic Lotto, Keno, Powerball, and Mega Millions. You can also play bingo electronically and in commercial casinos across the state.
Getting the best online casino bonuses
While playing at online casinos for real money isn’t yet legal in the Buckeye State, it’s worth knowing a little about the bonuses they offer. Below are some of the most popular bonuses available at an online casino:
Sign up bonuses: These bonuses are used by casinos to incentivize new players into registering. They are a one-time offer you can claim after successfully completing the sign-up process and are perhaps the most widely offered online casino bonus.
No deposit bonuses: As the name suggests, no deposit bonuses are prizes you can claim that don’t require a deposit. Typically a token gesture of a few spins or a small amount of casino cash, no deposit bonuses are a great way to trial some of the games on offer at an online casino.
Deposit match offers: This is a bonus you can claim when you deposit at an online casino. Deposit match offers will match a certain percentage of your deposit in bonus cash. You can usually only claim them once on your first deposit, though many casinos offer multi-stage bonuses that reward your first three or four deposits.
Free spins: Slot machines are the bread and butter of an online casino, so it’s hardly surprising that free spins are one ofthe most popular online casino bonuses. Free spins are what you’d expect, spins on slots that you don’t have to pay for. They usually come as part of a sign-up bonus (for instance, alongside a deposit match offer) or can be used as a reload bonus for returning players.
Loyalty/VIP program: Most online casinos offer a loyalty or VIP program (and some even offer both). The purpose of these programs is to reward returning players, so the bonuses don’t stop after the first deposit. Prizes can range from free spins or faster withdrawals to exclusive party invitations, personal account managers, and free holidays.
Local casinos in Ohio
There are four commercial casinos in Ohio, with a brick-and-mortar site located in each of the state’s four biggest cities. Alongside these four dedicated casino sites, seven racinos across the Buckeye State offer horse race betting and video lottery machines (VLTs). Each of Ohio’s retail venues is licensed and regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
Gambling responsibly in Ohio
The Ohio Casino Control Commission ensures that players in Ohio can enjoy safe and secure gambling at its land-based casinos and racetracks. The commission guarantees the integrity of the state’s various legal gambling venues through licensing, regulating, and enforcing state laws when necessary.
However you choose to play, gambling responsibly is vital. Remember only to wager what you can afford to lose. Many online casinos offer tools to those who wish to control their gambling habits, including deposit limits, game session reminders, and more. Several local resources are available for players struggling with problem gambling habits.
- The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (an affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling) promotes responsible gambling practices and provides addiction treatment services. The Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 on 1-800-589-9966.
- Multiple nationwide resources exist, including Gamblers Anonymous, GamTalk, and Gam-Anon.
Making deposits and withdrawals for online gambling
While you don’t need to deposit to play at social or sweepstakes casinos, any transactions with online casinos are usually a swift and easy process as they have a range of options to choose from. You can usually find all the top banking options available at real money casinos, including PayPal, debit and credit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, prepaid cards, and ACH.
FAQs
Can you gamble at online casinos in Ohio?
No. You can only legally play at online social and sweepstake casinos in Ohio. While you can’t yet gamble at a real money online casino, you will soon be able to place real money wagers at sportsbooks when legal sports betting launches in the state in January 2023.
Who oversees gambling in Ohio?
Gambling in Ohio is overseen by the Ohio Casino Control Commission, the Ohio Racing Commission, and the Ohio Lottery Commission. These commissions regulate all of Ohio’s legal gambling activity, including casino gaming, the Ohio lottery, fantasy contests, horse racing, video lottery terminals (VLTs) at state racetracks, keno, bingo, and sports betting.
Do I have to pay taxes on my gambling winnings in Ohio?
Yes, you will need to pay taxes on your gambling winnings. The casino will withhold 24% of any winnings above $5,000 for state tax. Yet, you must record and include your gambling winnings over $600 on a W-2G form, though the casino won’t withhold any of it.
What is the legal gambling age in Ohio?
Like most other US states, Ohio’s legal age for casino gambling is 21. However, you can bet at racinos and racetracks from 18. Additionally, with the launch of regulated sports betting fast approaching in the Buckeye State, it is anticipated that you will need to be 21 to place sports wagers.
Which online casinos can I use in Ohio?
There are currently no legal real money online casinos where Ohioans can play. Until online gambling becomes legal, you can play at social and sweeps sites like Chumba Casino. Alternatively, you can also play at the free online casino(s) offered by land-based venues, such as JACK Online and the Hollywood Casino Columbus.
What other types of casino-style gaming are available in Ohio?
Several other types of gambling similar to casino gaming are available in Ohio. You can play video lottery machines (VLTs) at Ohio’s seven racinos. E-bingo was recently legalized in the state, and you can also play slots and table games at each of Ohio’s four commercial casinos.
Edited by Steve Bittenbender
Steve Bittenbender covers Midwest news for Casino.org, specializing in sports betting and horse racing. He joined the Casino.org news team in 2019, and previously covered sports, business and politics at the Associated Press and the Louisville Courier-Journal. He continues to contribute to Reuters. Steve lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife and son. He is an avid poker player, having learned from his uncle as a kid.
