With a variety of land-based gambling options already available in Ohio, residents may be wondering whether they can also place some bets online.
While this isn’t possible at the time of writing, things are about to change very soon. In fact, by the time you read this you may be able to gamble legally online in Ohio.
You can check here a quick guide on how to bet in the Buckeye state: https://www.pickboss.com/how-to-bet-sports-online-ohio
The Latest Legislation
You may have seen some news stories about this subject in the last couple of years. That’s because Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a new bill to allow sports betting here. House Bill 29 made Ohio the 33rd of the American states to allow legal sports betting, both online and in land-based venues.
The framework was officially signed at the end of 2021. However, the plan was for sports betting to become legal in Ohio on the first day of 2023. Many people in this industry hoped the date would be brought forward but it has been confirmed that the new laws begin on January 1, 2023.
State legislators have been looking through numerous applications and have granted licenses to a few sportsbooks to operate here. They’ll be regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission, who hope that the sports betting sector eventually brings in over $3.3 billion in revenue each year. This figure comes from a 10% tax on operators’ net revenue.
The vast majority of the money raised will be used for funding education in Ohio, with a small percentage being used to help people deal with problem gambling issues. Residents will be able to use online betting sites and mobile apps. It’s expected that a geolocation service will be used so that the sportsbooks can confirm the presence of bettors in the state.
Online Casinos Aren’t Yet Available
So far, the new regulations in Ohio only apply to sports betting. This means that online casino games like poker, roulette, and slots aren’t yet available in the state. Because of this, people living here need to look at alternative ways of playing these games.
One approach is to play in a land casino, of which there are several dotted across Ohio. Another option involves going to a neighboring state where online casinos are currently allowed. Michigan and Pennsylvania are among the states near Ohio with legal online casinos.
Finally, social and sweepstakes casinos are allowed here. These are sites where it’s possible to gamble without using real money, which means there are no legal issues with playing in them. However, players can still attempt to win cash prizes as they play the games.
Sports Betting Will Be Here Soon – What Can You Bet On?
Sports fans in Ohio will be awaiting eagerly to see what games and events to bet on. Since the authorized sportsbooks are becoming available from the start of 2023, the Super Bowl LVII game is sure to be one of the first major events to attract a lot of attention, followed by March Madness. But what else can Ohio residents wager on?
Live betting will be available, meaning that fans in the Buckeye state can place their wagers during games. They’ll also be able to bet in advance, with pro sports and college sports to be offered. This means that they can choose from a huge range of sports like football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and lots more.
Niche sports like volleyball and skiing will also be offered, with the big sportsbooks having dozens of different sports. Expect to see esports betting too, as placing wagers on the outcomes of games like Dota 2 and World of Warcraft has become much more popular in the last few years. Overall, we can expect every sports fan in Ohio to find something they enjoy betting on.
