Casinos in Ohio

Our Ohio casino guides,

This page was created to give you all of the information you need to bet at an Ohio casino and answer any questions you may have. 

Is it legal to play at online casinos in Ohio?

Real-money online casinos are not legal in Ohio, though residents have access to online sports betting as of January 1, 2023. 

Daily fantasy sports and online horse wagering are legal, but there are no current bills in legislation to legalize real-money online casinos. That being said, the success of the legalization of sports betting may prompt lawmakers to consider future legislation. 

Ohio Online Casino Law Summary

• It is not currently legal for real-money online casinos to operate
• There is no activate legislation being discussed to legalize the operation of real-money online casinos
• Ohio residents can bet on sports and daily fantasy sports electronically following the passing of House Bill 29
• Residents may also bet electronically on horse races throughout the state

Ohio Sweepstakes & Social Casinos

That being said, sweepstakes and social casinos are legal in Ohio and available for online gambling. With these types of casinos, users can purchase virtual coins to play online games. These games include, but are not limited to, online poker, slots, keno, blackjack, and roulette. 

Examples of sweepstakes and social casinos include Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, Funzpoints, and Global Poker. 

By allowing users to compete for real prizes, these casinos are a great alternative for those looking to gamble online. 

Will online casinos be legal in Ohio in the future?

The recent legalization of sports betting allows optimism that Ohio will consider legalizing online casinos in the future. Daily fantasy sports and online horse race betting also allow a precedent for online casinos. 

While no legislation is currently pending for online casinos in Ohio, neighboring states like Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Indiana have legalized online casinos and could also provide an example of what Ohio legislation could look like. 

As Ohio residents grow accustomed to online sports betting, pressure could grow for Ohio to join its neighboring states and legalize online casinos as well. 

Ohio legal gambling options

In addition to daily fantasy, sports betting, and online horse races, Ohio offers residents retail casinos and the previously mentioned racinos (horse racing tracks with casinos included). 

This variety gives Ohio residents numerous options to enjoy gambling and experiment with different gambling avenues. 

Ohio retail casinos

There are four retail casinos in Ohio, intentionally placed strategically near each of the state’s four largest cities (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo) to maximize access. 

This variety gives Ohio residents numerous options to enjoy gambling and experiment with different gambling avenues. 

The four retail casinos are below, along with their operator in parenthesis and address:

• Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati (Hard Rock International) - 1000 Broadway St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
• Hollywood Casino Toledo (Penn National Gaming) - 1968 Miami St, Toledo, OH 43605
• Hollywood Columbus Casino (Penn National Gaming) - 200 Georgesville Rd, Columbus, OH 43228
• JACK Cleveland Casino (JACK Entertainment) - 100 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113

Each casino features common games like slots, poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and much more. 

All casino games are thoroughly tested and fairness controlled by independent testing agencies authorized by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Only gamble at one of these four casinos or at one of the racinos outlined below to ensure safety from illegal operators. 

Ohio racinos

The Buckeye state also offers seven racetracks with casinos inside, called racinos. The first Ohio racino was established in 2012, though racinos differ from retail casinos in that they cannot offer table games. Instead, they offer VLTs (Video Lottery Terminals) that work similar to a slot game but operate like a lottery game, in addition to horse race gambling. 

Racinos are open 24 hours a day. While horse racing wagers can be placed by anyone over 18 years old, the gambling age requirement is 21+ years of age. Most racinos offer fun promotions and rewards programs to increase engagement. 

See below a list of Ohio racinos, with their operator in parenthesis and address:

• Belterra Park Gaming (Boyd Gaming) - 6301 Kellogg Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45230
• Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs (Caesars Entertainment) - 6000 S High St, Columbus, OH 43207
• Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway (Penn National Gaming) - 3100 Needmore Rd, Dayton, OH 45414
• Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course (Penn National Gaming) - 655 N Canfield Niles Rd, Youngstown, OH 44515
• JACK Thistledown Racino (JACK Entertainment) - 21501 Emery Rd, North Randall, OH 44128
• MGM Northfield Park (MGM Resorts International) - 10777 Northfield Rd, Northfield, OH 44067
• Miami Valley Gaming & Racing (Delaware North/Churchill Downs) - 6000 OH-63, Lebanon, OH 45036

Ohio casino history

The expansion of gambling in Ohio is a fairly recent development, as voters didn’t approve a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gambling until 2009. 

In 2010, Governor Ted Strickland signed bill HB 519, creating the regulatory standards and framework for casino gaming in the state. The bill also created the Ohio Casino Control Commission to oversee land-based, retail gambling casinos in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo. 

As outlined in HB 519, casinos pay a 33% tax rate on all gross gaming revenue. Those tax funds are paid to the state’s counties and public school districts. 

In 2012, HB 386 received final approval to allow VLTs (Video Lottery Terminals) at Ohio’s racetracks, leading to the creation of racinos. While technically lottery games, the VLTs were designed to operate in similar fashion to a slot machine. 

The first racino launched just one month after the bill was approved, with all seven racinos opening by 2014. Overall, more than 11,000 VLTs are in operation across the racinos in Ohio. 

In 2018, Ohio passed HB 132, legalizing daily fantasy gaming like DraftKings and FanDuel. The Ohio Casino Control Commission issued its first licenses in 2020, creating a newfound interest and engagement in sports gaming. 

This momentum led to the eventual passing of HB29 in 2021, signed by Governor Mike DeWine, legalizing sports betting at brick-and-mortar facilities, online, and in terminals in bars and restaurants. Wagering on esports, also known as organization video game competitions, was included in this bill. 

On January 1, 2023, sportsbooks officially began operation in the Buckeye state, allowing users to wager on sporting events in person at sportsbooks and electronically via mobile applications. 

In the first month of operation alone, Ohio users placed more than $1 billion in sports bets, giving the state a new tax revenue vertical to divert more money to state programs and benefit constituents. 

While no legislation is active to bring online casinos to Ohio, the successful launch of sports wagering could build momentum to push legislators to reconsider the legalization of online casinos. 

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