Ohio Sports Betting

In July 2018, five Ohio state senators formally introduced a bill to "express the intent of the General Assembly to develop and enact legislation legalizing sports wagering."

In March 2019, Gov. Mike DeWine declined to include Ohio sports betting revenue in his budget proposal, but said he expected it to be operational by the end of the two-year budget period.

In April 2019, Ohio lawmakers introduced a new bill to legalize and tax sports betting in Ohio, in which the proceeds would pay for education and running the program under the state lottery.

Under the proposal, sport bettors could place in-person wagers in state casinos and racinos, as well as at veterans and fraternal organizations. The bill does not include online or mobile bets.

In May 2020, the House passed a bill to allow retail and online sports betting via casinos and racinos and kiosks at veterans and fraternal organizations. But the legislation never made it to the governor's desk.

In 2021, a bill to legalize sports wagering suffered a similar fate when it reached the House.

In May 2022, the Ohio Casino Control Commission prepared its rules for sports betting and then in early May announced that it will start accepting license applications for sports wagering licenses.

Mobile and retail sports betting officially launched in Ohio on January 1, 2023. Authorized operator categories include online platforms, casinos, sports arenas, bars, restaurants, and standalone sportsbooks. Ohio initially set a 10% tax rate on gross sports wagering revenue. In July 2023, as part of the FY2024–25 biennial budget (HB 33), the Ohio General Assembly doubled the tax rate to 20%, effective immediately. In February 2025, Governor DeWine proposed doubling the rate again to 40% as part of his FY2026–27 budget, intending to fund professional sports facilities and youth sports programs through a new Sports Facilities Construction and Sports Education Fund. The Ohio House rejected the increase in April 2025 when it passed its version of HB 96 without the hike; the Ohio Senate's budget version similarly excluded the increase. DeWine signed the final FY2026–27 biennial budget on July 1, 2025 - the sports betting tax rate remains at 20%.

Separately, in May 2025, Sen. Louis Blessing introduced SB 199, which would add a 2% tax on total sports wagering handle — on top of the existing 20% tax on gross gaming revenue — making Ohio the first state to attempt a dual-base taxation model for sports betting. Revenue from the handle tax would be allocated to publicly-owned sports facilities. SB 199 was referred to the Senate Select Committee on Gaming; no vote had been taken as of mid-2026.