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Legal online sports betting officially kicked off in Ohio on January 1, 2023, at midnight. Around the same time, Ohio State fell to Georgia in the 2023 College Football Playoff semifinals (sorry, Buckeyes fans). Ohio sports betting handle reached a stellar $1.11 billion in January — with $1.09 billion coming from online sports betting.
Ohio sports betting revenue was $208.9 million during that stretch. It is still the single-month record for any state.
Discover full reviews for all sportsbook apps available in Ohio and the premier Ohio sportsbook promos you can use today. Caesars, BetMGM, Bet365, DraftKings, and FanDuel Sportsbook each have exclusive bonus codes below.
Best Ohio Sports Betting Apps
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Ohio Sportsbook Promos and Bonus Codes
Below is a list of sportsbook promo codes and offers for new sports bettors in The Buckeye State. These bonuses are constantly shifting, so check back to see the latest offers.
Sportsbook promotions and bonuses are subject to change. Terms and conditions apply.
| State Sportsbook | Promo Code | Current Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Bet365 Sportsbook OH | THELINESOH | Up to $365 in Bet Credits |
| Caesars Sportsbook OH | THELINES1000 | $1,000 First Bet on Caesars |
| BetMGM Sportsbook OH | THELINES | Up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets if you don’t win |
| Betfred Sportsbook OH | BETBONUS | $105 on Fred (No Sweat Bet up to $105 if your first wager loses) |
| Betway Sportsbook OH | None – Use Links | Bet $20, Get a $40 Bonus Bet on your first wager |
| BetRivers Sportsbook OH | LINESRIV | $100 Bonus Second Chance Bet Credit |
Top Three Sports Betting Apps in Ohio
There are a multitude of new sportsbooks for bettors to choose from in Ohio. With so many to select from, it can be hard to choose which of the best betting sites are most suitable to your wagering wants and needs. Let’s dive into the features of each, such as the ease of navigation, betting markets offered, payout speed, and promos to give you a ranking of the best overall sportsbooks in Ohio!
1. Bet365 Ohio
The Bet365 Ohio sign-up bonus is very friendly to new customers from The Buckeye State, especially those with smaller bankrolls. A $1 wager will nab you $365 in bet credits. That gives you a great starting point to wagering responsibly wherever you see an “edge.”
Not many other sportsbook apps give sports like soccer and cricket a top spot in the navigation like Bet365. That’s because Bet365 is a popular operator within the international sports betting community, and it just recently entered the legal US market.
Whether you’re a casual or seasoned sports bettor, it’s critical to have good customer service while placing wagers (particularly live ones). Bet365 offers a substantial help section, allowing you to independently search for answers to your questions. Like Caesars (and unlike BetMGM), there are also live customer service representatives to assist you on your mobile device.
Speaking of live sports betting, Bet365’s live odds allow users to partake in online sports betting as games go on and odds fluctuate. There’s also live streaming, which allows bettors to watch plenty of sporting events for no extra cost.
That means you can stream your favorite teams and go about sports wagering simultaneously on the app.
One of the many reasons why live wagering is such an attractive option for sports bettors is that it gives customers the option to wait for a certain price point to surface in-game — whether it be for the spread, moneyline odds, total, or any live betting market — if the initial price point isn’t appealing.
Bet365 Ohio even allows you to place live wagers on home run props.
Granted, there’s no guarantee that these markets will be available for every player, as is the case with anything of this nature.
| App Version: | 8.91.0 |
| App Store rating: | 4.8 |
| Google Play rating: | 2.4 |
| Download size: | 23.9 MB |
| Best feature: | Variety of markets offered |
| Area in need of improvement: | Quicker accessibility to more major markets |
| Payout Speed: | 2-5 Business Days |
| Our final rating: | 4.5 |
2. Caesars Ohio
Caesars Ohio is my favorite sportsbook app among the major US operators. Most importantly, it offers the fairest odds in any major sports betting market and reasonable limits. The latter insinuates that you won’t be restricted to an extremely low wager if you’re a winning, high-stakes sports bettor. If you’re a user with a larger bankroll, this factor certainly comes into play.
Caesars Ohio offers one of the best bonuses among its competitors. $1,000 First Bet on Caesars is the latest offer for new Caesars Sportsbook customers.
Additionally, the more tier credits a Caesars Sportsbook customer generates within a given year, the more “assets” they’ll haul in. Those benefits include a monthly bonus bet and a bonus bet during the customer’s birthday month. The latter gift is of the $20 variety, while monthly bonus bets range between $5 to $30.
Caesars Sportsbook is linked to many of the top casinos across the country. They include Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, and Harrah’s New Orleans. If you make a bet on the Caesars Sportsbook app, you’ll unlock rewards points each time — for offers and discounts at up to 50 destinations.
On top of that, you can redeem your Caesars Rewards in the form of bonus cash. This option tacks real money to your sportsbook account once redeemed. Every 100 points you earn is good for $1.
You’ll only be eligible to choose this option if you have a minimum of 100 reward points in your Caesars Sportsbook account. This option will show up when you click on your first and last initial on the top right-hand corner of the mobile app (as seen below).
Here are the specifics regarding Caesars Ohio Rewards:
- Gold: $5 monthly bonus bet, dining, and shopping benefits
- Platinum: $10 monthly bonus bet, dining, shopping, and hotel benefits
- Diamond: $20 monthly bonus wager, dining, shopping, hotel, and entertainment benefits
- Diamond Plus: $30 monthly bonus bet, dining, shopping, hotel, and entertainment benefits
| App Version: | 3.30.0 |
| App Store rating: | 4.6 |
| Google Play rating: | 4.3 |
| Download size: | 323.5 MB |
| Best feature: | Easy access to betting markets off the bat |
| Area in need of improvement: | Quicker access to customer support |
| Payout Speed: | 2-5 Business Days |
| Our final rating: | 4.8 |
3. BetMGM Ohio
BetMGM Ohio is right there with Caesars as one of the premier sports betting apps for the best sportsbook promo codes. It offers up to $1,500 in bonus bets should you lose your first wager.
The operator has its sights set on aggressive expansion. With a racino in Northfield, entering the Ohio market was a given. The recognizable brand name has helped the company gain much traction, but there’s also lots to see under the hood, including a range of betting markets on the NFL, NBA, MLB, and more.
You can bet on your hometown favorites, including Bengals odds, Browns odds, Cavaliers odds, and of course, the Ohio State Buckeyes, Reds, and Guardians at BetMGM.
Unfortunately, Ohio residents couldn’t cash in on the fun when Joe Burrow & Co. advanced to the Super Bowl in 2021-22. That’s because legal sports betting wasn’t official in Ohio quite yet.
But BetMGM Ohio customers are free to use their bonus bets, including the one acquired via signing up, on upcoming Bengals futures wagers or any other team they choose. If your first bet doesn’t cash in, the one-time offer is for up to $1,000 in bonus bets.
If you’re casually going about sports betting, you may not consider using bonus bets on futures markets. However, if you’re betting often, using your bonus bet on this type of wager is a more worthwhile investment. That’s because the initial “stake” of the bonus bet isn’t included in your net winnings if the wager wins.
But you may be a bettor who looks to wager for entertainment purposes here or there. That’s OK! BetMGM has plenty of options for you to try. Same-game parlays are very popular and are a great place to start. While SGPs are fun to place, these types of bets should be on the lower end of the spectrum regarding your bankroll.
For instance, you could take a shot on Donovan Mitchell to go over points prop and the Cavs to cover the spread at much greater odds than if you just placed single-game wagers on either.
When it comes to rewards, BetMGM has Tier Credits and MGM+ Rewards. You’ll accrue 20 points for each category for every $100 straight wager you bet.
While you collect them simultaneously, MGM Tier Credits differ greatly from the rewards program. Despite being able to use the rewards to purchase all sorts of benefits, Tier Credits are used exclusively to track and determine your player status.
One downside of the app is that it occasionally lags more than its competitors, which may impact the bettor’s ability to wager at a given juncture.
| App Version: | 23.02.24 |
|---|---|
| App Store rating: | 4.8 |
| Google Play rating: | 3.8 |
| Download size: | 93.8 MB |
| Best feature: | Accessibility to sports betting markets |
| Area in need of improvement: | Lagging |
| Payout Speed: | 2-5 Business Days |
| Our final rating: | 4.6 |
Other Ohio Sportsbook Apps Available For Download
Betfred Ohio
Bettors might not be as familiar with Betfred Ohio as the brand is only live in six US markets including Ohio. The brand is based out of the UK where it is one of the largest sportsbook operators. New Betfred users enjoy a generous welcome offer of $105 on Fred. The bonus is a No Sweat Bet up to $105 if your first wager loses.
Betfred has a multi-year partnership with the Cincinnati Bengals, and has been live in the Buckeye State since January 1, 2023. Football bettors can will point spreads, totals, and moneylines for the Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Ohio State Buckeyes and many other in-state teams. Live betting markets are available as well. Keep an eye out for daily odds boosts, or in this case, Betfred Boosts.
Betway Ohio
Like a couple others listed above, Betway Sportsbook established its brand recognition in Europe before launching here in the states. Ohio is the newest US market, and eighth overall, where the Betway sports betting app is available.
The current Betway welcome offer available to Ohio bettors is slightly different from other markets. With Betway, if you bet $20 after signing up, you can get a $40 bonus bet on your first wager.
New and existing customers can take advantage of the bonus live bet promo and Betway Boosts.
BetRivers Ohio
The BetRivers Ohio sportsbook welcome bonus is not as generous as the offers mentioned above, but there is an upside to the second chance bet of up to $100. Say you bet on the Cincinnati Reds to win the NL Central crown this season, but they end up finishing second to the Milwaukee Brewers. The $50 you wagered would appear as a bet credit in your account. You have to complete a 1x play-through attached to the bonus.
Ohio sports betting newcomers might have an occasional question while getting familiar with the BetRivers app. One of the things we like about the product is the customer support is a click away. A “support” button is located in the bottom right of the app. A pop-up screen will immediately appear where you can enter your name and email address to start the conversation. The service might not be available 24/7, but US pro sporting events typically do not occur after 1:30 a.m. EST.
The app also features a “help center” button in the drop-down menu on the top left. This button displays answers to several common questions ranging from withdrawals to where loyalty rewards can be found.
Live betting has become extremely popular no matter what legal sports betting state you reside in. If you’re looking for the available BetRivers live sports betting markets, look for the “live” icon in the top navigation bar. Once you click on it, scroll up or down until you find the desired event. The live score is listed above the different wagers. Like with other top sports betting apps, Ohio bettors can take advantage of the BetRivers live streaming option. This means you can wager and watch simultaneously if you so desire.
Of course, we can not forget to mention the BetRivers iRush Rewards program. You will earn loyalty level points and bonus store points from every real money wager you make. Like at a land-based casino, the program has several different tier levels. The app includes a bonus bar to help track your loyalty level in real-time. Those who reach VIP status enjoy birthday gifts, luxury items, and invites to special events.
FanDuel Ohio
FanDuel Ohio is another major player among nationwide sportsbook operators with its fair share of exciting odds boosts. Bet $5 on any moneyline with FanDuel and get $150 in Bonus Bets if your team wins.
MLB bettors — look no further. FanDuel is the lone operator with “Dinger Tuesdays,” where you bet $25 on any player to hit a home run and get $5 for any HR hit in the game. If the player hits a homer, you will get the payout plus bonus bets for each home run hit.
Take the dual-threat Shoehei Ohtani — a perennial favorite among AL MVP odds. Let’s say the Angels are facing the Astros, and you bet Ohtani to hit a homer at +300 with the “Dinger Tuesday” promo.
Even if Ohtani doesn’t hit one out of the ballpark, it’s still considered a +EV wager if four home runs are hit in the game. You’ll lose your $25 initial stake, but you’d receive $20 back in bonus bets to your FanDuel Ohio account.
Determining whether certain bets are +EV will make you a smarter sports bettor in the long run, which is worth noting if you aim to build a bankroll — or even just use standard bankroll management tactics.
DraftKings Ohio
DraftKings Ohio provides one of the best user experiences among the state’s top sports betting apps. Its live betting offerings are one of its top features. DraftKings’ market variety has driven bettors, who are interested in these markets, to sign up.
How does it differ? The 2023 NBA Draft was a perfect example. Considering Ohio is one of the states that allows for legal wagering on the draft (Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia do not), bettors had the chance to place live wagers on individual picks. One of the betting favorites who cashed was UCLA product Jamie Jaquez. He was selected by the Miami Heat at No. 18 overall and went off at +160 among the live odds available.
There are numerous promotions daily, such as an MLB same-game parlay with a 100% profit boost. Granted, that level of an odds boost isn’t the norm, but it shows that intriguing choices are available if you’re looking to place a bet for entertainment purposes.
Couple that with up to $1,200 in bonuses including a $50 bonus bet with a $5 deposit, and there’s lots of appeal to sign up with DraftKings Ohio.
How We Rank Sports Betting Apps In Ohio
Here are TheLines’ top-four criteria for assessing a sportsbook mobile app and why each factor is important.
1. Best Odds
Whether you’re a casual sports bettor or one who wagers more often and places larger bets, this variable tends to separate nationwide operators most.
That’s especially the case when it comes to retaining customers long-term. Possessing fair odds with reasonable vig (i.e. -110, -115, etc.) is worth contemplating before betting any market, but even more so when you’re depositing with an operator in the first place.
2. Bonuses And Promos
Sportsbook offers are a huge factor that entice new customers to sign up for an account. Receiving bonus bets on your first wager — should it lose — helps take some of the risk out of the initial bet. For those who are learning how to build a bankroll, that’s critical. Certain offers may also be better suited to your wagering style, contingent on your risk tolerance.
Monitor the best offers when signing up and the rewards programs the various apps showcase. Converting sportsbook rewards into hotel stays, restaurants, shows, and future wagers are big incentives when selecting an operator — even if you aim to utilize multiple ones to price shop the best available odds.
3. Accessibility To Betting Markets
The layout of a sportsbook mobile app is arguably the most underrated aspect. How quickly will a user be able to find “X” market if it’s one of the most popular ones at the time? You would think that’s a given, but even ahead of NBA Draft, some operators made it rather time-consuming for users to promptly reach those markets.
4 Sportsbook App Speed
Whether you’re betting a pregame spread or eyeing a certain live betting market, no sports bettor wants to spend ample time waiting for odds to load. Providing the user with a quick and easy route to their respective wager(s) of his or her choosing is important. For the most part, all of these operators have implemented updates to their mobile apps to accomplish (or continue to strive for) this goal.
How To Download A Sportsbook In Ohio
Downloading and completing the sign-up process for a given sportsbook’s mobile app is quick and simple. If you follow this easy seven-step guide, it won’t take you long before you’re able to place a wager.
Select the sportsbook app to download
Type in the name of the sports betting app that you’d like to download in the search bar of your phone’s app store. Click on the download button of the sports betting app. The app will appear on the home screen of your mobile device. You can also click on any of the links above, and they’ll take you directly to the mobile sign-up page.
Following the completion of the download from the iOS App Store or Google Play store, you’ll be brought to the registration step after clicking on the app.
Register
Typically, a “Register Now” button will appear from the get-go (right near the sign-in option). You’ll first need to choose a username, password, as well as entering your email address. Then, comes the “Terms of Use,” which you need to read and agree to before moving along even further.
Your personal information is also necessary. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, home address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Without this information, the sportsbook won’t be able to complete your registration.
Set up two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication ensures that your sportsbook account(s) are at a reduced risk of being hacked, like any other app. You’ll need to fill out the two-step authentication process to confirm your identity each time you login.
Ohio isn’t one of the states that instructs operators to require two-factor authentication for their customers (Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, and New Jersey must use 2FA). Nevertheless, it helps keep your account more shielded from identity theft.
Claim your new user offer and enter promo code
Our best sportsbook promos page allows you to review all of TheLines’ Ohio bonus codes that you can use at your leisure. One of the most important aspects of signing up with a sportsbook is making sure you receive access to its sign-up offers.
Options to deposit funds
After you register for a new account and claim your sign up offer, it’s time to fund your betting bankroll. There are a variety of quick and safe deposit options available.
- Online banking transfer
- Play+ Prepaid Cards
- PayNearMe
- Bank wire transfer
- PayPal
- (ACH) VIP preferred e-Check
- Venmo
- Visa/MasterCard credit and debit cards (sometimes, choosing this method results in the company charging you with an extra fee, so double check that this won’t occur before going about the deposit.)
Place a wager
You’ll now be able to view all of the sports betting markets to see which wager you’d like to place. After finding the odds you wish to bet on, select the wager amount and click submit. Often, the sportsbook will ask you to confirm the wager. While this step can be seen as an annoyance, it’s helpful if you accidentally clicked on a bet that you had no intention of placing.
Withdraw winning funds
Withdrawing your winnings isn’t a hassle, but it tends to take longer than the depositing process. Generally speaking, it’s roughly 2-5 business days. If you’d like to haul in your account balance via a check, it may take a few weeks before you receive it in the mail. Check out our fastest sportsbook payouts page for more details.
What to expect from the best sports betting apps in OH
As previously noted in this state betting guide, casually wagering on your local sports teams is one of the most enjoyable ways to get started with sports betting. Mobile wagering apps give you more than enough options to do so. With that comes deciding on the odds that suit your sports betting edge, or betting interest, most.
Let’s hone in on Ohio State football — seemingly a perennial national championship contender.
With the lack of mobile sports betting in Ohio ahead of the 2022 season, users weren’t able to choose from the variety of college football odds that each one of these sportsbooks offer. That was during a season when the team nearly booked a trip to the championship game before falling to Georgia in the closing seconds.
But unless you’re able to separate your fandom from your wallet, which is another significant part of sports betting, Buckeyes fans likely wouldn’t have wagered on Michigan to win the Big Ten championship. If you’re a believer in Ohio State, preseason or at any point during the campaign, you can price shop their Big Ten odds at the best Ohio sportsbooks.
Heisman odds, which are available to bet throughout the season, as well as game-by-game college football betting odds are posted across all of these operators.
Geolocation and the Importance for Ohio Sports Betting Apps
Mandating that geolocation is weaved into a sportsbook’s mobile app is of the greatest importance for state regulators. Even though you aren’t required to live in a state in order to place a wager within its boundaries, betting that crosses state lines is against every state’s regulations, along with the Federal Wire Act.
For context, GeoComply, one of the premier companies for geolocation and anti-fraud solutions across the iGaming industry, tallied 11.3 million geolocation downloads in Ohio during the 2023 New Year’s weekend. It’s no coincidence that online sports betting was launched in The Buckeye State during that time frame.
Sportsbooks put a lot of time and resources into ensuring that a bettor is within state lines before placing a wager.
While VPNs, along with any other remote mobile app software, are “convenient” enough for sports bettors to try to hide their location if they aren’t in a legal betting state, “Player Location Checks” aid with detecting suspicious activity on a sportsbook’s mobile app.
Also note that some sports betting apps require you to create an account for the state you are trying to wager in. You may already have a BetMGM Illinois account, but if you want to wager with BetMGM in Ohio, you will need to go through a separate download process for that app. Again, geolocation technology ensures you are using the correct app for the state you are in.
Ohio Sports Betting Rules and Regulations
Whether you’re aiming to place a bet via a sportsbook’s mobile app or at a retail location, you must be 21 years of age or older to do so.
Keep in mind that besides Bet365 and DraftKings, the other aforementioned operators have retail shops for you to wager at. Caesars Ohio is located at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse — the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers. BetMGM Ohio is at Northfield Park, and this retail book showcases 14 total kiosks on the sportsbook floor, as well as 16 different odds boards.
Additionally, FanDuel Ohio is accessible at Belterra Park, with four self-service betting kiosks and 12 TV screens, along with a large video wall with a sports ticker.
No matter where you’re placing bets, bettors are eligible to place wagers on any college sports market. Unlike other states, Ohioans bet on the local teams, such as the previously noted Buckeyes, plus player prop bets.
Responsible Gambling in Ohio
No matter the number of games you may bet on a nightly basis, the importance of responsible gambling can’t be stated enough. Below are two ways to help via Ohio sportsbooks:
- Limit sportsbook settings (deposit limits, spending limits, limited daily time spent on sportsbook(s) mobile app, cool-off time, self exclusion, opt-out program)
- Accessing responsible gambling outlets (1-800-Bets-Off, 1-800-Gambler)
The first step revolves around limiting how much you’re able to bet on a daily, weekly, and/or monthly basis. This feature is a great way for users to cap themselves from going over their “limit.” Even if you’re only betting what you can afford to lose already, gambling can greatly impact one’s daily lifestyle if one is spending too much time, money, or resources on a massive amount of bets.
That’s also where limiting the amount of time you can spend on a sportsbook’s mobile app comes into play, along with undergoing a “cooling off” period if necessary.
If you need someone to talk to regarding problem gambling, please don’t hesitate to contact 1-800-Bets-Off or 1-800-Gambler.
Ohio sports betting FAQ
BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Bet365 Sportsbook all possess 4.8 rating
in the iOS Store. Caesars is a couple of ticks below with a 4.6.
FanDuel Sportsbook is the leader of the pack (4.7) within the Google Play store.
Regarding sign-up bonuses, you’re only allowed one per account. But be on the lookout for same-game parlays, odds boosts, or even refer-a-friend bonuses, as these are readily available for all customers.
You need to be 21 years of age or older. It’s also the required age to visit an Ohio sportsbook.
Unlike other states that prohibit live betting on collegiate sports and prop betting on individual collegiate athletes, all college sports betting markets are eligible to be wagered on in Ohio. Among the others that haven’t been mentioned are March Madness odds and even College World Series odds.
Anyone visiting Ohio is permitted to create a sportsbook account. But you must be within state boundaries in order to use any operator’s app. That’s where geolocation comes into play with the aforementioned GeoComply or any other provider that allows the operator to see that you’re not using a VPN.
Bets placed via the internet, mobile device, or computer must also go through sports gaming systems that are operated by regulated licensees. Offshore sports betting is illegal.
Among the approved Ohio sports betting licenses, Caesars, BetMGM, Bet365, DraftKings, and FanDuel are some the best and most popular options for new users.