Online Casino in Ohio (2025 Guide) – How to Legally Register and Play

Learn how to legally register at an online casino in Ohio. Then, sign up via Ohio Bet for great deals and the best game variety.  

Online casinos are not currently legal in Ohio. However, with the successful rollout of sports betting in the state, it’s only a matter of time before lawmakers consider expanding into online casino gambling. For now, Ohio residents seeking legal online gaming options can explore sweepstakes casinos, which provide an exciting way to enjoy casino-style games with opportunities to win real cash prizes.

Is it Legal to Play at an Online Casino in Ohio?  

Can you legally sign up and play at an online casino in Ohio? Here, we present the legal situation regarding the Ohio casino online landscape and reveal your real-money wagering options.  

At the time of writing, you cannot legally sign up for an online casino in Ohio. Senate Bill 312 was introduced in 2024 to try to move the needle, but there haven’t been any recent changes to the legislation.  

So, real money wagering at an Ohio casino online is not currently permitted under law. Here’s an overview of the current legal situation relating to online wagering: 

✅Sweepstakes & Social Casinos  

To legally play at an online casino in Ohio, your best option is to sign up for a sweepstakes or social casino. Sites like LuckyLand Slots and Funrize Casino are accessible to Ohio residents aged 18 or older.  

These sites use virtual currency, with which you can play games for free and in promotional mode. You can then redeem your coins for real cash prizes or gift cards.  

✅Online Sports Betting  

Real money online sports betting was legalized in Ohio on January 1^st, 2023. Among other things, H.B. 29 legalized sports betting and placed it under the regulation of the Ohio Casino Control Commission.  

Today, top sports betting sites like BetRivers, Bet365, and FanDuel are all legally accessible in Ohio to bettors aged 21 or over. It means you can legally bet on the Bengals, Browns, and other pro sports teams if you’re a resident of the Buckeye State.  

❌Real-Money Online Casinos  

Following the initial successes of Ohio’s real-money sports betting industry, many residents have voiced their support for online casino gambling to follow suit.  

A 2025 Baldwin Wallace University poll found that 61% of Ohio voters would support the legalization of online casinos if tax revenues were used for public programs.  

The most recent legislative attempt to introduce real-money online casino gambling in Ohio was in 2024, via Senate Bill 312. However, there’s nothing new to report at the time of writing.  

If any bills pass in the coming weeks, months, or years, we will update this page to reflect your legal online casino options in Ohio.  

❌Online Poker  

Online poker sites in Ohio are also not currently legal. If you want to play online poker, you must do so at free-to-play sites. Alternatively, you can play online poker-style games at social casinos, but these aren’t particularly common.  

What About Land-Based Casino Gambling in Ohio?  

Aside from sweepstakes and social casinos, the only way to legally play casino games like blackjack, slots, and roulette is to visit a land-based casino.  

Ohio has four land-based commercial casinos and seven racinos, which offer video lottery terminals (VLTs) and sports betting options.  

Land-based casino gambling has been legal in Ohio since November 2009.  

Land-Based Casinos in Ohio  

Below are the details of the four legal casino venues in OH:  

• Hollywood Casino (Columbus): Play 1,900 slots, 65 table games, and live poker at 30+ tables.  

• Hollywood Casino (Toledo): Play 2,000 slots, 60 tables, and live poker at 20+ tables.  

• Hard Rock Casino (Cincinnati): Play 1,600 slots, 100 table games, and live poker at 30+ tables.  

• JACK Casino (Cleveland): Play 1,600 slots, 120 tables, and live poker at 28+ tables. 

Racinos in Ohio  

Another option is to visit a racino. These sites offer VLTs, which have real betting games. Below are the seven racinos currently operating in the state:  

• MGM Northfield Park (Northfield, Summit County)  

• Jack Thistledown Racino (North Randall, Cuyahoga County)  

• Miami Valley Gaming (Lebanon, Warren County)  

• Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs (Columbus, Franklin County)  

• Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment (Cincinnati, Hamilton County)  

• Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway (Dayton, Montgomery County)  

• Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course (Austintown, Mahoning County) 

The Best Online Casino in Ohio – Your Options if Legislation Passes  

While we don’t have a crystal ball, we expect Ohio to pass a bill legalizing online casino gambling in the coming months or years. After all, online gambling is now permitted in West Virginia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, three neighboring states.  

If online casino gambling is approved, we expect the following top sites to operate in Ohio, based on their reputation and success in other US states:  

• Bet365: This UK-based gambling giant is already active in Ohio, offering sports betting markets. Bet365 offers thousands of excellent casino games, including slots from IGT and live games from Evolution.  

• BetMGM: The most prominent online casino in the USA is BetMGM, and we expect this platform to launch in Ohio when legislation passes. The MGM Rewards program is excellent, and the game lobby offers titles from NetEnt, Play’n GO, and other top studios. If you can’t wait, you can now sign up for BetMGM Sportsbook in Ohio to bet on the NFL, NHL, NBA, and other major leagues.  

• FanDuel: FanDuel is another casino likely to launch in Ohio, as it’s already active in several neighboring states.  

• BetRivers: BetRivers is widely regarded as one of the best online casinos in Pennsylvania, so it will likely launch in Ohio. Rush Street Interactive operates the site and has an excellent reputation for game variety, bonuses, and promotions.  

• Caesars: Ohioans can look forward to Caesars Rewards points and perks if this casino giant launches. Like BetMGM, Caesars has a fine reputation, with an unbeatable game offering and many promotions and bonuses for existing players.  

How to Legally Sign Up for an Ohio Casino Online in 2025  

As we await new legislation, the only way to legally sign up for an online casino in Ohio is to create an account at a sweepstakes or social betting site.   

These sites are not real-money wagering platforms, but they offer you the chance to redeem wins for real cash prizes and gift cards.  

They do this by offering virtual currency, often known as gold coins and sweeps coins. If you play and win with sweeps coins, you can redeem real prizes, provided you meet the minimum redemption threshold.  

Here are the steps to follow if you want to legally play at a sweepstakes casino in Ohio as you await the legalization of real-money casino sites:  

Step 1: Choose a Sweepstakes Casino  

There are dozens of sweepstakes casinos in Ohio. We recommend NoLimit Coins, Funrize, Chumba Casino, and LuckyLand Slots. These sites offer great game variety and decent promotions.  

Step 2: Create an Account  

Visit the casino and provide your personal information. You must verify your contact information (email and phone) to register at most sites.  

Step 3: Access Your Welcome Bonus  

All sweepstakes casinos in Ohio provide new players with a welcome bonus, which consists of gold coins and sweeps coins. If you want to redeem prizes for real money, play with sweeps coins.  

Step 4: Play With Sweeps Coins & Top Up Your Balance  

Browse the game library and decide which games to play with your sweeps coins. You can typically play slots, a few table games, and even live games at some social casinos.  

Then, top up your coins balance to keep playing. To do this, you can buy a gold coin bundle, and the casino will give you sweepstakes coins for free. Alternatively, participate in social media giveaways and other promotions to top up your balance.  

Step 5: Redeem a Prize  

Finally, if you meet the redemption limit (often equal to $50 or $100), you can redeem a cash prize or gift card by trading your sweepstakes coin balance.   

The Bottom Line: Ohio Casino Online Options for 2025  

Ultimately, you cannot legally play at an online casino in Ohio in 2025. However, you can lawfully place real-money sports bets online and play at social casinos to redeem gift cards and cash prizes.  

We will update this page as and when any bills are passed to legalize casino gameplay in Ohio in the coming months or years. For now, check out our latest sportsbook promo codes to sign up for Ohio sportsbooks with a bankroll boost.  

Ohio’s iGaming Push: Legal Online Casinos One Step Closer to Reality in 2025

Ohio is on the cusp of a significant expansion in its gaming landscape. State Representative Brian Stewart, Chair of the House Finance Committee, is drafting new legislation to legalize online casinos, aiming to bolster state revenue without increasing taxes. This initiative follows the earlier introduction of Senate Bill 312 by former Senator Niraj Antani, which sought to establish a regulated iGaming market in the state.

The proposed legislation would authorize the Ohio Casino Control Commission to oversee online casino operations, including games like slots, poker, blackjack, and roulette. Each of Ohio’s 11 casinos and racinos would be permitted to offer one online casino app, expanding access to gaming for residents statewide.

Pros:

• Economic Growth: Legalizing online casinos could generate substantial tax revenue. A study by the Ohio Study Commission on the Future of Gaming estimated that iGaming could bring in between $500 million to $650 million annually.
• Consumer Protection: A regulated market would provide Ohioans with safe and secure platforms to gamble, reducing reliance on unregulated offshore sites that lack consumer safeguards.
• Convenience: Online casinos offer accessibility for residents who may not live near physical casino locations, allowing them to participate in gaming activities from their homes.

Cons:

• Impact on Brick-and-Mortar Casinos: Some stakeholders, including operators of physical casinos, express concern that online gaming could divert customers, potentially affecting jobs and local economies.
• Regulatory Challenges: Implementing a new regulatory framework for online casinos requires careful planning to ensure effective oversight and prevent issues such as underage gambling and addiction.

Will Ohio Legalize Online Casinos?

At Ohio.bet, we support the move toward legalizing online casinos in Ohio. Neighboring states like Michigan and Pennsylvania have successfully implemented regulated iGaming markets, resulting in increased state revenues and enhanced consumer protections. By following suit, Ohio can provide its residents with safe, legal gaming options and strengthen its economy.

As the legislative process unfolds, we remain optimistic that Ohio will embrace this opportunity to modernize its gaming industry, offering residents a secure and enjoyable online casino gaming for real money.

Nevertheless, with Ohio’s growing appetite for online gaming, it’s possible that online casinos will become legal in the near future.

Potential Ohio Online Casinos

If Ohio legalizes online casinos, many of the industry’s leading operators would likely launch in the state. These companies already operate successful platforms in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Here’s a look at some providers that could go live in Ohio:

• Caesars Palace Online
• Bally Casino
• BetMGM Casino
• Betfred Casino
• Betway Casino
• DraftKings Casino
• FanDuel Casino
• Hard Rock Online Casino
• Bet365 Casino

These platforms are known for their wide range of games, user-friendly interfaces, and competitive bonuses.

Notable Ohio Casinos

Ohio Online Casino Bonuses

If online casinos launch in Ohio, players can look forward to generous bonuses and promotions. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular types of offers:

• New players often receive a welcome package that includes a deposit match and free spins. For example, a 100% match up to $1,000 with 100 free spins on select slots.
• Play selected slots for free while keeping your winnings after meeting rollover requirements. For example, if you win $50, you may need to wager it 20x ($1,000) before cashing out.
• Existing players can enjoy reload bonuses as part of weekend promotions or seasonal events. These bonuses typically range from 25% to 50% of your deposit.
• Top-tier online casinos reward regular players with loyalty programs. Earn points for every wager and unlock benefits like free spins, cashback, and personalized VIP perks.

What are the top-rated casinos in Ohio for slot machines?

Ohio is home to several great casinos, but here are the standouts for slot enthusiasts:

• Hollywood Casino Columbus: Offers over 2,200 slot machines ranging from penny slots to high-limit games. For example, they have popular games like “Buffalo Gold” and “Lightning Link.”
• JACK Cleveland Casino: Located in downtown Cleveland, this casino has 1,300+ slot machines, including Wheel of Fortune and progressive jackpot games.
• Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati: Known for its themed slots and fun promotions, you can play classic slots or newer games like Dancing Drums Explosion.

Do Ohio casinos offer free play or loyalty rewards programs?

Yes, most casinos in Ohio have robust rewards programs. For example:

• MyChoice Rewards (Hollywood Casino): Earn points for every dollar spent on slots, which can be redeemed for free play, dining, or hotel stays.
• Hard Rock Rewards: Members earn points on slots, table games, and more, which can be converted into free play or discounts at Hard Rock properties.
  Pro tip: Sign up for these programs at the casino to take advantage of birthday bonuses or member-exclusive promos.

Which Ohio casinos have the largest poker rooms?

If you’re into poker, these casinos have great setups:

• Hollywood Casino Toledo: Features a spacious poker room with 20+ tables and regular tournaments.
• MGM Northfield Park: While more focused on electronic poker, it’s still a top choice for casual players.
• JACK Cincinnati Casino: Hosts live cash games and tournaments with a variety of buy-ins.

Are there casinos near Columbus, Ohio, with hotel accommodations?

Yes! Hollywood Casino Columbus is a popular option. While the casino doesn’t have its own hotel, there are nearby accommodations like the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

What are the minimum age requirements for Ohio casinos?

You must be 21 years old to play casino games. However, for racinos (race tracks with slots), the minimum age is 18 for horse betting, but 21 for slot play.

Can you visit Ohio casinos without spending money?

Absolutely! Many Ohio casinos have fantastic restaurants, bars, and live entertainment. For example, Hard Rock Cincinnati regularly hosts concerts, and Hollywood Casino Columbus has themed dining events.