Over three-quarters of the states have legalized sports betting in some fashion, including Ohio. The Buckeye State passed a bill that legalized sports betting in 2021, but it did not go live until January 1, 2023. Since then, the state has earned millions of dollars in revenue from the sportsbook operators. With plenty of professional and collegiate sports teams in the state, sports betting has taken off. Let’s get into a brief overview of sports betting in Ohio in the first 16 months of it being legal.

The Start of Legalized Sports Betting in Ohio

States were awarded the power to legalize sports gambling if they wanted to when the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2018. After that, some states jumped at the opportunity to legalize sports betting while others remained in the shadows and were skeptical of the massive change. Ohio saw the incredible potential for legalized sports betting in the state, but it took three years to pass a bill that legalized sports betting in the state.

Sports betting went live in Ohio at midnight on January 1, 2023, which also happened to be the time that Georgia defeated Ohio State in the Peach Bowl of the College Football Playoffs. In the next 12 months, Ohioans wagered $7.65 billion on sports through legalized sportsbooks (Ohio Capital Journal). 

Sports Betting Numbers by Month in Ohio

From January 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024, a total of $8,902,937,847 was wagered on sports in Ohio (Bet Ohio). The biggest month was unsurprisingly January of 2023, which was when sports betting became legal. Over $1 billion was wagered in the first month as Ohioans rushed to place their first few legalized bets. 

After January 2023, sports betting remained extremely popular during the football, basketball, and hockey seasons. Over $600 million was wagered in February 2023, with the main attraction being the Super Bowl. Then, $715 was wagered in March as Ohioans were able to legally bet on March Madness for the first time (Bet Ohio). 

The next few months declined due to the limited amount of sports, but it picked up again in September with football returning. In the final three months of 2023, over $2.3 billion was wagered in Ohio (Bet Ohio). The return of basketball, hockey, and football were the primary reasons for the spike. In the end, Ohio finished 6th in the United States for the amount of money wagered on sports in 2023 (The Lines). In total, Ohio earned $936 million in total tax revenue from sports betting in the first 12 months (Ohio Capital Journal). 

January of 2024 saw a decrease compared to 2023, but there was still nearly $800 million wagered in Ohio. However, February of 2024 saw an increase compared to 2023 as over $30 million more was wagered this year. Plus, Ohio had the 4th most money wagered in February in the United States (Sports Handle).

The Sportsbooks’ Share in Ohio

FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings dominated the Ohio market in 2023. The two popular sportsbooks combined for over 70% of the market during the first year of legalized sports betting in the Buckeye State (AJC). Following those two, the other popular sportsbooks went, in order: BetMGM, Bet365, PENN, Caesars, Hard Rock, and Fanatics. 

However, it must be noted the drop off between the second and third most popular sportsbooks in Ohio last year. DraftKings owned roughly 35% of the market while BetMGM had just 7% (AJC). FanDuel and DraftKings were the clear top choices in the state in 2023, and that is expected to stay the same in 2024.

Sportsbooks in Stadiums in Ohio

Sportsbooks are slowly starting to navigate their way into professional sports venues. Ohio is one state that has fully embraced the idea of fans gambling in person at sporting events. In Cincinnati, there is a BetMGM Sportsbook at Great American Ball Park, home of the Reds. The in-person sportsbook offers a stunning view of the stadium and plenty of betting kiosks for fans (Bet Ohio, 2).

In Cleveland, there is a Caesars Sportsbook at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, the home of the Cavaliers. It’s one of the best-located sportsbooks in the state since it’s in Cleveland, and people can access the sportsbook without having a ticket to a Cavs game (Bet Ohio, 2). With plenty of betting windows and kiosks, it’s a popular in-person destination for many Ohioans. 

Gambling Addiction Help and Treatment in Ohio

A gambling addiction is a serious issue that is on the rise in just about every state that has legalized sports betting. If you, a friend, or someone you know may benefit from gambling addiction treatment, consider Birches Health as an option. Birches is a completely online treatment provider that is live in the state and fully available for Ohioans. Birches offers gambling addiction treatment that actually works, thanks to a team of specially trained professionals ready to help you. Plus, about 90% of patients feel an increase in quality of life after treatment at Birches.

If you believe you or someone else could benefit from the Birches Health offerings, please call (833) 483-3838 or email hello@bircheshealth.com.

Sources:

Ohio placed more than $7.65 billion in sports bets in 2023

Understanding Ohio Sports Betting Handle And Revenue

Sports Betting Per Capita: Ranking The Top-10 States in America

Ohio Sports Betting Revenue Totals $67.7 Million For February

4 takeaways from Ohio′s 2023 sports betting revenue data

Ohio Retail Sports Betting Guide: In-Person Sportsbooks in Ohio