Ohio is one of the top states for sports consumption in America, as multiple major cities host their share of professional and college teams there. As a result, there has been a sizable appetite for sports betting in the state, as residents have urged lawmakers to legalize sports wagering in Ohio. Fortunately for sports bettors, legal online sports betting is on the way soon to satisfy their desire to bet on sporting events.
Sports gambling was made legal in Ohio in December of 2021, with Governor Mike DeWine signing bill HB 29 into law. Ohio’s new sports betting law will allow for up to 25 online sportsbooks in Ohio, with the potential for casinos and sports franchises to obtain those licenses and operate online sportsbooks.
For now, the licensing process is taking place in Ohio, as sports betting operators are submitting their applications to be approved to operate in Ohio. While it is unclear how many apps will launch in Ohio or what those apps will be, there is plenty of buzz surrounding the future of sports wagering in the Buckeye State. The expectation is that several major players will offer sports betting there soon.
Ohio Online Sports Betting: Waiting For Launch
In Ohio, the state has approved online sports betting after they made efforts to legalize sports gambling from 2019 to 2021. The 2021 legalization of sports wagering will lead to up to 25 online sportsbooks for bettors to use while in Ohio. There is also the expectation for retail locations at Ohio casinos that obtain online betting licenses and the potential for physical wagering locations to be at professional sporting venues in cities like Cleveland and Cincinnati.
While prospective operators are waiting until July for the application process, some brands are already positioning themselves to operate in Ohio ahead of the anticipated January 2023 launch. For example, Fubo Gaming has partnered with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Bally Bet has agreed to partner with the Cleveland Browns. Other partnerships between sportsbooks and teams are expected, especially after approved licensing applications.
Other sportsbooks expected to get involved in Ohio are big-name brands like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM. These sportsbooks have shown an aggressive approach to expansion throughout the United States, and Ohio should be no exception in their plans to grow their footprints.
Live Betting At Ohio Online Sportsbooks
Live betting has become one of the most popular forms of sports gambling, as bettors can wager on games after they have already started. As a result, in-game betting in Ohio should be just as popular as in other states when sports gambling launches in Ohio in 2023. Here, we will break down the most commonly used betting markets that bettors will see at the top live betting apps Ohio offers soon.
Moneyline
With moneyline betting, the objective is simply for bettors wagering both pre-game and in-game. The goal is to predict which team will win a sporting event when that matchup concludes. Odds for each team or player to win a contest are updated from start to finish based on what is happening in the game, which opens up opportunities for value betting if a bettor constantly keeps their eyes on the odds.
Spreads
Point spreads are also updated constantly in the live betting markets to reflect what has happened in a game. Therefore, those who opt to bet on sports like basketball or football in-play can often find more favorable point spreads than before the game by using the live betting markets. However, it is worth noting that not every game finishes close to the original point spread, and bettors should be cautious when betting on teams to make a comeback against the spread.
Totals
The total or over/under market asks bettors to determine whether a game will feature more points or fewer points than the point total listed by a sportsbook during each game. In the live betting markets, the point total is adjusted constantly. A slow scoring start for both teams will bring the live total lower, while a fast start will bring it higher, with bettors having to make their decisions based on those adjusted totals throughout each contest.
Props
Prop bets are also massively popular when it comes to in-play betting. Bettors can wager on everything from which team will score next to what the next type of scoring play is going to be. In addition, there are many sport-specific props when using the live betting option during a sporting event, which can spice things up.
Sports To Use Live Betting On at Ohio Online Sportsbooks
Ohio live betting is not up and running just yet, as online sports betting is not expected to launch until the beginning of 2023. However, when it is up and running, bettors can expect to see live betting markets in sports such as the following:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Hockey
- MMA/Boxing
- Motorsports
- Tennis
- Golf
How do I know that online sports betting in Ohio is fair?
Who regulates legal online sportsbooks in Ohio?
When online sports betting launches in Ohio, it will be regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. This organization already regulated the casino activity throughout the state and will do the same for the online sportsbooks that it approves to operate in Ohio. This is a similar setup to that of other states with legal sports gambling, where a state lottery or department of gaming enforcement oversees the regulation of sports betting.
Why should I trust legal online sportsbooks?
Bettors should trust the legal online sportsbooks in Ohio because those sportsbooks are required to act following the laws in each state. A failure to do so by a sportsbook would result in their license being revoked in that state, which would prevent them from accepting players from there. Given that sportsbooks need players to continue to exist, bookmakers have a vested interest in playing by the rules.
How do I get paid if I win?
Getting paid is typically very straightforward if you turn a profit when betting on sports. Most states allow sportsbooks to send out winnings via services like PayPal or through online banking transactions where the money is sent to a bettor’s bank account. These are typically done within a couple of days and are very reliable at the top sportsbook brands in the United States.