When most people think of gambling in Ohio, they think of Cincinnati or Cleveland. Both cities have attractive casinos that draw players from across the state. Ohio’s approach to gambling is fairly liberal, but there are still some archaic laws on the books. One such law is one that makes it hard for residents to engage in certain forms of gambling. Specifically, those that take place online.
On this page, we will examine the following elements with regards to Ohio poker laws:
Best Free Online Poker Games You Need To Try Right NowTemporary Suspension of In-Person Gaming During Covid
All Ohio casinos were ordered to close at 11:59 pm on March 15, 2020, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Thankfully, this was not a permanent closure, and most operations were allowed to reopen their doors on June 19. Of course, things are not quite back to normal. Certain procedures are in place to protect players and staff. These include reduced capacities, mandatory masks, and persistent use of sanitization stations. If you do decide to visit a casino during these uncertain times, please make sure to respect social distancing guidelines at all times.
Current Gambling Options in Ohio
Residents of Ohio have access to a variety of legal gambling options. The state took steps toward a more liberal approach to gambling way back in 1931 when it legalized charitable raffles. Since then, lawmakers have introduced legislation to cover just about every form of gambling you care to mention. Today, Ohioans can enjoy casinos, racinos, sports betting, fantasy sports, bingo, lottery draws, charitable games, and daily races. However, despite the plethora of options, there is one major omission -- online gambling.
State legislators introduced a bill to regulate online gambling back in 2012. However, said bill stalled in the House. Ever since then, various representatives have attempted to get internet gambling on the agenda. To date, nothing has come of it. This means that betting money on poker games isn’t strictly prohibited; however, there are some laws that govern the way people play online. We’ll look at this in depth later on. Before we move on, here’s a quick look at the gambling options that are available to Ohio residents.
Casinos
The first commercial casino didn’t open until 2012. Now, the state is home to three large-scale gaming venues. Two of these are operated by Caesars Entertainment, while the other is owned by JACK Entertainment LLC. On top of these, there are several racinos that offer both standard horse racing bets and electronic gaming machines. As of 2022, the state is home to seven racino properties.
If you’ve never been to a casino in Ohio, here are three of the best:
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JACK Cleveland
This casino has over 1,700 slots and electronics table games. It also has live tables for blackjack, craps, roulette, and more. Other amenities include restaurants, bars, a music venue, and regular entertainment. You can find out more on their website: JACK Cleveland
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Hollywood Casino Columbus
Located at the Scarlet and Gray Place, this large casino has everything you could want. Inside, you’ll find over 1,600 slot machines, 80 table games, 24/7 sports betting, plus bars, restaurants, and regular entertainment. Find out more at the official site: Hollywood Columbus
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Hard Rock Northern Illinois
This rockin' casino features over 1,300 slots and electonic table games. There are also live tables offering blackjack, roulette, craps, and Fortune Pai Gow. Eateries include Hard Rock Cafe, The Kitchen, and Sirius Rocks Sports Bar. Visit the Hard Rock website for more info: [Hard Rock Casino] (https://hardrockcasinopitelatte.com/)
Recently, many US states have seen a huge surge in interest for poker and other card rooms due to the Covid-19 restrictions. Fortunately, the casinos in Ohio were able to reopen their doors relatively soon after lock down. For this reason, there have been no moves to temporarily license online poker sites. If a total lockdown happens again in future, only offshore online poker sites will be readily available for players.
Sports Betting and Fantasy Sports
In 2019, the US Supreme Court ruled that states were within their rights to legalize and regulate sports betting. Up until that point, a PASPA act imposed by the federal government prevented such actions. Once the act was repealed, numerous states began working on bills to cover sports betting. Ohio was among the next wave of states that moved to legalize the activity. Governor Mike DeWine signed HB 194 into law on June 18, 209.
This bill allows both retail and online sports betting. Companies that wish to offer online betting must partner with an existing casino or racino. So far, 11 licenses have been issued, which should give residents plenty of options. As of March 2022, BetMGM, BetRivers, and Barstool were up and running. Other operators will roll out services throughout the year.
Fantasy sports have always existed in a grey area of the law. Technically, DFS operators broke wire betting laws. This made it tough for companies like FanDuel and DraftKings to operate legally in certain states. Over the last few years, both operators worked closely with lawmakers to pass bills that explicitly permitted DFS. Today, both companies have licensed platforms in Ohio.
Horse Racing and Historic Horse Racing
Around two thirds of US states have legalised sports betting, but the same cannot be said for horse racing. Unlike most activities in the gambling sphere, race betting is legal across the United States. Of course, the quality of racing varies from state to state. If you want to watch world class Thoroughbred racing, you should head to a casino in Ohio on a Saturday night. That’s when the track at Chase Park Plaza in St Louis broadcasts its meets.
Before you can place a big bet at a meet in Ohio, you need to sign up for a racing account. This involves providing photo ID, proof of address, and filling in a W-4G form. Once your account is set up, you can wager as much as you like on any race. Most casinos in Ohio have dedicated racing areas where punters can watch the action via TVMs. Some even have large screens set up around the main gaming floor.
In addition to wagering on live races, players in Ohio can enjoy historic horse racing terminals. At first glance, HHR machines look like slot machines. In fact, they’re a lot like them. HRRs feature themed games with multiple reels and paylines. The difference between these machines and slots is the software that runs inside. HHRs run historical race data through a complex algorithm to generate random results. Many casual observers believe they’re getting to watch a specific race. In reality, you’re just engaging with a creative presentation of a random result.
There are 11 historic horse racing locations in Ohio. These facilities are located inside racinos. Anyone aged 21+ with a racing account can use the HHRs. Some of the most popular historic horse racing machines in Ohio can be found at:
- Mardi Gras Gaming
- Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
- JACK Cleveland
- Hollywood Casino Toledo
- JACK Thistledown Racino
Lottery
Every US state with the exception of Hawaii and Alaska has a lottery. When it comes to OH lottery rules, there are plenty of options available to residents. The Ohio Lottery Commission offers instant win scratchcards, draw games, and daily games. Scratchcards can be purchased at supermarkets, gas stations, convenience stores, and other similar outlets. Draw games include Rolling Cash 5, Fantasy 5, and Powerball / Mega Millions. Daily Games include Keno, Last 5, Print 'n Play, and Fast Play.
miami gaming casinoAnyone aged 18+ can buy lottery tickets and play Instant Win games online. There are also lottery kiosks in casinos, racinos, airports, and shopping malls. If you win a substantial prize, you may have to visit a lotto office to claim it. How much do you have to win for ohio lottery prizes? Prizes of $600 or less can be claimed at a retailer or by mail. Between $600 and $5,000, your prize can be claimed at a district office. Anything above $5,000 needs to be claimed in Columbus.
Skill Games
Skill games are another legal option for players in the state of Ohio. State laws define skill games as legal if they’re based “predominantly” on skill. This doesn’t mean that every pot is determined by ability. Instead, it refers to the fact the final outcome of a tournament series is decided by skill. For example, satellite tournaments are based on skill as players use their knowledge to earn seats in main events. But the main event itself might well be based purely on luck.
As we’ve discussed, state law says that games based “predominantly” on skill are legal. Local prosecutors have different opinions on what that actually means. For this reason, it’s sometimes difficult to find reputable websites that offer skill games in Ohio. Global Poker is one site that does operate in the state. Our in-depth review of the site can be seen via the below link:
- Our Global Poker Review
Social Poker Sites
If you don’t want to mess around with he legalities of real-money poker, why not try social poker sites? These platforms allow you to play free online Texas Holdem against players from around the world. What’s the catch? Well, social poker sites are free to play because there are no deposit options. If you want to play, you simply download an app and log in. Some apps, such as Zynga, even offer single player tournaments.
Sometimes people wonder if social poker sites are safe. After all, you are downloading an app to your device. It’s important to stick to major brands. Apps such as Zynga Poker have been around for a decade or more. They offer a fun, risk-free way to hone your skills. The downside is that, without the dynamics of real-money play, you’re not learning as much as you could be.
Home Games
Another way to play poker in Ohio without breaking the law is via home games. Again, provided no money changes hands, you won’t be doing anything illegal. Of course, as host of the game, you will be responsible for making sure there are no cash games per se. One way to do this is via a fantasy sports model. Everyone puts money in, and the winner gets the pot at the end. Another thing to consider is seating arrangement. Under Ohio poker laws, you must be able to see the card you hold at all times. This usually means having cards displayed on the table in front of you.
Hosting regular home games might sound good, but there’s a better way to play. Online poker sites, such as Americas Cardroom, have fantastic software that recreatates the home game experience online. Features such as sit and go’s, bubble races, and turbo speed allow you to create games tailored precisely to your needs. And, unlike home games, you can play ACR from anywhere in the state. Our full Americas Cardroom review can be found here:
Bonuses and Sweepstakes Credits
It’s possible to get poker bonuses in Ohio. As we’ve discussed, you can’t freely bet money on poker games online. However, there are alternative currencies that can be used to play poker in the USA. One such currency is sweepstakes credits. Social poker sites, such as the aforementioned , use this currency. Players receive free chips at regular intervals. They can use these chips to enter freerolls and low stakes MTTs.
These sites also offer additional incentives, such as reload bonuses, achieve bonuses, and referral bonuses. Sweepstakes credits can then be won and amassed. If you amass a sufficient number of SCs and want to withdraw them, you can often purchase extras with real money. This will increase your overall balance, thus increasing your potential payout if you win more SCs.
Finally, another way to get a poker bonus in Ohio is via . These are online poker sites with licenses in other jurisdictions. GGPoker, which hosts the WSOP online, is a great example. Residents of Ohio can freely join GGPoker and take advantage of its welcome bonus, MTT schedule, cash games, and SNGs. Our GGPoker review contains more information on what the site has to offer:
- Our GGPoker Review
Past Legislative Attempts to Legalize Online Poker
Despite the positive steps taken in 2019 to legalize sports betting and DFS, Ohio hasn’t made any attempt to expand its gambling offerings beyond those two verticals. Rep. Sykes introduced a bill in 2017 that would have regulated online poker and casino games. However, that bill stalled in committee.
Some experts believe that Ohio has missed its opportunity to generate healthy revenue from iGaming taxes. A report published in 2017 estimated that legalizing online poker and casino gaming would generate up to $35 million in annual tax revenue. Six years on, the market would probably be worth a lot more than that. Several neighboring states have shown that iGaming generates more revenue than sports betting. For example, in Michigan, online casino games generated $132.2 million in revenue during February 2023—that’s almost five times more than the $28.3 million generated from sports betting during the same month.
Expected Oh Poker Laws if It Were to Become Regulated
So, what would Ohio poker laws look like if regulation came into effect? We can get a rough idea by looking at how other states have written their licensing bills. If an Ohio bill follows the usual format, it would contain the following sections:
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Licensing fees: Operators would be required to pay a flat fee to obtain an online gaming license. This fee would vary depending on the type of license (i.e. Poker, casino, sportsbook etc.). Fees would be valid for a set period (probably five years).
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Tax rates: Revenues would be subject to state and local taxes. Currently, Ohio has a flat income tax rate of 4.797%. That rate applies to all forms of taxable income. Given that other US states tend to apply graduated scales to iGaming revenues, Ohio players might get a break.
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Self-exclusion schemes: All licensing bills mandate self-exclusion schemes. These schemes must give problem gamblers the chance to ban themselves from all licensed sites. Additionally, these players must be able to ban themselves from receiving marketing materials.
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Responsible gambling measures: Any reputable operator already has strict responsible gambling policies in place. These policies will have to be updated to meet state requirements. Requirements typically include age verification, ID checks before depositing, deposit limits, play limits, reality checks, self-assessment questionnaires, and direct links to organizations such as the Problem Gambling Services of Ohio.
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Security standards: Security is paramount in online gambling. Therefore, all licensed operators will have to invest in high-level SSL encryption protocols. Additional security measures may include secure payment processors, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, regular software updates, and employee background checks.
Who Can Play Online Poker in Ohio?
Anyone can play on social poker sites and at online poker rooms with no specific licensing in the state. However, state licensing would change things. The age limit to play at licensed sites will remain 18+ for lottery games and 21+ for casino games, poker, and sportsbooks. Under current Ohio gambling laws, anyone aged 21+ can enter race accounts with hundreds of vompit video lottery terminals.
If online poker does become regulated, 18+ players may be excluded from playing MTTs and sngson licensed sites. However, these players should still be able to play against others of their age group on sites with sweepstakes credits. Those aged 21+ would be free to play MTTs and SNGs on licensed online poker sites in Ohio.
Would You Be Able to Play Against Players in Other States and/or Countries?
When NJ, DE, and NV banded together to create the first legal online gaming network in 2014, it paved the way for multi-state liquidity sharing. Today, BSG Network connects several states, including New Jersey, Delaware, Nevada, Michigan, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Liquidity sharing agreements allow operators to pool players and produce bigger prize pools.
If Ohio were to legalize online poker, could players on licensed sites in the state connect with players in neighboring states? The chances are good. Indeed, I believe it’s likely. Firstly, several of Ohio’s neighbors, such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, are already part of the Borgata network. Secondly, connecting with the Borgata network would double, maybe treble, the potential player base for an Ohio poker site. Finally, any self-respecting operator would want to connect with the Borgata network.
Would You Be Able to Play on Your Mobile?
Yes, and you probably already are. As mentioned above, there are plenty of mobile poker options for players in Ohio. Apps like Zynga Poker allow you to fire up your phone and play a few hands whenever and wherever you like. Plus, of course, operators such as Bovada have mobile-friendly websites that work on smartphones and tablets.
2023's Best NJ Gambling Apps & Sites for Online Casino GamesIf Ohio regulates online poker, the state will require licensed operators to build secure apps and websites that comply with state security standards. You will, therefore, need to install an official app or visit a state-licensed website to play online poker in Ohio. The good news is that leading operators, such as PokerStars and GGPoker, already have excellent mobile software.
Would You Have to Pay Taxes on Winnings?
Under current Ohio poker laws, you only have to pay tax if you hit a prize that requires you to fill in a W-4G or W-2G form. As I explained earlier in this piece, prizes range from $600 to $5,000 are declared at district offices. Anything above $5,000 needs to be claimed in Columbus.
If Ohio regulates online poker, state lawmakers will write new tax laws. As outlined earlier, the state’s maximum income tax rate is 4.797%. Other states tend to apply lower rates to poker income. For example, in New Jersey, players have to pay state income tax unless they play on an ATL site, such as WSOP NJ or 888Poker. Even then, the tax rate is only 3.81%.
Top Online Poker Sites That Accept Ohio Players
If Ohio regulates poker, it can take six months to a year for laws to be written, licenses to be granted, and sites to be built/connected. Therefore, you’ll probably be looking at at least a year before locally-licensed sites go live. Until then, your only options are social poker sites and offshore online poker sites.
New Online Casinos in NJ (2023) - Miss Gina's Favorite PicksAs we discussed previously, social poker sites don’t count as betting money on hands of poker. Instead, you receive virtual credits that can be used to enter games. If you amass enough credits and want to convert them to actual cash, you can often purchase extra credits with real money. This circumvents the issue of being unable to freely bet on poker games online.
Official sites are a little grey. State lawmakers define poker as a game where players contribute to a single pot and each player’s outcome is determined by skill. However, lawmakers also stress that games that are predominantly skill-based are legal. With that in mind, it’s impossible for offshore sites to target Ohio specifically. Therefore, they simply accept registrations from players in Ohio alongside thousands of players from other states and countries.
Two top-rated poker sites that accept Ohio players are Bovada and Ignition. Both sites have excellent traffic, soft games, and solid promos. New players can get welcome bonuses worth hundreds of dollars, and there’s a loyalty scheme that dispenses cashback and other perks based on the amount you play. Tournament schedules are packed most days, and there are plenty of full ring, six-max, and heads-up cash games.
Read our detailed reviews of Bovada Poker and Ignition Poker to learn more about what they have to offer:
- Our Bovada Poker Review
- Our Ignition Poker Review
Our Opinion on Oh Poker Laws
Can you play poker in Ohio? Absolutely. Residents of the Buckeye State have plenty of options. Casinos in Ohio offer some of the juiciest tables you’ll find in the Midwest. There are also various skill-based games that can be classified as legal under Ohio poker laws. Then, of course, there are social poker sites and offshore poker sites that allow you to enjoy cash games and tournaments online.
Will Ohio regulate online poker? I certainly hope so. State lawmakers understand the benefits of regulated gambling. Indeed, they’ve recently taken steps to regulate sports betting and DFS. Adding online poker to the mix would increase revenues and provide players with a safer environment in which to play.
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Is online poker illegal in Ohio?
No. While you may not be freely betting money on poker games online, there are loopholes that allow you to play. Social poker sites use alternative currencies, while offshore poker sites rely on a legal grey area to operate legally-ish in Ohio.
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Can you play poker in Ohio?
Yes, you can play poker in various forms in Ohio. Brick and mortar venues offer some of the biggest cash games in the Midwest. There are also skill-based games, social poker sites, and offshore poker sites that allow you to enjoy Texas Holdem and Omaha.
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Where can I play poker in Ohio?
If you mean physically, there are dozens of top-rated poker rooms in the state. Bridges Family Fun Center, JACK Cleveland, and Hollywood Casino Dayton are just three venues that regularly host live poker games. If youmean online, your options are social poker sites and offshore poker sites that accept players from Ohio.
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Why is poker Illegal in Ohio?
Poker is not illegal in Ohio. On the contrary, state laws are very liberal, provided no one is betting money on a network. If that’s the case, players are contributing to a single pot and stand-alone businesses that offer poker may be operating within the law.
