Ohio is popular for being more conservative than most states in the United States as casinos and racinos were only legalized a few years ago. Casino games such as roulette, Mini Baccarat, Blackjack are permitted in the state. Scratch-off and lotto tickets for Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lucky for life are sold by the Ohio Lottery, in addition to 5 interstate drawings: Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Rolling Cash, and Classic Lotto.
In 2011, voters approved VLTs (Video Lottery Terminals) at racetracks and this has resulted in the creation of 7 racinos in the state. VLTs function in the same manner as slot machines. Since the first casino was launched in 2012, Ohio casinos have generated almost $2 billion tax revenue for the state. In 2019, Jack Thistledown Racino and Jack Cleveland Casino recorded a combined gross revenue of $398 million.
Although it is illegal to play on an offshore site, the state is still serviced by numerous offshore websites. Under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, local businesses are completely outlawed from operating online gaming websites. It is illegal to play games such as roulette, craps, or slots on offshore sites. Charity gambling in the form of raffles, “game of chance”, and bingos are permitted in the state. Social gambling, however, is not permitted in the state.
Find Ohio Casinos on The Map
Interesting Facts About Ohio
Ohio is the birth home of 7 U.S. presidents: Warren G. Harding, James A. Garfield, William H. Taft, Rutherford B. Hayes, William McKinley, Ulysses S. Grant, and Benjamin Harrison.
Ohio is popularly called the “birthplace of aviation” because the Wright Brothers who were the inventors of the first plane and were born in Dayton, Ohio. Ohioans are credited with popular inventions such as the electric starter engine, the folding step-ladder, the first gas mask, Teflon, the dishwasher, the pop soda can, as well as the first American hotdog.
Other famous Ohioans include Steven Spielberg, Neil Armstrong, Halle Berry, Paul Newman, and Anita Baker.
The capital of Ohio- Columbus, which is also the biggest city was named after Christopher Columbus. Ohio has the third-largest manufacturing industry in the United States, with more than 12,000 manufacturers.
Ohio Gambling Venues
Even as 4 casinos were approved by voters in 2009, the first casino in the state- Jack Cleveland was only established in 2011. The state currently has 18, 278 slot machines, 322 table games, and 116 poker tables in total.
There are 2 categories of gambling venues in Ohio. There are 4 state-licensed casinos that offer table games and slots and are located in each of the major cities- the Hollywood Casinos located in Toledo and Columbus, the Horseshoe Casinos located in Cincinnati and Cleveland. The biggest gambling venue in Ohio is Hollywood Casino Columbus in Franklin County where players can access 80 table games and 2,500 gaming machines.
Three are 7 racinos located at the race tracks and operating Video Lottery Terminals as directed by the Ohio Lottery. Out of the 7 racetracks in Ohio, 4 are harness tracks, and the other 3 are thoroughbred tracks. The harness tracks include Scioto Downs, Lebanon Raceway, Raceway Park, and Northfield Park. Thoroughbred racing is held on Thistledown, Belterra Park, and Beulah Park. Tribal casinos are not available in Ohio.
MyVegas – the free gaming site is available to players in Ohio, however, the points accumulated must be redeemed at MGM facilities and MGM facilities are situated far from the state, so better options include Gray Line Tours and House of Blues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ohio laws pertaining to gambling are listed in Section 2915 of the state code. In most US states, these laws were enacted even before online gambling became popular, so they are outdated and do not apply to online gambling. What this means is that online gambling is not explicitly illegal in Ohio, so players are allowed to play on offshore websites.
Only a few states have legalized online gambling within the boundaries of the state. There are numerous states close to Ohio where some forms of online gambling are legal. Some of these states include Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. So Ohio players who would rather play state-sanctioned games can visit any of these states.
The age requirement depends on the type of game. To play bingo in Ohio, patrons must be at least 16 years old. The minimum age requirement to participate in horse racing, keno, and the state-licensed lottery is 18. To play at casinos, patrons must be at least 21 years old.
Since many of the online casinos that accept Ohio players are based offshore, you might start to doubt the credibility of the website. You are within your rights to do so, however, you must note that majority of the online casinos in Ohio are owned by genuine operators. Although they are not state-sanctioned, it is fairly safe to play there. However, you must make sure to research the website thoroughly before deciding to play there, read past reviews of players, and check out the game collections.
The payment methods typically depend on the website you are playing at. The most commonly used methods by many players are direct bank wires and credit/debit cards. Other methods include: Play+ cards, e-wallets, ACH (eChecks), and PayNearMe. With these methods, you can fund your account and start playing games immediately.
