Best Ohio Mobile Sportsbook Apps

Legal Ohio sports betting apps are now live in the Buckeye State!

Best Ohio Sports Betting Apps

21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

It can sometimes be overwhelming for bettors in newly-legalized states once that first wave of sportsbook apps arrives, so it’s important to have a strong understanding of the products:

• the pros and cons of sports betting mobile apps;
• how they function;
• and how you can take advantage of the new user welcome bonuses.

We’ll highlight all of that, and more, down below as we cover everything you need to know about mobile sportsbook apps in Ohio.

Ohio announces that sports betting in the state will begin on Jan. 1, 2023.

— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) June 1, 2022

List of Ohio mobile sportsbook apps

There are four casinos and seven racinos located in Ohio. There are also seven professional sports teams in the state. Each of these entities will be allowed to host up to two mobile betting skins. It means most of the big-name sports betting brands will be able to surface in Ohio right out of the gate.

There is no shortage of licensing partners. Some brands already have existing ties in the state, while others will go live through a third party. The mobile sports betting landscape in Ohio is starting to materialize:

Ohio mobile sportsbook apps pros & cons

Here you can see a quick overview of the advantages and disadvantages of mobile sports betting:

Advantages of mobile sports betting

In this section you can see the advantages of mobile sports betting: 

Quick & convenient

Let’s face it. Placing in-person bets at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook is a thing of the past. There is nothing more convenient than having a sportsbook in your pocket or inside your home at all times. And even better, no lines!

Next time you find yourself scrambling to get to the window at 12:45 on a Sunday afternoon during football season, just whip out your mobile device instead.

It’s fast, it’s easy, and you are always first in line. It’s all about you.

Welcome bonuses

New user welcome sportsbook bonuses in Ohio will be one of the most exciting aspects of mobile sports betting. Unlike a physical ticket window, players who sign up and make their first Ohio wager via mobile are usually entitled to some sort of reward.

Whether it is an insured first-time wager, an extra bet credit, or a deposit match, nearly every mobile sports betting app or website will entice new customers with incentives. Take advantage of this.

Loyalty points, VIP programs, and comps

On top of a new user welcome bonus, most of the bigger sportsbook brands will also reward their players with loyalty points or comps just for placing bets and playing games on their app or website. The use of a mobile app with a registered account allows the sportsbook to track your play and distribute rewards along the way.

This is not possible at a retail sportsbook, as both kiosks and ticket windows do not ask for any personal information. Unless a bet is placed through a registered mobile account, the company will have no idea who placed it.

Live betting

As mobile sports betting becomes more popular for Ohians, so does live betting. At a traditional ticket window, it can be extremely difficult to place a live bet with so many variables in play. Mobile apps give the live bettor a massive advantage.

They can now place in-play action just as fast as they’d send a text message. Let’s say the Ohio State Buckeyes are facing fourth and goal from the Michigan 2 yard line with the season on the line. You can bet on the result of that specific play with live betting.

Line shopping

The ability to browse multiple Ohio sportsbook apps for the best possible line is undoubtedly one of the key aspects to becoming a successful long-term bettor. When betting via mobile, you aren’t restricted to just one book.

Players can freely download as many apps as they’d like and give their action to whoever is giving them the strongest edge on a specific game.

Disadvantages of using mobile sportsbook apps

There are some disadvantages when using mobile sportsbook apps, and these are some of them:

The social aspect

Obviously, this isn’t going to be a dealbreaker for most. Placing bets via mobile definitely does not provide the same social aspect that placing bets at a brick-and-mortar location does.

From the walls covered in flatscreen TV’s, to the food and drinks being served, to the atmosphere created by hundreds of Buckeye fans on the edge of their seat, there’s nothing quite like a packed house on a big sports day.

Personal information

Despite all legalized and regulated sports betting operations in the United States being 100% safe and secure, some bettors simply do not want to fork over any personal information.

Whatever the reason may be, some feel uncomfortable sharing personal details such as banking info or their social security number. If this is the case for you, you’re probably better off sticking with a physical ticket window to place your bets. There is no way to get around sharing personal information if you want to place bets through a mobile device.

Licensed Mobile sportsbook apps in Ohio

Ohio launched its sports betting market on January 1, 2023. More than a dozen sportsbooks went live in the Buckeye State at the turn of the New Year. Here are the following sportsbooks that have agreed to partnerships and have already launched or are expected to launch in the upcoming days/weeks.

Bally Bet

Bally Bet and the Cleveland Cavaliers came to a partnership agreement. Each side agreed in April of 2022. The details of the deal include a branded lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium, as well as the launch of Bally Bet’s mobile sportsbook app, which should be rolling out soon.

Barstool Sportsbook

Penn National Gaming has been very busy over the last few years preparing for an eventual Ohio launch. During that span, their very own Barstool Sportsbook made its industry debut and is now live in a number of states.

BSS is quickly rising up to the ranks of other top brands, and went live in Ohio shortly after midnight on January 1st. It will be available in Ohio before we know it. With PNG running the show in the Buckeye State, there is no doubt that the Barstool Sportsbook will surface right off the bat. The sportsbook is paired with Hollywood Casino Columbus.

bet365 Sportsbook

The Cleveland Guardians and bet365 Sportsbook have agreed to a partnership for their sportsbook app. Bet365 Sportsbook is an up-and-coming sportsbook in the United States. It is sure to make some noise in the Ohio market.

Fanatics Sportsbook

Fanatics has announced they will be the official sportsbook partner for both retail and online for Ohio’s hockey, the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is not a household name yet, but they are making a concerted effort to make a splash in the sportsbook realm.

Betfred Sportsbook

The defending AFC champion, Cincinnati Bengals, who are coming off a tough Super Bowl loss, has announced a partnership with Betfred Sportsbook. The partnership will not include a retail location for the time being.

betJACK Sportsbook

Similar to Hard Rock Sportsbook, betJACK Sportsbook had footprints in the state of Ohio through Jack Cleveland Casino and Jack Thistledown Racino.

BetMGM

BetMGM in Ohio already has a strong footing. The MGM Northfield Park racino has been open for business since 2013. In partnership with their brick-and-mortar location. This iconic brand has had no issues getting set up in Ohio right out of the gate. Expect to see BetMGM surge into the Buckeye State since it was one of the first mobile sportsbooks to launch in Ohio on January 1st.

BetPARX

betPARX Sportsbook formed an agreement with the PGA Tour. With this partnership, betPARX officially becomes the exclusive sports betting sponsor of the Memorial Tournament. The tournament is held in the spring at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, each year.

BetRivers

The Rush Street Interactive product is already live in a number of states across the country and has now joined the Buckeye State market as BetRivers Sportsbook Ohio.

RSI is yet another brand that agreed to a strategic partnership with Penn National Gaming, coming to a deal in February 2021 that would bring RSI’s sports betting app to Ohio, Maryland, and Missouri as a second online skin. BetRivers Sportsbook will form a unique partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

Caesars

 

Similar to BetMGM, Caesars in Ohio has already established a foundation thanks to their ownership of the Scioto Downs Racino.

With that being said, players were able to immediately access the Caesars Sportsbook as soon as legalized sports betting was given the green light to go live in the state. A physical Caesars sportsbook location at Scioto Downs is likely to follow.

DraftKings

 

Back in 2019, Penn National Gaming agreed to a series of market access deals with various sportsbook brands to eventually expand into different states. Among those deals was DraftKings to Ohio.

Through their deal with PNG, DraftKings was already set up to launch in the state as soon as legalized sports betting went live. DraftKings operates as an online skin for the Hollywood Casino Toledo, one of the five properties in the state owned by Penn National Gaming.

FanDuel

At this point, FanDuel is a household name amongst American bettors and DFS players alike. FD offers one of the best mobile apps in the industry, elite customer service, and even created the famous ‘Same Game Parlay’ betting format that is currently sweeping the nation.

Through a market access partnership deal with Boyd Gaming, the owners of the Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center, many were correct in assuming that FanDuel would go live in Ohio as soon as sports betting was given the green light. A retail sportsbook operated by the popular brand is expected to follow.

Fubo Sportsbook

Fubo Gaming canceled its gaming division in October 2022 following a strategic review, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers without a mobile sports betting partner in the ensuing fallout. As a consequence, the Fubo brand is no longer a name to consider for Ohio mobile sports betting.

Hard Rock Sportsbook

 

Hard Rock’s sportsbook offering isn’t nearly as impressive as their world-class hotels and casino product. There is plenty of room for improvement as they make their way into various new states.

Due to its pre-existing footprint in the state with the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, which has been up and running since 2013, Hard Rock Sportsbook had an easier path towards legalization in the Buckeye state and opened its virtual doors on January 1st, 2023. Pro baseball legend Pete Rose made the inaugural bet at Hard Rock Cincinnati’s retail location a few minutes after midnight, placing a $100 wager on the Reds to win the 2023 World Series.

PointsBet

Disclaimer: The U.S. businesses of PointsBet Sportsbook was acquired by Fanatics Sportsbook in the late part of 2023. For that reason, PointsBet is no longer one of our preferred sportsbooks – please review our Fanatics Sportsbook promo code to learn more!

This was another major brand to agree to a state expansion deal with Penn National Gaming back in 2019.

The deal has brought PointsBet to Ohio as an online skin for one of PNG’s five properties in the state: Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course. PointsBet’s mobile sports betting app is expected to be amongst the best in Ohio, as it has proven to be in other US states.

SuperBook Sportsbook

Cincinnati’s MLS team , FC Cincinnati, agreed to a partnership with SuperBook Sportsbook for a retail location as well as launching online. SuperBook announced it had gone live with its mobile sports betting app in Ohio just before 1:30am Eastern Time on January 1st.

Tipico

Tipico Sportsbook and the Columbus Crew agreed on a partnership in January 2022, and it was one of the first mobile sportsbooks to open for business on New Year’s Day 2023. This Sportsbook will sponsor a beer garden at Lower.com Field.

Underdog Sports

The hot fantasy and sports betting company, Underdog Sports, agreed with the Cincinnati Reds to launch their sportsbook app in Ohio.

Ohio sports betting mobile app information

Players who primarily place their action via mobile know there are two main ways to do it: through your smartphone or desktop computer. Both platforms typically mirror one another in terms of functionality and appearance, however this ultimately varies from brand to brand.

For the most part, players will be able to perform the same tasks on their desktop that they would on their smartphone, and vice versa. At the end of the day, neither platform is better than the other – it all comes down to personal preference. We’ll break down each one below.

iOS and Android apps

Nearly every notable sportsbook brand should have a mobile app available to download for free on both iOS and Android systems. iOS users can find them in the App Store, while Android users will need to search for them on Google Play.

If an app or brand is seemingly unavailable or not listed on your app store, always try the sportsbook’s website and see if their app can be downloaded there. This is extremely uncommon ever since Google Play started listing gambling apps on their platform, but may still come up from time to time. Always double-check before giving up.

Desktop browser

There are two major differences that come to mind when using a desktop computer over a mobile device to place your bets, the first being screen space. Desktop screens have a lot more space at hand than a mobile device’s screen, meaning the layout may slightly differ on a computer.

Most companies will make good use of the extra space on their website by adding in other features such as a pop-up bet slip or some sort of graphic. Regardless, it usually won’t affect the sportsbook’s performance in any way, shape, or form. It’s all for looks.

The second major difference would be how the device tracks your location. In order to place legalized sports bets online, every player at every sportsbook in the country is required to verify their identity and location. There are no exceptions, and modern technology allows the books to confirm your whereabouts before any wagers can be placed.

When using a smartphone, player location can be confirmed through the device’s built-in Global Positioning System (GPS). Computers typically do not come equipped with this technology, so betting on a desktop requires an extra step.

Geolocation

In order to place wagers over the computer, players must download a geolocation plug-in (offered directly by the sportsbook’s website). Boot the plug-in up, and allow the program to do the rest. If done successfully, it should only take a few seconds for the technology to recognize and confirm your location.

Once complete, you should be good to begin placing some bets. And don’t worry, this process is only necessary once. After the initial download, the geolocation plug-in will remain on your computer and work on other sportsbooks as well.

The good news for mobile bettors? This is all done automatically. Simply grant your Ohio sports betting mobile app access to your device’s ‘Location Services’ – and you’re good to go… as long as you’re in Ohio.

Requirements & restrictions surrounding Ohio mobile sports betting

Now that you have your mobile app downloaded or website pulled up and ready to go, there are just a few more technicalities to go over before jumping into the action. Ohio’s sports betting laws are pretty run-of-the-mill, which should result in a quality betting experience for the locals. Let’s get into it.

Age

For starters, all players must be at least 21 years or older in order to legally place any bets in the state of Ohio using a mobile app (or otherwise). There are no exceptions whatsoever.

Location

As previously mentioned in the section above about placing wagers through a desktop computer, confirming your location with the sportsbook will be necessary, regardless of what state you are playing in.

Players are not required to be active residents in the state of Ohio to register for an account or place bets using an OH mobile sportsbook app. However, they will need to be physically present within state lines for any action to successfully go through.

The geofence surrounding the state will ultimately determine whether or not you are within range. It will either accept or reject your wager. If you believe you are in the appropriate range and are still receiving a location error message, try closing and reopening your app. While reliable for the most part, geolocation technology has its flaws, just like anything else.

Restrictions

Many states have implemented restrictions on what exactly their local bettors can or cannot place a wager on. Even the biggest markets in the country, such as New York and New Jersey, prevent their players from wagering on their local college teams.

New Jersey even took things a step further and prohibited wagering on any collegiate event that takes place in the state, regardless of where the two competing teams are originally from.

Luckily for Ohioans, there is no such rule in The Buckeye State. In a state where college football is just a notch below religion, if not bigger than it, it would be downright unacceptable to prevent local bettors from betting on their beloved Ohio State Buckeyes.

Everything is fair game in Ohio, with the exception of proposition bets on collegiate contests. With Ohio mobile sports betting apps you will be able to bet on your favorite team from inside the stadium – all you need is your phone.

Mobile rewards and promotions

If you are deemed eligible to create a sports betting account in Ohio per the criteria listed above, you’re most likely going to be in line for a ton of new user promotional offers and welcome bonuses.

Unlike someone who places their action at a physical location, players who use mobile apps or websites to gamble will receive incentives for signing up and making their first wager with a sportsbook.

Welcome bonuses will vary from book to book, as sportsbooks have plenty of options to choose from. Whether it is an insured first time wager, an extra bet credit, or first-time deposit match in promotional bonus bet funds, these offers are usually extremely lucrative and give the player a rare edge over the house.

Ohio bettors can expect to see a variety of promotions thrown their way, including:

• Insured First Bet
• Bonus Bet Credits
• First Deposit Match
• First Bet Match
• Odds Boost
• Profit Boost
• Merchandise or gift giveaway

Most sportsbooks will require some sort of promo code to activate these offers, so always keep your eyes peeled and make sure to include a code if necessary while signing up. Another caveat when it comes to these promotions is that they often require a first-time deposit in order to activate the offer.

It usually won’t exceed $20, but be aware that you will likely need to make a deposit before taking advantage of all the extras. We’ll highlight everything there is to know about banking with a mobile sportsbook down below.

Banking with Ohio sportsbooks

One of the most vital parts of sports betting is, well, funding your account! Banking methods in Ohio will generally be the same across all of the different sportsbook apps and the states that they operate in. However, some may have less than others.

Having a wide variety of banking options plays to the company’s advantage, as the easier it is to deposit, the more deposits are likely to come flying in. If banking on a specific book is difficult, stressful, or downright impossible, most bettors will close that app and move on to the next one.

With that being said, expect to choose from the following options once sports betting goes live in Ohio:

• VIP preferred e-check
• Online banking transfer
• Credit/debit card
• Play+ prepaid card
• PayPal
• Skrill
• PayNearMe
• Cash at the casino cage
• Wire transfer

Each of the banking methods listed above will work for deposits, but only a select few can also send money back into your account when it’s time to withdraw.

Among the methods listed above, players can successfully extract funds via VIP preferred e-check, online banking, Play+ prepaid card, PayPal, or Skrill. Banking can be done from a mobile sportsbook app just as easily as it can from a desktop computer. There are no restrictions.

Sports markets and available bet types in Ohio

After you’ve registered for an account, entered any applicable promo codes, and made that first deposit, it’s finally time for the best part – wagering from on an Ohio sportsbook app!

Luckily for Ohioans, there aren’t too many restrictions as far as what can be bet on. Players can expect to choose from, but will not be limited to, the following sports markets:

• Baseball (MLB, International)
• Basketball (NBA, NCAAB)
• Boxing
• Cricket
• Darts
• Football (NFL, NCAAF)
• Golf
• Handball
• Hockey (NHL)
• MMA (UFC)
• Motorsports
• Olympic Sports
• Rugby
• Soccer (EPL, Serie A, La Liga, etc.)
• Table Tennis
• Tennis

Once you’ve selected your sport or event and picked some games, it’s time to figure out how exactly you want to place your action. Moneyline? Spread? Parlay? The choice is yours, and the options are plentiful. Players will likely find the following bet types offered across all major Ohio sportsbooks:

• Moneyline
• Spread
• Total (Over/Under)
• Parlay
• Same Game Parlay
• Teaser
• Live Betting
• Player Props (professional teams only)
• Futures

Frequently asked questions