With the start of 2023, Ohio residents were granted the ability to legally place sports bets within state lines. Sports betting apps and in-person betting kiosks are now live.
The early history of Ohio was of crack-downs and prohibitions. As in many states, the first relaxation after the Prohibition era in the first part of the 20th century was for horse racing in 1933. Remote betting and electronic lottery games were permitted at the racetracks. A form of gambling that thrives even today.
Charitable gambling for veterans, volunteer firefighters and education groups became popular in 1975, but a longer wait ensued for casinos. In 2009, an amendment led to the licensing of four massive casinos, one for each of the biggest cities. All of them came complete with poker, table games and massive slots halls.
The Buckeye State’s State House has even approved an online gaming and sports betting legalization bill in June 2020. That bill was eventually passed in December 2021 and then signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine.