Ohio online sports betting to launch in January 2023

The countdown to Ohio sports betting has begun, with the state potentially launching sports betting in less than six months. Governor Mike DeWine has already signed the bill, making sports betting legal in Ohio on January 1, 2023.

With the launch, fans of the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Reds, and Columbus Blue Jackets, as well as sports enthusiasts from Northeast Ohio to the southwestern part of the state, will be able to wager on their favorite teams, athletes, and games.

The Ohio sports betting bill was passed 31-1 by the Senate on December 8, 2021, and things really got going. Soon after, the House approved the bill 72-12, indicating that legal online gambling was gaining traction in the state.

The Governor then signed the betting bill into law on December 22nd, 2021, while sports bettors waited with eager anticipation for a target launch date. The Ohio Casino Control Commission has confirmed on June 6, 2022, that the official launch date will be New Year’s Eve.

The state of Ohio is poised to be a major player in sports betting, with a 10% tax rate expected to generate $90 million in annual revenue. In addition to legalizing sports betting, the Ohio wagering bill mandated league data collection and legalized eSports betting. Furthermore, retail sportsbooks can open in any county in the state with a population of 10,000 or fewer people.

When sports betting is finally legalized, the state is expected to welcome some of the industry’s biggest names, including BetMGM Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, Barstool Sportsbook, and DraftKings Sportsbook.

Despite the fact that the launch date is later than the previously anticipated late 2022 launch date, the state will miss the majority of the college football and NFL regular season 2022 schedules, as well as the College Football Playoff semifinal games scheduled for December 31, 2022.

However, bettors in Ohio will be able to wager on the 2023 Rose Bowl on January 2, 2023, the College Football Playoff Championship game on January 9, 2023, and much of the NFL postseason. The Super Bowl in 2023 will take place on February 12, 2023.