Ohio Online Casinos View Top Ohio Picks For many years, Ohio was not a player in casino gambling. Players had to make the trip to neighboring states like Indiana and Pennsylvania to scratch their itch. However, in 2009, Ohio decided to authorize the licensing of four land-based casinos. According to gaming attorney, Prince, officials will likely determine if Ohio's current casinos (and future casinos being built) in addition to online gaming would overload residents. May 29th, 2013 - The Ohio Governor, John Kasich, signed legislation that would eliminate internet sweepstakes cafes.

1. Georgia Gambling Legislation
2. Ohio Charitable Gaming Laws
3. New Pa Bingo Laws
4. Ohio Bingo Laws

For many years, Ohio was not a player in casino gambling. Players had to make the trip to neighboring states like Indiana and Pennsylvania to scratch their itch.

However, in 2009, Ohio decided to authorize the licensing of four land-based casinos. One in each of the major cities (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo). It took three years, but between May 2012 and March 2013, each of the four casinos opened its doors.

Slot machine-type gaming was further expanded by a legislative action in 2012 that put video lottery terminals (or VLTs) into the seven racetracks. VLTs are functionally the same as slot machines. They are actually administered differently and considered a form of lottery gambling, rather than a pure slot machine.

Still, in just five years, Ohio has managed to provide its residents with more than 18,000 video gaming and slot machine options – along with table games, poker, and horse racing.

Ohio now finds itself in an odd position: perhaps having too many casinos available for its own good, both inside and near the state. Many of the state’s gambling options are clustered in its northeastern quadrant. Revenues are declining for the four Las Vegas-style casinos. The drop is largely being blamed on the proliferation of racinos throughout the state. These attract some of the vital slots gamblers away from the four big-city venues (sometimes to racinos inside the same city).

Many experts believe that the northeastern United States in general is over-saturated with casinos. There are simply not enough customer dollars to go around.

Still, as long as state legislatures have budget overruns and a desire not to raise taxes on consumer products, casino gambling will likely be a go-to option for states in years to come. This is especially true if the door for gambling has already been opened. Below are the 11 casinos and racinos in Ohio.

Additionally, another favorite kind of gambling could be on its way to Ohio: sports betting. Read on for details.

Georgia Gambling Legislation

Sweepstakes casinos in Ohio

Social casino site options

Several of Ohio’s casinos have free sites available through their websites. The two Hollywood Gaming casinos (Dayton Raceway and Mahoning Valley) and the three Jack casinos (Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Thistledown) all offer visitors the opportunity to sample the brands of slots available at their land-based operations for free. This practice continues to be a wise idea. It both familiarizes and desensitizes customers and potential customers with the variety of games they can play.

In effect, customers will know what machines they want to play as soon as they step through the door. Jack’s play money site even offers free poker and table games, further enhancing the experience. All the sites allow players to link their player cards to their play money accounts. This leaves open the possibility that the casinos could link comps to the play money functionality and increase the likelihood of new and returning customers entering the premises.

As usual, Zynga, Slotomania, Big Fish, and Doubledown are all accessible from Ohio social media sites. MyVegas, the ubiquitous MGM-owned free comp site is also available. However, its usefulness is limited, as there are no MGM-owned properties nearby. As it stands, House of Blues and Gray Line Tours are likely the only options for redemption. Still, Ohioans have some avenues if they’d like to play the games without risking any money.

Ohio sports betting

While there are a few gambling options in the Buckeye State, sports betting is not one of them, at least for now.

There are legislative efforts currently making the round in Columbus to legalize sports betting but thus far, nothing of significance has happened. One hold up lawmakers are finding difficult to overcome is deciding which government agency will oversee Ohio sports betting, the Ohio Lottery or Casino Commission.

However, at least one operator appears to be getting its ducks in a row. Penn National Gaming and Kindred have struck a partnership that would see the latter’s brand Unibet enter Ohio by way of Penn National’s Hollywood Casino. For now, the deal means nothing until sports betting is officially legal in the state.

Land-based slots options

Online gambling options

There are no laws on the books for or against online gambling in Ohio. As such, there are no officially-regulated options for residents and visitors to the Buckeye State.

However, the state just received a commissioned study from Spectrum Gaming Group. Among other recommendations, it suggested the state legalize online gambling to maximize its tax revenue. So, it is possible that an Ohio iGaming bill could happen – particularly after legislators have a chance to see how online gambling performs in neighboring Pennsylvania.

Operator profile

Jack Entertainment

Jack Entertainment LLC is a Detroit-based proprietor of several casinos and racetracks throughout the United States. Though the majority of its holdings are in Ohio, it also has properties in Michigan, Kentucky, and Maryland. The company is a subsidiary of Quicken Loans, which means it is in the same family of companies as the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The CEO for the company is Matthew Cullen. He also serves as a principal in the Rock Ventures holding company, which is the chief administrator of all Quicken’s portfolio. However, the company’s more industry-specific expert is its chief operating officer, Mark Dunkeson. Prior to taking this role at Jack, Dunkeson served as a senior vice president for Station Casinos. They are a Las Vegas-based company that operates a chain of casinos targeting the locals market, rather than the tourist segment. This fits in well with the market of regional casinos like the Ohio offerings.

Like most Ohio casinos, Jack’s portfolio is facing increasing competitive pressure, and its revenues are suffering.

In fact, Jack Cleveland Casino’s revenues for December 2016 are down 32 percent from 2013. However, in that four-year span, three racinos have opened nearby, squeezing the market and making exceptional returns more difficult. The casino (and others in the company’s portfolio) are also no longer novelties for Ohioans. The initial furor – whatever it may have been – is gone.

Still, the Cleveland location reported revenue north of $200 million in 2016, so there is still significant cashflow. It remains to be seen how companies like Jack will navigate an increasingly congested market. It is reasonable to assume the consumer is in a good place to benefit from competition.

Ohio slot players and other gamblers, keep your eyes peeled and your ears to the ground. Amazing promotions could happen anytime.

State legal environment

Based on our research it would appear that Ohio is a proactive in terms of gambling. They don't have any online poker laws. However, they have relaxed their laws to allow home poker games. And they've built new casinos in the last few years with plans to develop more in the near future. When you combine that with the recent stories that cover the necessary steps to regulated internet gaming, it's not so much a matter of how, now, but when they'll do it. Ohio is certainly much further along than, say, Texas or Utah.

Playing Poker Legally in Ohio

Is Online Poker Legal in Ohio?

There are no laws that specifically mention online gambling. That doesn't mean you should assume that it's legal, though. It could easily fall under one of these statutes.

§ 2915.01 Definitions

(D) 'Game of chance' means poker, craps, roulette, or other game in which a player gives anything of value in the hope of gain, the outcome of which is determined by largely of chance, but does not include bingo.

(F) 'Gambling device' means any of the following:
(4) Any equipment, device, apparatus, or paraphernalia specially designed for gambling purposes;

A desk or laptop computer, mobile phone or tablet could be considered a 'gambling device.'

§ 2915.02 Gambling.

(A) No person shall do any of the following:

(4) Engage in betting or in playing any scheme or game of chance as a substantial source of income or livelihood;

(5) With purpose to violate division (A)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section, acquire, possess, control, or operate any gambling device.

This statute states that if you're playing for a living, or using a gambling device, that you're illegally gambling under Ohio state law.

Ohio Charitable Gaming Laws

So one could easily assume that online poker is illegal within the state. However, based on our research no one has been arrested for it. In addition to that, another Ohio statute (mentioned in the next section) says that gambling carried on for pleasure rather than profit is ok. All poker sites accept real money players from Ohio, too.

What About Home Poker Games?

Home poker games are legal so long as no one is making a profit other than from the game itself, and that no player is playing to profit to earn a living.

Chapter 2915 contains the Penal Code provisions on Gambling. 1974 Committee Comment to H 511

The fundamental thrust of new Chapter 2915. is to prohibit the business of gambling without forbidding gambling carried on for pleasure rather than profit.

Under the chapter, all forms of gambling and activities in aid of it are illegal if carried on as a business, or for personal profit, or as a significant source of income or livelihood. Otherwise, no form of gambling is illegal. Gambling in public is prohibited to avoid enforcement problems, and this represents a partial exception to the general rule in the chapter.

This statute gives a relaxed feeling about gambling, even in public. It sounds as if public gaming would be ok if they were able to police it better.

Do Casinos in Ohio Offer Poker?

There are casinos in Ohio that spread poker games. You can find poker at:

• Hollywood Casino (Columbus/Toledo) - Holdem, omaha and bad beat jackpots.
• Horseshoe (Cincinnati) - 31 table WSOP poker room

Ohio Poker FAQs

We receive a lot of questions about the legality of poker in Ohio. We decided to answer our most common questions and post them here for everyone to benefit from.

Will online poker be regulated in Ohio?

From our research we didn't find any attempts to regulate online gambling. Ohio hasn't given us any reasons not to think that they might regulate real money poker sites in the future, though.

Recent Gambling Updates

Here are the most recent gambling updates to come from Ohio. When more news breaks we'll post it here.

June 10, 2013 - Ohio's current amendment(s) make it difficult to bring internet gambling to the state. There are ways to tweak the current laws according to I. Nelson Rose. According to gaming attorney, Prince, officials will likely determine if Ohio's current casinos (and future casinos being built) in addition to online gaming would overload residents.

May 29th, 2013 - The Ohio Governor, John Kasich, signed legislation that would eliminate internet sweepstakes cafes. The bill will take 90 days to be 'in effect.' However, people against the bill are working to repeal it, which could prolong the time it takes for the bill to take effect to as much as a year, or more, if it ever does.

Is there an online poker room that accepts players from Ohio?

Yes. Ohio residents shouldn't have a problem finding a poker site. The best options right now include Bovada, Carbon Poker and BetOnline.

What other forms of regulated gambling is offered in Ohio?

New Pa Bingo Laws

Residents can gamble at any of the commercials casinos in the state, as well as in the state lottery and para-mutual races.

Non-profit games exist, too. You can participate in raffles, bingo, fishing derbies and casino games, with the exception of craps and roulette.

Where can I read more about Ohio poker laws?

You can read more about Ohio's gambling laws at the following websites:

Ohio Bingo Laws

Here are some interesting Ohio-themed poker and gambling facts.

• Para-mutual betting was first made legal in 1933.
• Commercial casinos weren't legal until 2010. Ironically, Ohio has been the state of the premier manufacturer of casino seats since 1960.
• Chip Reese was born in Dayton Ohio. He's known for being the worlds best 7-card stud player. He wrote a chapter on the game in Doyle Brunson's Super System.
• At one point cheating was not considered an offense. However, under the current laws, it is.

Chapter 2915 contains the Penal Code provisions on Gambling. 1974 Committee Comment to H 511

Cheating as such was not an offense under former law, but is an offense under Chapter 2915. regardless of whether the gambling activity in which it occurs is legal or illegal. For penalty purposes, cheaters are treated much the same as thieves under new section 2913.02 of the Revised Code. A simplified version of a former prohibition against 'fixing' sporting events is also included in the chapter.

Additional Gambling Law Reviews