Best Ohio Online Casinos

Ohio has long since been a state that loves gambling, although it’s clearly sports betting which is the most popular. As such, it’s no surprise that Ohio punters are looking for an online casino to also try their luck at. There are hundreds of online casinos available to Ohio players, but the question comes in; which Ohio online casino is the best? We’ve done the research for you, looking at the casinos’ services and offerings. This includes their licensing and security, compatibility, games selection, bonuses, and banking methods.

However, before looking at the casinos’ services and offerings, we looked at the gambling laws in Ohio. To better understand the current state of Ohio gambling legislation, it’s vital to look at the history of gambling in Ohio as well.

Gambling Laws in Ohio

Ohio has always been one of the relatively forward-thinking states regarding gambling. As a state that loves sports betting, it legalized horse racing way back in 1933, years before many other states. In 1980, it was approved to implement the Ohio Lotto Commission, and this opened the floodgate to try and get other forms of gambling approved.

Despite multiple tries, the bill to allow casino gambling was rejected in 1980 and again in 1990. They also tried to pass a bill that allowed riverboat gambling in 1996, but this was also ultimately rejected. Ohio struggled to legalize other forms of gambling, partly due to the general outlook on gambling that the USA had. The USA federal laws had three laws related to gambling that influenced how many states viewed gambling.

These laws were the Federal Interstate Wire Act, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The Interstate Wire Act was passed in 1961 and stated that all interstate betting on sports is banned. The PASPA was instituted in 1992, but the Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional in 2018. This law banned all sports betting, except for in a few states. 

The final law is the UIGEA, which was passed in 2006, and this law still has a major influence on online gambling. The UIGEA banned any financial transactions with an online gambling service provider. However, it focused on it being illegal for online gambling service providers to accept or make financial transactions, not for the players to do so. As such, there are many states where online gambling is a gray area, not being legal but also not illegal in specific circumstances.

Online Gambling in Ohio

While the state was successful in legalizing sports betting, its online gambling laws are still a little complicated. Ohio has not yet legalized online casinos, and it’s currently not allowed to run an online casino with its servers based in Ohio. However, Ohio has been moving rapidly to legalize online gambling in the last few years. It’s believed that the state will soon regulate online gambling. As things currently stand, Ohio does not regulate or allow any Ohio-based online casino, but the law doesn’t mention offshore casinos.

Casinos in Ohio

It was only in 2009 that Ohio managed to get approval from the voters to open four state-run casinos. It was hoped that these real money casinos would bring in revenue that would go towards school systems and the government. In 2011, racinos were also approved at Ohio racetracks. Many believe that the legalization of land-based casinos in Ohio means Ohio online casinos aren’t far behind. Let’s keep our fingers crossed…

Offshore Licensed Casinos

An offshore casino refers to a casino that isn’t licensed by the USA but rather by another country. There are many offshore licenses, and the ones most commonly found in the US are the Panama and Costa Rica licenses, with Curacao and Gibraltar also available at times.

While it’s not legal for online casinos to base their servers in Ohio, there is no specific legislation prohibiting players from using offshore licensed online casinos. No player has ever been prosecuted for playing at an offshore casino, and there are many offshore casinos that you can enjoy playing at. 

Racinos

One of the first steps Ohio took towards legalizing forms of gambling was approving horse racing in 1933. They further developed these racetracks into racinos in 2011. A racino is a racetrack that also offers video gaming slots, making it a mix between a racetrack and a casino. Ohio has seven racinos scattered across the state for all bettors and players to enjoy, as long as they’re over the age of 18.

Land-Based Casinos

While the bill allowing state-run casinos to be built passed in 2009, the first land-based casino only opened in 2012 in Cleveland. Since then, three other land-based casinos have been built in three other cities, namely Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo. These casinos brought in an estimated revenue of $600 million. The fees on this income would go towards funding state schooling systems and municipal governments. Between 2012 and 2019, Ohio’s casinos and racinos have brought in a combined $11.9 billion. Please note that players have to be over 21 years old to play at these casinos.

Common Elements in the Best Ohio Online Casinos

Playing at online casinos has become a favorite pastime not just in Ohio but around the world. However, it’s always a challenge to know which are the best Ohio online casinos that are reliable and trustworthy to play at. That’s why we’ve done the research and hard work for you. We looked at the casinos’ licensing, security and fairness, compatibility, game selection, bonuses, and banking. After evaluating them using these common elements, we compiled a list of the best Ohio online casinos.

License, Security and Fairness

One of the most important aspects of looking for reliable online casinos is seeing if they are licensed. Being licensed means the licensing authority also regulates the casino. This ensures they follow the applicable rules and regulations. This adds an extra layer of security for players, as it means there is an independent party they can contact to report an online casino.

Another method to ensure the casino is fair is if they use a testing agency. Testing agencies such as eCOGRA and Gaming Labs International test the casino’s games. The testing agency ensures that the RNG (Random Number Generator) is working right. The RNG means that all casino games are based on luck, and there is no rigging of the games. They also test the RTP (Return to Player) to ensure the correct theoretical percentage is given to the players.

It’s also important for the casino to be secure, to use SSL encryption and other data protection software. This includes having a KYC policy in place. KYC (Know Your Client) refers to the process you have to undergo to be verified by the casino. You will have to present documents such as your ID, proof of address, and bank statements of your debit/credit cards.

Compatibility

With online casinos being web-based, we look for casinos that use HTML5 elements and offer a user-friendly interface. Their website gaming platform should be not only visually appealing, as the first impression for new players, but also easy to navigate. This means that there should be navigation tabs to the different sections, a search tab, provider filters, and any other tool necessary to allow you to browse it comfortably. 

It should also be available on all devices, with the website adjusting accordingly. The best Ohio online casinos offer their website to desktop, tablet, and mobile players, with the website adapting to whatever device is used. This allows not only for a wider player base but also allows you to bet on the go. Some gambling service providers take it even further and offer a mobile app you can download on either the App Store or the Google Play Store.

The last factor we look for is whether a casino offers no registration play. This refers to when a player can play demo games of the casino without needing to create an account. You can, in this way, test the gaming platform and see whether the casino is a good fit for you.

Games and Software

One benefit of an online casino is that they have the capacity to offer thousands of casino games on their platform. Unlike land-based casinos, online casinos aren’t limited in regards to how much space is available for slot machines, and they have the ability to offer games from many different game providers. This includes top names including Microgaming, Betsoft and RealTime Gaming. 

Online slots are one of the most popular types of games available at online casinos, being digital versions of the slot machines found at brick-and-mortar casinos. They come in all shapes and sizes, offering classic slots, video, and 3D slots, with 3, 5 and 6-reel slots available. Certain slots have bonus features or interesting gameplay like the avalanche feature, while others offer multiple paylines like Megaways.

Other than slots, we also look for a wide selection of table games, both the traditional casino games and the live versions. Table games generally refer to Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, and Craps, but you can also find other types including Sic Bo, Texas Hold ’em, and many more. These games also have live dealer versions of the casino games offered in a live casino section. The live casino section can also offer live game shows like Monopoly, Spin the Wheel, etc.

Some of the online casinos also offer a sportsbook or racebook. This means bettors can also enjoy the site, switching between sports betting and online casino games.

Bonuses

We always look at casino bonuses as one of the most deciding factors for any casino. Bonuses and promotions are important incentives designed to attract new players and keep existing players loyal. As such, it’s a crucial element for any new online casino that you are interested in joining.

There should be many different bonuses available, ranging from the welcome bonus and loyalty programs to daily, weekly and monthly bonuses. Each bonus will have its own requirements and restrictions. Wagering requirements, minimum deposits, game and payment restrictions, and a winnings cap are just a few restrictions you’ll find.

One of the bonus types most often found is the matched deposit bonus. You’ll receive a match bonus between 100% and 500% of your deposit as bonus cash when you make a deposit. It’s often a welcome bonus linked to your first or first few deposits. The bonus can also add extra incentives, like free spins together with the bonus funds. Depending on the casino, the free spins awarded can fall between 5 and 50 free spins, with some casinos awarding more.

Another popular bonus is a no deposit bonus, where you receive bonus funds or free spins simply by signing up at the casino. Generally, this bonus is less than a matched deposit bonus, falling between $5 and $25 bonus funds or 5 to 30 free spins.

Payment Methods

There are many different casino payment methods, though not all payment methods will be available in all countries. We look to ensure Ohio players have several options to choose from, ranging from cards and prepaid cards to e-wallets and online banking. One of the most popular payment methods for Ohio players is PayPal, though Paysafecards and Bitcoin are also popular. Other well-known methods include credit and debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, and bank transfers.

Not only should they offer multiple payment methods, but they should also implement fast payouts. When it comes to payout speeds, we look at casinos that offer withdrawal times on par with the average expected for that payment method. This means it would be around 24 hours for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, and e-wallets such as PayPal, between one and three days. Cards can take between two and five days, while bank transfers generally take anywhere between two and seven days.

The last aspect we consider is whether the online casino charges any transaction fees on your deposits or withdrawals. While the financial institution you’re paying through might charge their own fee, we look for casinos that don’t charge another fee on top of that. Many casinos offer free-of-fee deposits and withdrawals, so we consider it a big positive when playing.

Ohio Online Casinos

While online gambling is a bit of a gray area in Ohio, no legislation prohibits players from using offshore licensed casinos. This means there are still plenty of options for you to enjoy. Ohio seems to be moving forward toward legalizing online gambling in the state, but in the meantime, have a look at our list of casinos that are reliable and trustworthy to play at. We’ve looked at various casinos, comparing their licensing, security and fairness, compatibility and payment methods, and games and bonuses, to find the best Ohio online casinos. 

We compiled a list of the best Ohio online casinos and recommend any casinos on our list for Ohio players. You can play with real money at any casinos on our list of the best Ohio online casinos by signing up through the website. By simply clicking on the “Sign up” or “Register” button and entering your details, you can start to enjoy the various casino games on offer. Make your first deposit and claim your welcome bonus to start spinning those reels.