It’s a big week for the state of Ohio. You’ve got a number of pro sports teams doing well. You’ve got the Ohio State Buckeyes playing in the College Football Playoff. And, you’ve got the long-awaited launch of Ohio sports betting. It’s an historic few days coming this week for the state of Ohio. We’re here to help you with all the facts surrounding the Ohio sports betting launch.

When will Ohio sports betting launch?

Ohio sports betting will go live on January 1, 2023 at 12:01 a.m. Yes, sportsbooks are already letting you sign up (and in fact are paying you really nice bonuses and promotions to do so). By pre-registering, you’ll then be able to login at 12:01 a.m. and place your first legal bets in the state of Ohio.

Here are our recommended sportsbooks to register for now in Ohio:

What sportsbooks are available for the launch?

All major US sportsbooks are launching in the state of Ohio. Ohio is a major sports market with a large population. Ohio has also enacted relatively light taxation on the sportsbooks as compared to other states such as New York, so all sportsbook operators are eager to enter the market. Ohio is a major market for all US sportsbooks. All of the noted sportsbooks here are regulated, US entities. These operators are subject to significant oversight in how they operate and how they treat their customers. Ohio bettors can rest easy working with these sportsbooks.

Sportsbooks that plan to launch include, but are not limited to, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM, Barstool Sportsbook, Tipico, Bet365 and more. Many sportsbooks, including the ones listed here, have already received approval to launch on January 1. There will also be additional sportsbook operators that enter the market later.

Can you register now for Ohio sportsbooks?

Yes, pre-registration is available now for all major sportsbooks that will launch in Ohio. You can signup on January 1 and start betting, or you can signup today, lock in the preregistration bonuses, then login and start betting on January 1. If you want to maximize the value that the sportsbooks are willing to pay in the form of bonuses, definitely plan to preregister.

Here are the preregistration links you can use now to lock in the bonuses. You can also signup for multiple sportsbooks.

Our sportsbook of choice is DraftKings sportsbook because of their technology, the betting options, and the excellent $200 pre-launch bonus you can lock in by signing up now.

Can you bet in Ohio on the Ohio State vs. Georgia game?

Ohio State vs. Georgia takes place at 8:00 p.m. on December 31, 2022. In other words, hours before the Ohio sports betting launch. This is either a sick joke or seriously unfortunate, because in all likelihood, you will not be able to bet on the Ohio State game legally in the state of Ohio. Is there a chance the game runs long and goes past midnight, and you can get in a live bet on your favorite Ohio sportsbook platform perhaps during overtime? Sure, but that’s about it.

What are the best Ohio sports betting apps?

All major US sportsbook operator apps are really pretty great at this point. They have been in operation for years, and they have continued to invest and build the apps.

DraftKings has been our top choice this football season because of how good the app is, the variety of bets available and the excellent pre-registration bonus available. Get started on DraftKings now.

We also are big fans of the FanDuel app. FanDuel almost feels like a technology company with a sportsbook on top… that’s how good the app is. FanDuel has also invested heavily in its content within the app including the Up and Adams show that you can watch inside the actual app. This show stars Kay Adams (previously of Good Morning Football) and is a daily show about football within the FanDuel betting app. Very cool. Get started on FanDuel now.

Similarly Caesars has let users stream a handful of NFL games from the actual app this year. On January 1, you’ll be able to stream the Rams vs. Chargers game inside the Caesars Sportsbook app. Get started on Caesars now.

What is the deal with sportsbook promos?

You might have noticed in recent years with sportsbook advertising that there are a number of promotions constantly mentioned or referenced. What are these promos? Essentially, sportsbooks are competing for you to pick their platform as your betting partner over the competition. As such, they often employ a number of promotions or bonuses to entice you to join their platform. The most common form here is a welcome bonus or signup promo where you will get paid in betting credits or some sort of value for signing up for a platform, making a deposit and starting your life as a bettor on that specific platform. These welcome bonuses are common for users in all legal beting states. Where it gets even more interesting is when a state launches sports betting like Ohio will do on January 1, 2023.

With the state launch, the promos get ratcheted up a level. With the preregistration window in effect ahead of a new state launch, sportsbooks will combine typical welcome bonuses with additional pre-launch bonuses. As we’ve outlined here, the major US sportsbooks are all now offering pre-launch bonuses that you can take advantage of until December 31, 2022. Here are the list of preregistration promos you should consider now:

These will go away once Ohio sports betting launches on January 1, 2023, and we will convert to more standard welcome bonuses as the Ohio launch passes.

How did we get here?

Ohio sports betting has come about as a result of a lengthy legislative and regulatory process in the state of Ohio. Here are some key dates and facts that led us to the Ohio sports betting launch:

  • December 8, 2021 – The Ohio legislature approved the bill to legalize sports betting in the state of Ohio for both online and retail establishments.
  • January 24, 2022 – The Ohio Casino Control Commission rolled out its first set of proposed rules for sports betting operators within the state.
  • June 1, 2022 – January 1, 2023 is officially set as the date that sports betting will launch in the state of Ohio.
  • July 18, 2022 – The first wave of licensing approvals came in to Ohio regulators as the state prepares for the launch of sports betting.
  • December 14, 2022 – The Ohio Casino Control Commission met for the final time prior to the launch of sports betting on January 1, 2023. Everything is ready to go for the launch.