Ohio Online Casinos 2025: Legal Guide & Best Gambling Sites

Ohio has not yet legalized online casino gambling within its borders. But don’t worry! There’s still a 100% safe and legitimate way for you to get in on the action: sweepstakes casinos.

In this guide, I’ll introduce you to the best Ohio online casinos in 2025 and cover everything you need to know about internet gambling in the Buckeye State. This includes the laws and regulations, the latest news in the iGaming industry, and so much more.

Let’s dive in.

Best Ohio Online Casinos – 2025

Sweepstakes casinos, as it currently stands, are the only legal form of online casinos in Ohio.

These sites offer all of the same games you’d find at traditional gambling sites, operate legally by using virtual currency (e.g., Sweeps Coins) instead of real money, and give players a chance to win real cash prizes through sweepstakes promotions.

To make your life a bit easier, our team of experts at ATS.io has dug through all the options and put together a list of the top 5 online sweepstakes casinos in Ohio today. Check them out and see what they have to offer!

1. Stake.us

• 🎁 Sign Up Bonus: 250K Gold Coins + 25 Stake Cash on Sign Up
• 🌎 Legal States: 38 of 50 U.S. States (all but DE, ID, KY, MI, NJ, NV, NY, PA, RI, VT, WA, WV)
• ⭐ ATS.io Rating: 4.5/5.0

Have you ever heard of Stake, one of the world’s most popular crypto gambling sites? Perhaps best known for its partnership with Grammy-winning rapper Drake? Well, Stake.us is the special sweepstakes version for players in Ohio and many other U.S. states.

Stake.us currently offers 1,500+ total games; this includes a massive selection of slots and live dealer options (blackjack, roulette, baccarat, etc.). Plus, the casino gives you access to nearly two dozen “Stake Originals” like Plinko and Crash, which are exclusive to the site and can’t be found anywhere else.

On top of that, Stake.us provides a great sign-up bonus for all new players in Ohio, and they pay out real winnings in the form of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. You can learn more about the platform in our comprehensive Stake.us Casino review!

2. High 5 Casino

• 🎁 Sign Up Bonus: 5 FREE SC, 250 GC, & 600 Diamonds
• 🌎 Legal States: 32 of 50 States (all but AL, CT, DE, GA, ID, KY, LA, MD, MI, MS, MT, NV, NJ, NY, PA, RI, WA, WV)
• ⭐ ATS.io Rating: 4.3/5.0

High 5 is another one of the most popular online casinos in Ohio, and it’s pretty easy to see why. Named “Social Gaming Operator of the Year” at the EGR North America Awards in back-to-back years (2023, 2024), High 5 Casino has a great reputation for fairness and paying out players on time.

In addition, the online casino offers nearly two thousand different games: slots, live dealers, crash games, and more! You can enjoy all of these titles on High 5’s mobile-friendly website or its dedicated app for iOS or Android devices. Get the full breakdown in our honest, up-to-date High 5 Casino review.

3. RealPrize

• 🎁 Sign Up Bonus: 450K GC, 72 FREE SC, & 700 VIP Points
• 🌎 Legal States: 46 of the 50 U.S. States (all but ID, MI, NV, & WA)
• ⭐ ATS.io Rating: 4.0/5.0

Next, let’s talk about RealPrize, a sweepstakes casino with a name that tells you basically everything you need to know. They offer 700+ games from some of the iGaming industry’s leading providers (Pragmatic Play, Evoplay, etc.), and you can play them for a chance to get real cash prizes sent directly to your bank account.

Plus, RealPrize goes out of its way to provide extra value to players on a consistent basis. Existing users will enjoy daily login rewards, social media giveaways, VIP loyalty rewards, and many other exciting promotions. Take a look at our in-depth RealPrize Casino review to get the rest of the facts!

4. Ding Ding Ding

• 🎁 Sign Up Bonus: 100K Free Coins & 2.5 Sweepstakes Coins
• 🌎 Legal States: All except ID, MI, NV, & WA
• ⭐ ATS.io Rating: 4.5/5.0

Ding Ding Ding is one of my favorite online casinos, and it’s a fantastic option for Ohio players. Let’s start with the game selection: 1,500+ slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, video poker, live dealers, fishing games, scratch cards, bingo, keno, and pretty much any other casino game you can think of. How great is that?

You’ll also find that Ding Ding Ding Casino provides some of the quickest payouts in the sweepstakes gaming industry, and their customer service is top-notch (in case you ever have any questions to ask or problems that need solving). Read our Ding Ding Ding review for a full breakdown of what this popular app has to offer!

5. Sportzino

• 🎁 Sign Up Bonus: 220K Gold Coins & 10 FREE Sweeps Coins
• 🌎 Legal States: 46 of 50 (except GA, ID, MI & WA)
• ⭐ ATS.io Rating: 4.3/5.0

Last but not least, there’s Sportzino Casino. It may be one of the newer online casinos in Ohio, but don’t let that fool you! It’s owned by Blazesoft, a reliable company with a proven track record in the sweepstakes casino industry (as they’re also responsible for other popular brands like Fortune Coins, Zula, and Yay Casino).

But what makes Sportzino so special is its wide range of entertainment options. Not only does the site offer 1,100+ casino-style games, but it also lets you place virtual bets on a wide range of sporting events: basketball, football, baseball, soccer, hockey, MMA, golf, tennis, and so many others!

Have any questions? Our full Sportzino Casino review is sure to have the answers you’re looking for.

Are Online Casinos Legal in Ohio?

Online casinos are NOT legal in Ohio. In other words, you can’t gamble real money on slots, blackjack, roulette, or other online casino games while located within the state’s borders.

In fact, online casino gambling is prohibited in most U.S. states. As of March 2025, there are only seven that have legalized the activity: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.

The good news, however, is that many industry experts believe Ohio will be one of the next states to legalize online casinos. State legislators are already working on proposals to bring iGaming to the Buckeye State (more on that in a minute), and most people agree it’s not a question of if, but when.

Sweepstakes Casinos

Sweepstakes casinos, on the other hand, are 100% legal and available in Ohio.

These online gaming sites and apps operate legally as free-to-play platforms (i.e., no purchase or deposit is required) that use virtual currency, Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, instead of real money for wagering on games.

So, if you’re looking for a way to get in on the action right now, sweepstakes casinos (like the ones we talked about in the previous section) are your best bet.

However, you should know that these types of platforms are not licensed and regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. So, it’s really important that you do your research and only play at trusted sweepstakes casinos with a proven track record for safety and fairness.

Other Legal Forms of Online Gambling

Latest Gambling News: A Timeline of Events

• February 2024: Governor Mike DeWine proposes increasing the state’s sports betting tax rate from 20% to 40%.
• September 2024: Senator Niraj Antani introduces a new bill, SB 312, that would legalize iGaming in Ohio (as reported by Dayton Daily News). The proposal would give the Ohio Casino Control Commission the authority to oversee the state’s online casino operations, and each of Ohio’s 11 brick-and-mortar casinos would be allowed to offer one online platform.
• July 2024: Ohio House Republicans Jay Edwards, Jeff LaRe, and Cindy Abrams submit a joint letter encouraging the state to legalize both iGaming and iLottery.
• January 2024: Ohio for Responsible Gambling (ORG) reports a 55% increase in calls to Ohio’s problem gambling helpline during the state’s first year of legal online sports betting.

How To Play Online Casino Games in Ohio Today

It only takes a few minutes to sign up and start playing at some of Ohio’s best online casinos. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Choose an Online Casino: Since traditional gambling sites aren’t yet legal in Ohio, you’ll need to start by picking a sweepstakes casino to play at. Stake.us, High 5, RealPrize, Ding Ding Ding, and Sportzino are a few good options to consider.
2. Sign Up & Verify: Create a new account by providing some basic information about yourself: name, email, date of birth, etc. Then, verify your identity by uploading a form of government-issued photo ID (like a driver’s license) and taking a quick selfie to confirm it’s really you.
3. Make Your First Deposit: Choose a payment method (e.g., debit/credit card, online banking, or digital wallet), and make your first deposit…or “purchase” as it’s called at most sweepstakes casinos in Ohio.
4. Claim Your Welcome Bonus: Next, take advantage of any no-deposit bonuses, free spins, or other welcome offers that your online casino provides to new players.
5. Start Playing Games: And that’s it! You’re all done. Start playing games and winning real cash prizes at some of Ohio’s most popular casino sites and apps. Have fun!

Best Ohio Online Casino Bonuses for March

My favorite thing about signing up at a new gambling site? It’s the welcome bonus.

Most online casinos in Ohio and other U.S. states will provide a generous offer to attract new players. It might be free spins, a deposit match, or some other type of deal. But one thing is for certain: it’s a good idea to take full advantage of these offers while you can!

Check out the table below to find some of the best Ohio casino no-deposit bonuses available this March:

The Future of Ohio Gambling Sites & Apps: A Look Ahead

Real-money online casinos aren’t yet legal in Ohio, but there’s a good chance they could be in the near future. With online sports betting already up and running and state legislators actively discussing the possibility of iGaming legislation, Ohio is well-positioned to become one of the next states to legalize online casinos.

Beyond the potential boost in state revenue, legalizing online casinos would also bring much-needed consumer protections (more on that in the next section, where we discuss the use of “offshore casinos”), ensuring a safe and regulated environment for players.

As Ohio moves closer to making this a reality, let’s take a quick look at some of the top platforms that could be available to players once online casino gambling is legalized:

Should You Play at Offshore Casinos in Ohio?

The short answer is no. While it’s true that offshore casinos (like Bovada and BetOnline, to name a few) accept players from Ohio, the problem is that they don’t operate under the oversight of the Ohio Casino Control Commission or any other gaming authorities in the United States.

This means there’s no guarantee that the games are fair or that your financial information is secure. Offshore casinos also put Ohio players at risk of not being able to resolve withdrawal or payout issues, since there’s no regulatory oversight to back you up if something goes wrong.

And worst of all? The biggest appeal of offshore casinos seems to be their huge sign-up bonuses: usually a 100%, 150%, or even 200% match on your first deposit.

But, if you dig a bit deeper, you’ll realize that these offers aren’t valuable at all because they come with steep playthrough requirements (typically 35x or higher) that make it next to impossible to withdraw any winnings before running out of money to play with.

Online Casino Gambling in Ohio’s Neighboring States

Heading out of state soon? Or just curious about how Ohio’s online gambling laws stack up against those in other U.S. states? You’re in luck! Just check out the guides listed below for information on legal online casino options in Ohio’s neighboring states:

• Indiana Online Casinos
• Kentucky Online Casinos
• Michigan Online Casinos
• Pennsylvania Online Casinos
• West Virginia Online Casinos

Ohio Land-Based Casinos: A Quick Overview

If you ever want to switch things up and take a break from online casino gaming, I’ve got some good news! Ohio is home to 11 brick-and-mortar casinos.

This includes seven racinos (i.e., racetracks with video lottery terminals) as well as four traditional (Vegas-style) retail casinos, one in each of the state’s most populated cities: Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, and Cleveland.

Let’s take a quick look at these four full-fledged, land-based Ohio casinos and see what they have to offer:

Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati

• 📍 Address: 1000 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202
• 📞 Phone Number: (513) 250-3150

Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati first opened in March 2013. Owned by VICI Properties and operated by Hard Rock International, the 100,000-square-foot casino includes 1,600+ slot machines, 100+ table games (blackjack, roulette, craps, etc.), and 24/7 live poker.

Hollywood Casino Columbus

• 📍 Address: 200 Georgesville Rd, Columbus, OH 43228
• 📞 Phone Number: (614) 308-3333

Hollywood Casino Columbus is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment. The casino first opened its doors in October 2012, and it features over 2,200 slot machines, 75 table games, and “the biggest poker room in town.”

Hollywood Casino Toledo

• 📍 Address: 1968 Miami St, Toledo, OH 43605
• 📞 Phone Number: (419) 661-5200

Hollywood Casino Toledo opened its doors in May 2012 and is located just off I-75 on the banks of the Maumee River. The casino features 125,000 square feet of gaming space with over 2,000 slot machines, 60 table games, and 20 poker tables.

Customers will also enjoy free drinks, live entertainment from some of the hottest local bands, and the opportunity to bet on sports via ESPN BET’s retail sportsbook at Hollywood Toledo.

Jack Cleveland Casino

• 📍 Address: 100 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113
• 📞 Phone Number: (216) 297-4777

Jack Cleveland Casino, formerly known as Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, launched in May 2012 as the first casino in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The gaming facility is owned and operated by Jack Entertainment LLC, and it includes over 1,300 slot machines, nearly 100 table games, and a betJACK retail sportsbook.

Responsible Gambling: Tips & Resources for Ohio Players

At ATS.io, we understand that playing online casino games can be a lot of fun. But we also know how important it is to gamble responsibly. Remember, gambling should always be entertaining (not a source of stress or something that puts a strain on your bank account).

So, here are a few tips and resources to help Ohio players stay in control and make smart decisions while they’re playing online:

1. Set Limits: Before you start playing, decide how much money and time you’re willing to spend gambling. And here’s the most important part: stick to them. Think of it like buying tickets to a concert or a sporting event. Once you’ve lost what you’re willing to spend, that means it’s time to quit.
2. Know the Warning Signs: If you ever find yourself chasing losses, feeling stressed about money, or hiding how much you play from friends and family, it might be time to take a step back from online gambling. Recognizing these signs early on can really help prevent bigger issues down the road.
3. Use Resources If You Need Them: If you ever feel like gambling is becoming more than just a fun way to pass the time, there’s help available. The Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-589-9966) is 100% free and confidential, and it’s available 24/7. Ohio for Responsible Gambling offers self-exclusion programs and a wide range of tools to help you manage your habits. And if you’re ever looking for extra support, Gamblers Anonymous can help connect you with people who understand exactly what you’re going through.

Ohio Online Casino FAQs