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MLB Betting in Ohio

With two Major League Baseball (MLB) teams in the state, the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds, MLB betting in Ohio is amongst the most popular markets in the country. From spring training in March through the World Series in November, Ohio sportsbooks offer no shortage of MLB betting. Let’s take a closer look at all things MLB betting in Ohio.

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Best OH sportsbooks for MLB betting

With more than 19 sports betting sites available in Ohio in 2024, there is no shortage of sportsbooks for MLB betting in the state. There are still a few that do rise to the top, as we look at the best Ohio sportsbooks for MLB betting.

Caesars Ohio

Caesars Ohio

With some of the most competitive and soonest posted odds in the state, Caesars Sportsbook is our top choice for MLB betting in Ohio. With their partnership with Major Leaguer Baseball, they’ve also struck deals with individual teams including the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks. Thanks to their agreement with the league, Caesars Ohio also offers MLB odds boosts, and other promo offers specifically targeted at baseball. Be on the lookout for future promos in Ohio targeting both the Guardians and Reds.

Betfred Ohio Logo

Betfred Ohio

As an official partner of the Cincinnati Bengals, Betfred Ohio is one of the state’s favorite sportsbooks. It’s not just NFL betting that they have a knack for, however, as Betfred has also become a favorite for MLB betting in Ohio. Already one of the biggest sportsbooks in Europe, BetFred expanded to the U.S. market a few years ago and has quickly expanded to eight states including Ohio. With some of the best boosted odds promotions in the country, those looking to bet into MLB promotions in Ohio can’t go wrong at Betfred Ohio.

FanDuel Ohio

FanDuel Ohio

One of the first Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) companies in the country, FanDuel Sportsbook launched in 2019 and has since expanded to a plethora of states throughout the country, including Ohio. Known for its intuitive and very user-friendly mobile app, FanDuel has also become a great app for MLB betting in Ohio with no shortage of prop markets. Bettors in the Buckeye State can bet on both the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds and can find no shortage of ways to get in on the MLB betting action.

DraftKings Ohio

DraftKings Ohio

As one of the very first sportsbooks to legally launch in Ohio when things went live on January 1, 2023, DraftKings has been a leader in MLB betting in Ohio from the start. As an online partner of Hollywood Casino Toledo, DraftKings offered MLB betting for their inaugural season, which was a smashing success as bettors enjoyed betting on their Reds and Guardians all season long. Also in the DFS space in Ohio before launching their sportsbooks, Ohio bettors have flocked to DraftKings for MLB betting in Ohio, as they continually offer some of the best MLB odds in the business. Add in continually great promotional offers, and DraftKings Ohio continues to be a leader in the MLB betting scene in the Buckeye State.

Getting started gambling on the MLB in Ohio

When it comes to gambling on the MLB, there is no shortage of great options that offer competitive odds. Using one of the MLB’s trusted partners, DraftKings Ohio, let’s take a closer look at how to sign up and begin betting MLB.

  1. Claim your welcome offer: Using the “Get Bonus” button at the top of this page, click the link to be directed to the sign-up page and have your bonus applied automatically.
  2. Register for an account: Having landed on the signup page, begin entering your new login credentials starting with your email address, username, chosen password, and phone number.
  3. Enter legal information: Step two when signing up will be to enter your legal information so your identity can be verified. Starting off with your first and last name, you’ll then be asked for your date of birth, home address, and last four of your social security number. From there, just press “verify identity” to confirm your account.
  4. Deposit funds: With your account now fully registered and verified, choose one of the dozens of payment options DraftKings Ohio offers to fund your account. From here, all you need to do is find your MLB betting market and start your wagering.

When you first start your MLB wagering in Ohio journey, you might be overwhelmed with the number of bet types available to you. Starting with the basics, let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular bet types for MLB wagering in Ohio, available from spring training all the way through the postseason.

  • Run Line: Similar to a point spread in other sports, an MLB run line gives 1.5 runs to a team before the game even starts. Said another way, if a team is favored by -1.5 runs on the run line, they have to win the game by at least two runs in order to win the bet. Conversely, if a team is receiving +1.5 runs, they can lose a game by one run and still win the bet.
  • Total: Also referred to as an over/under, a total is a number set prior to the game based on how many runs the sportsbook thinks will be scored by both teams. If the teams combined to score more runs than the posted total, the “over” is a winner, while if they combine to score fewer runs than the posted total, the “under” is a winner.
  • Moneyline: One of the most straightforward ways of MLB betting, a bet on the moneyline is simply betting on which team will win the game. If a team has a negative (-) next to their name, they are the favorite and expected to win. On the flip side, a team with a positive (+) next to their name indicates an underdog. As with the moneyline in all sports, a bet (and win) on the underdog will result in a bigger payout than betting the same amount on a favorite.
  • Strikeout Prop: Unique to MLB betting, the strikeout prop acts similarly to a total, and is a preset number for how many strikeouts a pitcher will throw in a game. If the pitcher you are betting on throws more than the set number of strikeouts, those who bet the “over” on the strikeout prop will win their bet.

Reading MLB odds

With the popular bet types for wagering on MLB in Ohio in mind, let’s take a look at a few examples using Ohio’s own Cleveland Guardians. The same examples can be applied to all teams, and each one is set with hypothetical odds and scenarios.

Moneyline

Cleveland Guardians (-140) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (+120)

In betting on the Guardians, a bettor has to wager $140 in order to win $100, with any wager bigger or smaller following the same math. Conversely, a $100 bet on the Pirates payouts $120 should it be a winner. In both instances, a winning bet gets both the amount won and the amount risked.

Run Line

Cleveland Guardians -1.5 (-130) vs. New York Yankees +105 (+120)

In this example, the Guardians have to beat the Yankees by at least two runs for a Cleveland backer to win this bet. If the Yankees can avoid losing by more than two, Yankee backers would win the bet. If, for example, the score ended Guardians 6 Yankees 3, the Guardians would win this run line bet.

Total

Cleveland Guardians vs. Houston Astros - Over 9.5 (-110) Under 9.5 (-110)

The total looks at the total runs scored by both teams, summing them together to compare to the total. At this number, if the final score was 6-4 Guardians, the over would be a winner because 10 runs were scored (.5 more than 9.5).

Strikeout Props

Cleveland Guardians vs. Cincinnati Reds- Shane Bieber Over 4.5 (-120) Under 4.5 (+100)

In this bet, in order to hit the over 4.5, starting pitcher Shane Bieber would have to throw at least five strikeouts while he was in the game. If he threw for just four strikeouts before being pulled from the game, the under would be a winner. The total score or who is winning is completely irrelevant from this type of bet.

Expert advice when betting on the MLB

With more than 160 games and a game nearly every single night from April to November, there is no shortage of ways to bet on the MLB. With so many games and bet types, here are a few pieces of expert advice when betting on the MLB.

  • Know whose pitching: With the ball in their hand usually for at least five innings per game, pitchers dictate the ebbs and flows of almost every game. Not only is it good to know their stats and opponent history for betting on who will win, but also on how many runs will be scored.
  • Study pitcher/batter matchups: Most starting pitchers take the mound at least 20 times per season. With that in mind, they have documented histories against almost every batter they face. Look at what pitchers struggle against which players and teams, as well as how they do vs. righties compared to lefties.
  • Know ballpark trends: Using Coors Field in Colorado as an example, some ballparks are prone to home runs, while others don’t allow many. When making total bets, make sure you know the trends of the ballpark where the game is taking place.

FAQ

Is MLB a popular league to bet on in Ohio?

Yes, the MLB is a popular league to bet on in Ohio, with the state’s two teams the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds drawing a ton of the betting action.

Is it legal to bet on the MLB in Ohio?

Yes, from January 2023, sports betting in Ohio became legal, including MLB betting.

Which sportsbooks offer the best odds on the MLB?

The sportsbooks with the best odds on the MLB in Ohio are Caesars, Betfred, FanDuel, and DraftKings Sportsbook.