Ohio Casino apps

On this page, you will learn everything you need to know about Ohio casino apps, including the top expected casino apps in Ohio, their current legality, and much more.

By: Johnny Covers

| Last Updated: March 13, 2024

Table of contents

Top expected casino apps in Ohio
Are casino apps in Ohio legal?
Are there any active bills to legalize Ohio casino apps?
How to sign up for a casino app in Ohio
Possible promos at online casino apps in Ohio
Upsides and downsides of casino apps vs. desktop online casinos in Ohio
Types of games you will be able to play at casino apps in Ohio
Why should you avoid offshore casino apps?
FAQ

With brick-and-mortar casinos launching in Ohio more than a decade ago (2012) and online sportsbooks launching in 2023, Ohio casino apps are expected to be next up for state legislators. Though there is no definitive timeline for online casinos in Ohio, we here at OHBetting.com have you covered to be ready for when the day comes.

The success of online sports betting in Ohio has bolstered their case even further, as has the fact that total casino tax revenue surpassed $3 billion in 2023. With neighboring states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan allowing online casinos, the Buckeye State is next in line to get involved in the action.

Let’s take a closer look at what to expect when Ohio casino apps begin to appear in the state, including the top players expected to file for licenses with the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC).

Top expected casino apps in Ohio

Despite there being no casino apps in Ohio as of today that are legal, based on nearby states where they are, we can make some reasonable assumptions for what is to come. Based on the sportsbook apps currently available in the state, let’s take a look at a few of the top expected casino apps in Ohio that residents can anticipate seeing.

DraftKings Casino Ohio

With a heavy presence already in Ohio with their sportsbook and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) products, DraftKings Casino Ohio is expected to be a player in the state on day one. DraftKings online casino is launched in Connecticut, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, all of which complement their sports betting operations in the state.

At DraftKings Casino Ohio, all of the major slot gaming providers will have titles on the app, and you will also be able to play all of your favorite table games including blackjack, poker, baccarat, roulette, and more. Unlike some of their competitors, DraftKings allows you to bounce between their online casino and sportsbook from within the same app.

BetMGM Casino Ohio

Also with a sportsbook in Ohio, BetMGM Casino Ohio should be one of the early applicants to get a license when the day comes. As of today, BetMGM online casino operates in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, with a brick-and-mortar presence in many other states. BetMGM also has a brick-and-mortar presence in the state, with a casino and sportsbook at MGM Northfield Park in Northfield, OH.

With one of the best loyalty programs in the gambling industry, BetMGM Rewards offers players at their casinos, sportsbooks, and online casinos the chance to win reward points simply for playing. When BetMGM Casino Ohio does launch, you can expect to see online slots and table games readily available from within the BetMGM Casino app.

Caesars Palace Online Casino Ohio

With a racino presence in the state at Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs in Columbus, OH, Caesars Entertainment will be one of the first operators in the online casino industry upon launch. Caesars also operates retail sportsbooks in the state, making Caesars Palace Online Casino Ohio a no-brainer as soon as the legislation passes.

Like BetMGM, Caesars offers a great loyalty program called Caesars Rewards, which allows their customers across their products to rack up points while gambling. Today, Caesars Palace operates online casinos for residents in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, boasting online slots, table games, as well as online sportsbooks in each state.

Golden Nugget Casino Ohio

Despite being one of the smaller players in the online casino space, Golden Nugget Casino still has an online casino presence in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Acquired by DraftKings in 2022, Golden Nugget online gaming was founded in 2020 and continues to expand its presence throughout the United States.

Like their competitors, Golden Nugget Casino Ohio will offer titles from all of the top gaming software providers, as well as table games such as blackjack and roulette. With a brick-and-mortar presence in Nevada and New Jersey, expect Golden Nugget Casino Ohio to bring the potential for an expansion into the midwest for the young company.

Borgata Casino Ohio

Currently available in just New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Borgata online casino got its start in 2018 and is now beginning to expand across the country. Offering slots, table games, live dealer games, and bingo, Borgata Casino Online recently expanded its offerings to include Texas Hold’ Em poker to customers.

When Borgata Casino Ohio does launch, you can expect the same great welcome bonus they offer in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which includes a 100% deposit match and free bonus bets. While they might be a niche product at this point, Borgata Casino Ohio will surely make waves as soon as it becomes available.

Are casino apps in Ohio legal?

No, casino apps in Ohio are not legal, and there is no active legislation in the Ohio House or Senate for which voters can look forward to. Online gaming took a big step forward in the Buckeye State in 2023, however, as online sports betting officially went live on January 1, 2023, and has since become extremely popular amongst Ohio residents.

For casino fans in Ohio, there are currently 11 casinos and racinos spread throughout the state, with the majority centered around the state’s biggest cities of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo. Ohioans also have access to horse racing tracks which operate throughout spring, summer, and fall and offer gamblers Video Lottery Terminals in addition to horse race betting.

Are there any active bills to legalize Ohio casino apps?

No, there are no active bills to legalize Ohio casino apps in either the State’s House or Senate. With the first Ohio casino opening its doors in 2012, Ohio lawmakers also granted the state’s horse racetracks the ability to add Video Lottery Terminals to their operations.

Gambling in Ohio took another step forward in 2021, as Ohio Governor Mike Dewine signed sports betting legislation into law, with January 2023 seeing the launch of sports betting. With more than $3 billion in tax revenue now hitting Ohio’s state finances, there is plenty of motivation to see Ohio legalize online casino apps in the future.

When legislation for online casino apps in Ohio does pass, there will be a rush of operators to apply for licenses, and customers to follow. For iGaming fans in the Buckeye State, we here at OHBetting.com have you covered for how you can sign up for a casino app in Ohio when things get underway.

Get a Welcome Offer: Starting right here at OHBetting.com, each of the Ohio Casino Apps will have a full review, where you can learn the pros and cons of each of them. Choose the one that works best for you, and click the “Get Bonus” link at the top of the page to receive the best welcome offer available.
Login Credentials: To start, the casino app in Ohio will ask you to provide your desired login credentials such as username, email address, and password.
Enter Personal Details: To begin verifying your identity, the Ohio casino app will next ask for your personal information such as first and last name, home address, phone number, gender, and the last four digits of your social security number.
Agree to Terms & Conditions: As part of the registration process for all casino apps in Ohio, you’ll have to agree to the operator's terms and conditions and privacy policies. Check all of the applicable boxes to confirm your new account once and for all.
Deposit Money: Thanks to the oversight and regulation by the state-backed Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), each of the legal Ohio casino apps will offer a plethora of payment options when transacting funds with the site. These will include, but not be limited to, Bank Transfers, Wire Transfers, Debit/Credit Card, PayPal, Venmo, and more.

Possible promos at online casino apps in Ohio

Based on the well-established online casino app industry throughout different markets in the United States, we can make some assumptions about the types of promos Ohio will offer. Below are just a few of the possible promos at online casino apps in Ohio.

Welcome Bonus: Because there will be competition in the Buckeye State amongst Ohio casino apps, each will offer a welcome promotion to entice new customers. The offerings will vary, but they will be based on two primary offerings, which you can learn more about below.
No Deposit Bonus: As the name suggests, a No Deposit Bonus is an offer of bonus funds simply for signing up for an account, whether or not you make an initial deposit. While these are rare, they give gamblers the opportunity to try out a new Ohio casino app without money risked.
Match Bonus: The more common offering within a welcome bonus, a match bonus matches the amount of money you deposit in the form of bonus bets. For example, if an Ohio casino app is offering a 100% match up to $1,000, any amount you deposit up to $1,000 will be matched with bonus bets usable on the site.
Reload Bonus: A reload bonus is for existing customers, and compensates them in bonus bets for loading funds into their account. Most often, the reload bonus amount is based on how much you re-deposit.
Free Spins: Used for online slots, free spins give Ohio casino app customers the chance to play select games for free, with the chance to win real money. Free spins are a great way to try online slots out for free.

Upsides and downsides of casino apps vs. desktop online casinos in Ohio

When Ohio online casino legislation the Buckeye State passes, it will likely apply to both casino apps and desktop online casinos. While Ohio casino apps will be more popular let’s take a look at the upsides and downsides of casino apps vs. their desktop counterparts in Ohio

Upsides

Familiarity: An increasing number of Americans, especially in the younger demographic, spend more time on their mobile devices than desktop computers. Having a casino app will allow you to keep that same level of comfort with your phone or tablet in your hand.
Convenience: When Ohio casino apps launch, you’ll be able to use them from anywhere within state lines. That means when you are on the go in Ohio, you still have access to the full use of your casino app.
Bonuses: A select number of Ohio casino promotions will be available via mobile only, meaning you’ll have access to exclusive promotions simply for using the app version of the online casino.

Downsides

Connectivity: While you have the luxury of always being connected to wifi when using desktop casinos, you’ll often have to rely on cellular data coverage when using the app. This can not only affect availability but also the speed at which you can play your favorite online casino games.
No Multitasking: If you are like me, when you are using a desktop computer you have multiple windows and tabs open at once. This ability is eliminated when using your mobile device, and as such will be when playing on casino apps.
Smaller Screen: This one is obvious, but you’ll be contending with a much smaller screen when using an Ohio casino app, versus using your desktop computer. For online slots, this is less of a concern, but some table games are played better with a bigger screen.

Types of games you will be able to play at casino apps in Ohio

Based on the online casino offerings of some nearby states, we can make some reasonable assumptions about the types of games that will be offered on Ohio casino apps when the industry launches. Below are just a few of the types of games you will be able to play on casino apps in Ohio.

Online Slots: All of the top online slot gaming software will have titles on the Ohio Casino apps, and are many times the most popular games within online casinos.
Table Games: Like brick-and-mortar casinos in Ohio, Ohio casino apps will have table games to choose from, both virtual and with live dealers. These will include popular games such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and various forms of poker.
Jackpots: Simply a type of online slot, jackpots are video slots but with much bigger prize pools. Each day or week, there will be a grand prize, where the winner will be randomly selected. Jackpots are also a form of progressive slot, where the payout gets bigger every

Why should you avoid offshore casino apps?

Though it might be tempting to use offshore casino apps with legal online casinos not yet operational in Ohio, we here at OHBetting.com strongly advise against it. Below are a few of the top reasons why you should avoid offshore casino apps at all costs.

Regulation: Because the regulation and oversight bodies are located in faraway places such as Curacao or Malta, specifically chosen because of the lack of U.S. jurisdiction, you have no recourse when it comes to wrongdoings. On the other hand, when online casinos do become legal in Ohio, they will be regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which is backed by the state.
Payment Methods: Because offshore casino apps fall outside of U.S. jurisdictions, they do not offer the plethora of payment options that legal Ohio casino apps will. Oftentimes, they rely on volatile digital currency such as cryptocurrency to get funds on and off the site.
Legitimacy: All Ohio casino apps will have the backing of an operator with a headquarters right here in the United States, full of key employees who are public-facing. At offshore casinos, you are never quite sure who is running the operation and have no one to go to when things go awry.

FAQ

How do I close my account on a casino app?

Closing your account on a casino app is a straightforward process, but varies depending on the app. For most, first, log in to your account and navigate to the account settings. From there, you will find a link to “Close Account” or “Deactivate Account.” Follow the on-screen prompts to ensure the closure of your account, and reach out to customer service as needed.

Can I access historical gameplay and transaction records on a casino app?

Yes, you can access historical gameplay and transaction records on a casino app, typically located in the “My Account” section of the app.

Are there any casino apps that offer sports betting?

Yes, many casino apps offer sports betting including DraftKings Casino Ohio, BetMGM Casino Ohio, and more.

What are the best casino apps for beginners in the US?

The best casino apps for beginners in the US are DraftKings Casino, BetMGM Casino, Caesars Casino, and Borgata Casino, all of which offer various casino-style games that are intuitive to play.

Author Details

Johnny Covers

Johnny Covers is a sports betting expert and author at OH Betting. He is a seasoned analyst in sports betting and has been offering handicapping insights for almost a decade. He has shared his expert analyses with various publications over the years, including All-In Magazine, Blitz Predict, FantasyPros, Betting Pros, Sportsbook Review, Golf Monthly, and OddsChecker.