Ohio to Launch Online Sports Betting in 2023, Poker Fans Hopeful for Future

Ohio is set to launch online sports betting on January 1, 2023, opening the door to potential future expansions into online casinos and poker. Currently, poker is only legal at retail-based casinos in cities like Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, and Cleveland. Online poker is not yet legal in Ohio, with only unregulated offshore sites available.

Sports betting apps that will be available in Ohio include BetMGM Ohio, Caesars Sportsbook Ohio, FanDuel Ohio, DraftKings Ohio, and Bet365 Ohio. These apps will offer a wide range of sports markets, from popular ones like NFL and NBA odds to more obscure markets like international soccer and tennis. Additionally, there are no restrictions on college sports betting in Ohio, allowing bets on in-state programs and collegiate player props.

Neighboring states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia already have legal online casinos and poker. This has given hope to Ohioans that similar legalizations could be on the horizon. The correlation between poker and sports betting is strong, with many top poker players also involved in sports betting. For example, Phil Ivey placed a bet on the Seahawks to defeat the Patriots in the Super Bowl in 2015. James Holzhauer, known for his Jeopardy wins, is also a professional poker player and sports bettor.