Online Poker Real Money Legal In Ohio
Online Poker Games In Ohio Online poker is believed to be illegal here under the pre-internet definitions of illegal gambling on the Statutes. This has never been tested in a court room, so no legal precedents exist to back this opinion up. There have been recent issues. History of Poker and Online Poker in Ohio Ohio State was a hotbed for illicit gambling in the early 1900s. At that time, there was a big mob running illegal gambling platforms.
Last Updated January 6, 2021
Ohioans now have some of the richest variety of land-based poker options in the US, but thousands and thousands of poker players from Ohio are still choosing to play their poker online. It’s fast, it’s easy and it beats a drive through traffic and a multi-hour wait list at the casino poker room.
Despite the popularity of the game, a number of potential online poker players in Ohio still have questions about playing poker for real money online, and it’s our goal with this Guide to Ohio Online Poker to answer those questions – and provide a richer picture of poker in Ohio along the way.
Most Recent Online Poker Happenings in Ohio
There has been no talk of legalizing online poker in Ohio.
Oddly enough, many of Ohio’s neighboring states have either proposed bills or officially legalized online poker and casino games. Pennsylvania legalized online gaming in 2017 and launched its first poker and casino sites in 2019. West Virginia legalized online gaming in 2019 and plans to launch sites by 2021. Kentucky and Michigan have both discussed online poker in their respective legislatures.
Ohio, on the other hand, has yet to propose it.
Land-based casinos have been legal since 2012, and daily fantasy sports was legalized in 2017.
The Ohio Lottery is in the process of constructing a proposal to officially put its lottery ticket offerings online. And many lawmakers want legal sports betting, though it is likely to be in brick-and-mortar sportsbooks and not online.
There have been several sports betting bills introduced to the legislature in the past year. One would put the Ohio Lottery Commission in control of the industry and give oversight to the Ohio Casino Commission, but the other would give all control to the Ohio Casino Commission. Even Governor Mike DeWine is supportive of sports betting in general, but the delay seems to be with the agency that would control it.
The Basics of Online Poker and Ohio
You like the action of poker, but you hate the drudgery of getting to the casino. Now you’re ready to try online poker, but searching for Ohio-friendly poker sites just returns a bunch of noise and third-rate websites – until you find our guide. It’s updated. It’s objective. It’s built on the observations of several actual online poker players, players who want the same things out of an online poker room that you do.
Based on those observations and that experience, we’ve built this list of the top Ohio online poker sites for real money.
Can Players From Ohio Play Poker?
If you’re residing in Ohio and hoping to play real-money online poker, you’re in luck. There are several sites that accept players from Ohio.
Whether you start with a site from our list of the top Ohio online poker rooms above or choose one of the other options for Ohioans, you’ll be looking at a simple process that will have you battling it out with other players from around the world in under an hour.
| Type/Code | Summary |
|---|---|
| State Code Section(s) | 2915; 3763; 3769-3670; 3772; 3774 |
| Definition of Game of Chance | Poker, craps, roulette, or other game in which a player gives anything of value in the hope of gain, the outcome of which is determined largely by chance, but does not include bingo. |
| Definition of Gambling Device | A book, totalizer, or other equipment for recording bets; a ticket, token, or other device representing a chance, share, or interest in a scheme of chance or evidencing a bet; a deck of cards, dice, gaming table, roulette wheel, slot machine, or other apparatus designed for use in connection with a game of chance; any equipment, device, apparatus, or paraphernalia specially designed for gambling purposes. |
| Definition of Gambling Prohibited | Establish, promote, or operate or knowingly engage in conduct that facilitates any game of chance conducted for profit or any scheme of chance; knowingly procure, transmit, exchange, or engage in conduct that facilitates the procurement, transmission, or exchange of information for use in establishing odds or determining winners in connection with bookmaking or with any game of chance conducted for profit or any scheme of chance; engage in betting or in playing any scheme or game of chance as a substantial source of income or livelihood. |
| Online Poker/Gambling | There have been no solid efforts to legalize and regulate online poker or other types of internet gaming. |
| Live Poker | Poker rooms are available in the large casinos throughout Ohio, each with cash games and tournaments. |
| Casinos | The Casino Control Act of 2009 legalized casinos in four major cities, and the first one opened in 2012. The law also allowed racetracks to upgrade to racinos by installing video gambling machines in order to compete with the new casinos, though they do not offer table games like poker. |
| Sports Betting | There is a bill pending in Ohio that could be constructed to legalize sports betting, but legislators have chosen not to address it yet. |
| DFS | Ohio lawmakers legalized daily fantasy sports in late 2017. |
| Other Forms of Gambling | Horse racing and on-track pari-mutuel betting, bingo and games of chance for charitable organizations, lottery, social gambling. |
All Poker and Gambling Laws by State
The Golden State Warriors are strong favorites to win their NBA Finals rematch with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has the Warriors a -260 favorite, while the Cavs are a +220 underdog. This is the third straight year the two teams have played in the NBA Finals.
Read FullInvestigators say a Cincinnati man’s murder of a 64-year old man was due to mounting gambling debts. By the time Donald Dawson-Durgan murdered his former benefactor, he was $46,000 in debt. A jury in Judge Tom Heekin’s Hamilton County Common Pleas Court is deliberating over the evidence. Deliberations begin anew
Read Full
Is Playing Online Poker Legal in Ohio?
We’re not lawyers, nor are we qualified to offer legal advice. Our solitary goal with this section is to communicate the absolute basics of Ohio gambling law and to encourage you to then review the Ohio statutes yourself (online version can be found below).
After doing so, you’ll realize what many others have already learned: Ohio gambling law is complicated and involves a good deal of information beyond the statutes to fully comprehend. That’s why we always encourage players with questions about the legality of online poker to consult with a lawyer for authoritative answers.
Let’s walk through some of the basic points of Ohio gambling law:
Unlike most states, Ohio does not offer a formal definition of gambling. Instead, we can arrive at their working definition by looking at the misdemeanor charge of gambling (Section 2915.02), which covers bookmaking, promoting games of chance, exchanging information that facilitates bookmaking or games of chance and engaging in “any scheme or game of chance as a substantial source of income or livelihood” (Section 2915.02(4)).
That last part is important. Ohio law is specifically constructed to dole out heavier punishments to those who gamble for a living. Note that taking part in an illegal poker game would not necessarily be illegal in and of itself; players must draw a “substantial source of income” from the activity to trigger the charge detailed above.
Players who don’t meet that standard could still face some criminal exposure under Ohio law, but it’s a bit of a longshot. For example, Section 2915.04 makes it a crime (misdemeanor) to play games of chance in public places like resorts and halls.
On to “games of chance,” which are defined very specifically under Ohio law:
“Poker, craps, roulette, or other game in which a player gives anything of value in the hope of gain, the outcome of which is determined largely by chance, but does not include bingo” (Section 2915.01(D)).
Famous Ohio Poker Players
There are some live poker rooms in Ohio, namely in Toledo, Columbus, and Northfield. There are few large live tournament series that play in those casinos, but the poker rooms do provide a breeding ground for new players.
Many players in Ohio also got their start playing online poker. David Peters is one of them, who is now a high-stakes live poker player who is the sixth winningest player in the world with more than $33.4 million in live winnings.
Byron Kaverman certainly got his start in poker in home games with friends and in the poker rooms in Ohio, and he has gone on to win more than $15 million in his career. He spent years honing his game online and was one of the launching pads for him and many others in his generation of players.
David “Chip” Reese hailed from Ohio. His live poker winnings totaled nearly $4 million before his untimely death in 2007. He is one of the most respected players in the game’s history, known mostly for his fierce cash game play.
As of 2021, the top-ranked live poker players in Ohio history were listed as:
1. David Peters ($33.4 million)
2. Byron Kaverman ($15.1 million)
3. Keven Stammen ($6.1 million)
4. Jacob Bazeley ($4.5 million)
5. David Reese ($4 million)
6. Joe Ebanks ($3.3 million)
7. Adam Friedman ($3.1 million)
8. Shawn Cunix ($2.3 million)
9. Joseph Couden ($2.3 million)
10. Samuel Phillips ($2.2 million)
Ohio Gambling Overview
List of Regulated Gambling Options in Ohio
The sole major form of regulated gambling not on the menu in Ohio is tribal gambling. Otherwise, you can run the gamut in the state – play the lottery, get in a few pari-mutuel bets on races, engage in any of the multiple forms of charitable gambling that get the official state nod or spend a night at Ohio’s brand-spanking new commercial casinos.
List of Regulated Online Gambling Options in Ohio
While Ohio has a bountiful assortment of regulated land-based gambling, the state offers exactly zero regulated online gambling options. This doesn’t necessarily disqualify all forms of online betting from existing legally in Ohio – it just means there’s no such thing as an online poker room or casino licensed or regulated by the state.
Sources & Citations For This Article on Ohio Online Poker
Some people would make you think that the very best online poker rooms for Ohio residents are simply the ones that will allow them to play but this is far from the truth. In fact, Ohio residents are not really bound to a certain group of poker sites at all... they are free to play where they want which is good because the same thing is always the best for certain people/scenarios.
Immediately below this paragraph we discuss legal aspects of the activity however you can skip to the bottom of the page to will see our favorite places for playing online poker in Ohio. All of the sites listed here are trusted and accept Ohio citizens.
Is It Legal For Ohio Residents To Play Poker Online?
According to state laws, yes, it is perfectly legal to play online poker in Ohio, and until further notice, the state has no legal opinion on the operation of online poker rooms within the state's borders. You can find online poker rooms all over the Internet willing to do business with people from the Buckeye state, and as long as you abide by United States laws related to online gambling and funds transfers, you're acting fully within your rights to play online poker in the state of Ohio.
Where Can Ohio Residents Play Poker Online?
Despite the fact that Ohio online casinos regulated by the state won't be found, there are still a great many options to those living in the state. Poker sites operating outside of the United States generally allow players from the U.S. to sign up for accounts with their sites. Ohio players are certainly in that group that can do so.
Across all platforms, you are going to be hard pressed to find another site as complete as Bovada, especially when it comes to their poker software. They use state of the art servers and have a proven operating system which has been certified to be fair for all players who decide to play there.
Additionally, Bovada makes your dollar go futher by offering all Ohio players a one-time 100% to $1,000 matching bonus when you make the first deposit. All you need to do is deposit at least $20 using any of the deposit methods accepted here: wire transfers + VISA credit, debit, and prepaid cards.
With that bonus, players can earn extra money when playing cash games, in the sit n go tourneys, or in their scheduled tournaments like the Sunday afternoon content that has $100,000 in guaranteed prize payouts for that one tourney alone. This tourney almost dwarfs what other poker sites taking OH residents can offer in guaranteed tournaments in a month!
Visiting the homepage for the poker room at BetOnline, and you will notice several things. Among them, is an active and live list for the upcoming poker tournaments that are available for players to enter. This lets the player know what tournaments are on the schedule, including details on the buy-in and what stakes are on the table. If you are an Ohio player looking for some of best tournaments with a wide range of buy-ins and prizes, than BetOnline is certainly a great poker room choice for you.
With more than $150K in guaranteed tournament money each month, there is the chance for players to get in on many tournament at one time, as much as you can handle. BetOnline wants to be flexible and cater to their players. When it comes to tournaments, they do a great job with this.
| Online Poker Sites | Deposit Bonuses | Average Traffic | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker | 100% Match Good To $1,000 | 15,000+ Players | VISIT |
| BetOnline Poker | Up To $900 On Each Deposit | 10,000+ Players | VISIT |
| SportsBetting Poker | Every Deposit: 25% - $900 | 10,000+ Players | VISIT |
Online Poker Real Money Legal In Ohio County
Online Poker Regulation In Ohio
Best Legal Online Poker Sites
As it stands, Ohio has no immediate plans to enact regulation and move forward with the potential for legal Internet poker or other gambling sites that are legal for Ohio players. While there is a push across some states in the U.S. that have either already passed, or are trying to get passed online poker bills, Ohio is on the back burner. This is not to say that we will not see future regulation within the state. But it is pretty safe to say that Ohio is not like Nevada or New Jersey leading the charge to try and have more legalized poker in the U.S.