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All of the Ohio State online poker site bonuses mentioned on this page are subject to change at any time, should any of them be of interest to you please visit the respective Poker sites website for full terms and conditions of any bonus listed.
Legal Ohio Online Poker Sites
This article will discuss this state’s current stance on gambling, revealing where you can play land-based and online poker in Ohio. Stick around.
Last Updated on October 8, 2024 by 
Fact checked by
Ohio gambling laws don’t differ much from those in the majority of US states. Gambling in this state is restricted by a number of restrictions. As a result, Ohioan players don’t have much choice when it comes to playing both land-based and online poker within the borders of the Buckeye State.
Nevertheless, Ohioan lawmakers have recently become more open to relaxing gambling-related regulations. This article will discuss this state’s current stance on gambling, revealing where you can play land-based and online poker in Ohio. Stick around.
Is Online Poker Legal in Ohio?
Like many other US states, Ohio prohibits all gambling, save for a few explicitly cited exceptions. The law directly prohibits Ohioans from operating, establishing, promoting, or engaging in any games of chance for profit. Since the definition of games of chance mentions poker by name, we can infer that the state outlaws real-money poker.
Still, the exceptions we’ve mentioned do leave some wiggle room for Ohioan poker fans. They include horse wagering, bingo, state lottery, charitable gambling, social gambling, gambling on tribal land, and, more recently, sports betting.
As a result, Ohioan gamblers can play poker at home, in commercial casinos that don’t take rake, in tribal gambling venues, and on online sweepstakes sites. They can also join offshore online poker rooms since Ohio gambling laws don’t regulate online gambling.
Laws & Regulations In Ohio
The following list comprises laws that all Ohioan poker players should be familiar with before engaging in any poker games in this state:
Keep in mind that the legal age for poker in Ohio is 21.
Best Legal Poker Rooms in Ohio
Now that you’re aware of the OH gambling legislation let’s see where you can play online and land-based poker in this state. The following sections explore both topics individually.
Legal Online Poker in Ohio
As mentioned above, Ohio has no laws that regulate online gambling. There are no state-authorized real-money online casinos that operate in Ohio. However, Ohioan poker players still have two options if they wish to pursue this hobby from the comfort of their homes.
Ohio has several sweepstakes and social online casinos. These places are regulated and licensed by the state because they don’t take rake.
You can play online poker in OH sweepstakes and social online casinos with sweep or casino coins only. Players buy these coins as they enter the casino and use them to participate in different games. They can exchange the coins they’ve accumulated for real money at the end of their gaming session.
OH players can also play poker in offshore online sites that accept US players. These sites are licensed and regulated offshore, so you wouldn’t break any OH laws by joining them. These gambling sites have fantastic poker rooms with numerous real-money poker variants. We’ve featured a list of the best ones at the top of this page for your convenience.
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- Must be 18+ to participate.
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Legal Land-Based Poker in Ohio
Ohio used to outlaw all forms of commercial gambling, including poker, in the state for quite a while. That law only changed in 2009 when the state passed the Ohio Casino Approval and Tax Distribution, Amendment 3. The new amendment authorized the construction of four commercial casinos in four big Ohio cities — Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Columbus.
These casinos got the permit to operate live poker rooms and offer various casino games, including poker, as long as they contribute a part of their revenue to the state. The first OH commercial casino was opened in 2012.
The 2009 amendment also allowed OH racetracks to include video gambling machines in their offer of entertainment games. There are now seven so-called racinos in Ohio, but none offer table games like poker.
How to Register at a Legal Online Poker Site in Ohio
OH players who want to test their poker skills in a safe online environment can register at one of the offshore online casinos we’ve listed at the top of the page. The registration process is pretty simple if you follow our guide below:
Choose A Poker Room
Check out our poker sites list and choose the one that appeals to you the most.
Signup
Visit the casino’s official website and start the registering process by clicking on the Join or Register button.
Create an account by completing the registration form and verifying your email address.
Deposit & Play
Log into your account and make a deposit using one of the available payment methods.
Browse through the poker section, find the variants you like, and start gaming.
Land-Based Casinos With Live Poker
Ohio currently has only four land-based casinos where you can play live poker, thanks to the cited commercial casino amendment from 2009. Check out the list below if you’re interested in playing poker in any of them.
All these gambling venues have a great offer of poker games and promise an unforgettable gambling experience.
| Name | Address | Number of tables |
|---|---|---|
| Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati | 1000 Broadway St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 | 30 |
| JACK Cleveland Casino | 100 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44113 | 23 |
| Hollywood Casino Toledo | 1968 Miami St, Toledo, OH 43605 | 12 |
| Hollywood Casino Columbus | 200 Georgesville Rd, Columbus, OH 43228 | 34 |
Other Resources
Conclusion
Ohio gambling legislation is not the most lenient in the US, but the state still has a lot to offer to its poker players. OH poker fans can enjoy playing land-based live poker in four commercial casinos or organize poker games at home. They can also hone their poker skills online in OH-licensed sweepstakes casinos or offshore-licensed poker rooms.
FAQs
Is online poker legal in Ohio?
Ohio gambling laws make no mention of online gambling at all. So, there are no definite rules that either allow or prohibit OH players from playing poker online. This state’s online gambling scene falls in the legal gray zone.
What poker sites are legal in Ohio?
OH residents can play poker in several sweepstakes and social casinos and on numerous offshore sites. Sweepstakes and social casinos offer modified poker games you can play using casino currency, while offshore online casinos host real-money poker variants.
Will Ohio legalize online poker in the near future?
Ohio lawmakers have shown no interest in legalizing online gambling, including online poker. Nevertheless, the state officially legalized both land-based and online sports betting recently. So, online gambling legislation might be Buckeye State’s next step.
How old do I have to be to play poker in Ohio?
The legal age for gambling in OH is 21. In theory, this means you have to be at least 21 years old to play poker on offshore sites.