Best Legal Sports Betting Apps in Ohio

If you’re a sports bettor in Ohio, you have all of the top licensed sportsbook apps to choose from. The question is, which one is the best for your needs? And what are the differences between them?

In this article, we’ll compare the top options available to you so you know the advantages and disadvantages of each. Don’t forget to avail the welcome bonus if you’re signing up for one of these sportsbook apps for the first time.

Sportsbook

Key Features

Rating

Get the app

Bet365 • $150 in bonus bets or up to $1k first bet safety net
• Best selection of sports
• The most boosts and promos
9.8 GET THE APP
BetMGM • Best sign up offer – $1500 safety net
• Great for live betting
• Excellent prop odds
9.7 GET THE APP
Caesars • Up to $1k first bet safety net
• Great for parlays
• Excellent customer service
9.4 GET THE APP
BetRivers • Second chance bet up to $100
• Best odds available
• Vast array of betting markets
8.9 GET THE APP
DraftKings • $150 in bonus bets
• #2 US sportsbook
• Excellent design and UI
8.5 GET THE APP
FanDuel • $300 in bonus bets for first wager if it wins
• #1 US sportsbook app
• Excellent user experience
8.3 GET THE APP
Hard Rock Bet • $100 bonus bet
• Run by Hard Rock Casino
• Great for live betting, micro bets
8.0 GET THE APP

Terms & Conditions apply.

How to Choose a Sports Betting App

Most sports betting apps offer many of the same features. The differences can be subtle, and for the most part, which one is better is a matter of preference. With that said, it’s best to have a few different sportsbook apps on your phone so you can compare the odds for each wager you want to make.

Bookmakers compete with one another for the best lines, so it’s a good idea to check before placing a bet. If you’re set on only using one sportsbook app though, try to figure out what’s most important to you.

For example, if you do a lot of live betting, choose an app that has low latency and solid live betting functionality. If you like parlays, find the app that has the best odds boosts for the sports you want to bet on.

What Are the Best Legal Sports Betting Apps in Ohio?

We’ve tested all of the available bookmaker apps in Ohio and compiled a list of the best options. Here are our top choices.

  1. Bet365
  2. BetMGM
  3. Caesars 
  4. Betrivers
  5. DraftKings
  6. Fanduel 

Bet365: Ohio's Premier Sports Betting Hub

Bet365 is one of the world’s biggest and most trustworthy betting brands. This British sportsbook and casino was founded in 2000, and is available in 10 states, including Ohio.

Bet365 has the widest range of sports to choose from out of any of the best bookmaker apps in Ohio. It’s got an incredible amount of props to choose from, and you can even use the ‘request a bet’ feature in the futures section if there’s something you want to bet on that’s not shown there. Bet365 also has the most odds boosts with an average of five per sport at any given time.

Bet365 sportsbook app ohio

The bet365 app has a clean, intuitive design. It isn’t as flashy as FanDuel or DraftKings, but is stable and performs well. If you want access to an incredible range of betting markets on mobile, this is an excellent app.

Bet365 Ohio Sign-up offer: Bet $5, receive $150 in bonus bets – or – Up to $1000 safety net on first wager

From elsewhere? Check out our Bet365 promo codes in Bet Arizona, Bet365 Colorado, Bet365 Kentucky, Bet365 New Jersey, Bet365 Iowa, Bet365 Ohio and – all viable on mobile.

Pros
  • The most amount of odds boosts
  • Massive range of markets
  • Smooth running, low latency
  • Offers a choice between two promos
Cons
  • Frequent auto log-outs
  • Must be logged in to view parlay odds, or use live chat

BetMGM - Top Choice for Prop Betting and Live Action

BetMGM is a great all around sportsbook app that gives its competitors a run for their money. It’s got a basic design, even more basic than Bet365, but it delivers an all around solid sportsbook with an overwhelming amount of betting options.

Live betting is one of BetMGM’s strong points, with an ‘Edit Bet’ feature that works great mid-game. The BetMGM app has the best prop odds of any of the Ohio sportsbook apps, so if you love wagering on game props, player props, quarter props, etc, this app is a must-have.

Betmgm app ohio

The BetMGM is customizable and comes with a wide range of settings that allow you to curtail your experience.

BetMGM Bonus review: Up to $1500 safety net on first wager

Pros
  • Loaded with features and settings
  • Best first-deposit bonus
  • Offers live betting and live streaming
  • Great for props
Cons
  • Sometimes has long loading times
  • Customer support can be slow

Caesars Sportsbook: Elite Hospitality and Rewards

The Caesars brand is synonymous with gambling. The level of hospitality you’ll find at its many resorts and casinos carries over to its sportsbook app which has excellent customer service and one of the top rewards programs around.

Caesars sportsbook app ohio

A few years back, Caesars acquired William Hill sportsbook, rebranded it, and made some upgrades. The result is a complete sportsbook that does everything right. The app has a top-notch user experience and an attractive design, but doesn’t always offer the best odds. Consider this a trade off for the luxury of having such a nice app to bet with.

Caesars Sign-up offer: Up to $1000 safety net on first wager

Pros
  • Excellent user experience
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Easy to install and get started
  • Has dark mode
Cons
  • Can be laggy at times
  • Requires location verification somewhat often

BetRivers: Best Odds and Diverse Betting Markets

BetRivers has the best odds available on straight bets, and the lowest vig. You’ll often see odds for spreads and totals of -109 or even -108 instead of -110. This alone makes BetRivers a great app to have. After all, every penny counts.

The BetRivers app design is the most basic and is a bit outdated. The app functions a bit slower than some of its competitors, but it’s still quite capable.

Betrivers app ohio

BetRivers offers an impressive range of sports and betting markets, more than most of its rivals. If you like to bet on rarely offered sports, BetRivers is the best choice.

Sign-up offer: Up to $100 safety net on first wager

Pros
  • Great for live betting
  • Best odds for most bets
  • Impressive range of sports markets
  • Live chat through the app
Cons
  • Outdated app design
  • Customer support isn’t 24/7

DraftKings: Customizable Odds and NFL Specialization

There’s a reason why DraftKings has become a household name. This sportsbook is second only to the mighty FanDuel app, and some consider it to be even better.

The user experience, including the interface, design, and betting functionality, is excellent. Everything is clean and smooth, with well-organized menus and snappy performance.

Draftkings ohio betting app

The DraftKings app offers customizable odds boosts, and is perfect for betting on NFL with its own ‘TD Scorers’ tab and plenty of props. It’s got a wide range of sports and markets to choose from, enough to satisfy just about any sports bettor in Ohio.

DraftKings sportsbook promo code offer: Bet $5, receive $150 in bonus bets

Pros
  • Top-notch user experience
  • Great for live streaming & live betting
  • Allows players to demo games
  • Sleek UI
Cons
  • Occasional lag and bugs
  • Geolocation can malfunction

FanDuel: Market Leader In User Experience and Same Game Parlays

FanDuel is the #1 sportsbook app on the market with 39.3% of the market share. It’s considered the standard that all other sportsbooks are compared to, and its app is exceptional.

From the design to the performance, appearance and everything in between, the FanDuel app is finely crafted. This makes for what is arguably the best user experience of any sportsbook app.

Fanduel app ohio

While FanDuel’s selection of sports might not be as comprehensive as some of the others, there’s everything you would expect and more. As the originators of same game parlays, FanDuel does it well with a smooth-running system for both live betting and future events.

Sign up offer: Bet $5, get a $300 bonus if your wager wins

Pros
  • Attractive, modern design
  • Responsive and fast-loading
  • Top sports betting app
  • Includes dark mode
Cons
  • Can log you out randomly
  • Lags during peak hours

 

How to Download a Betting App

Downloading a betting app is simple. Just follow the steps below:

  1. Search your phone app store for the app you want to install
  2. Tap ‘Get’ or ‘Install’
  3. Wait for the installation to finish
  4. Launch the app by tapping ‘Open’
  5. Create a new account
  6. Deposit
  7. Start betting

How to Place Bets on a Betting App

  1. Once you have an account with the app you want to use, make a deposit. Most deposits are instant
  2. Choose a sport and the event or game you’d like to place a wager on
  3. Choose what type of bet you want to place. If it’s a parlay, build your parlay by selecting the legs available for the event
  4. Go to your bet slip and confirm the selected wager
  5. Congratulations! You’ve placed a bet

Popular Sports Teams in Ohio to Wager on

Ohio State Buckeyes - NCAAF

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With another disappointing loss to Michigan keeping the Buckeyes out of the CFP, Ohio State will enter the 2024 college football season as the preseason #2 according to ESPN. And with a 12 team playoff this year, it seems almost certain they’ll get in.

Cleveland Cavaliers - NBA

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This season, the Cavs won their first playoff game since Lebron James’ departure. Although they fell to the 1 seed Celtics in the conference semi-finals, fans should be proud of Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs.

Cleveland Browns - NFL

cleveland-browns-team-history-and-timeline

The Browns went 11-7 in 2023—a major improvement on the previous season’s 7-10. Although they lost their wildcard game vs the Texans in the post-season, it was a solid season that should hopefully set the stage for a great 2024 for the Browns.

Honesta John is a passionate and experienced gambling content writer with a particular interest in online casinos and sportsbooks. Her experience cuts the gamut from web content creation to casino, SEO, and editing. She has been producing copy for various reputable digital agencies and international websites since 2017, and has covered topics such as online casino reviews, sportsbook launches, casino bonuses, gambling news, and updates.

Gavin is a full-time copywriter based in the UK and has developed in-depth knowledge of the igaming world by working in the betting industry for over five years. During this time, he has written thousands of articles covering various topics, including bookmaker reviews, ‘how to’ guides, bonus comparisons and much more.