Is Online Poker Legal in Ohio?

Where to play online poker in Ohio

If you Google "online poker" from Ohio, you'll find about a dozen poker rooms on the first page. Most of them will be offshore. Which one should you choose? Most of the sites presented aren't worth your attention, lacking in factors such as reliability and reputation, player traffic, and bonuses. We have done the research and bring you the three best online poker rooms in Ohio.

CoinPoker

Coinpoker, a crypto-oriented poker site licensed in Curacao, welcomes newcomers with a $2,000 bonus that can be claimed on a first deposit. 

The poker site offers good action in Texas Hold'Em, Omaha and 5-card Omaha and regular tournaments with prizes of over $10,000. CoinPoker also hosts the Cash Game World Championship for high-stakes players.

BetOnline

BetOnline is an excellent choice if you're looking for a reliable and well-established poker room. It has been operating since 1991, which is a testament to its security and quality.

BetOnline is offering a solid 100% up to $1,000 bonus. Although this promo doesn't match CoinPoker's, the site has many other promotions, including weekly rakeback, daily leaderboards, etc. The site will be a great option for playing NLH and PLO games up to $1k.

ACR Poker

ACR Poker is a popular poker site favoured by the likes of Chris Moneymaker, Tom Dwan, Ebony Kenny, and Nacho Barbero. The Venom Tournament, which ACR Poker runs on a regular basis, has a prize pool of up to $12,500,000.

As well as being a poker site for professional poker players, ACR also welcomes new players with a 27% flat rakeback and a $2,000 deposit match bonus.

How we choose the best Ohio online poker sites

Finding a top online poker site requires methodology. We have it. According to our experience, the factors below are the most important when selecting a reliable poker room.

1. Licence. Licensed online poker sites are guaranteed to be fair, transparent and protective of their customers. They offer games from certified providers and follow Know Your Customer (KYC) policies.
2. Background. We prefer sites with at least three years' experience and good player feedback over new platforms.
3. Security. Gambling sites are usually targets for cyber attacks. To keep your data and money safe, we check if the rooms we select use SSL encryption to protect players’ personal information.
4. Cashier. Playing poker means making regular deposits and withdrawals. Transactions need to be fast and convenient, which is why we prefer poker sites with a good selection of payment methods, including cryptocurrencies.
5. Games and traffic. We strive to bring you sites that offer the widest variety of poker games, including Texas Hold'em, 4, 5, 6 card Omaha, Stud and MTT variations. We also ensure that the site’s player activity matches the GMT-4 time zone used in Ohio.

You can follow these criteria and select a trusty poker room yourself. Only a combination of all these factors guarantees a trouble-free player experience.

Playing online poker in Ohio: a step-by-step guide

Let's say you've chosen an online poker room to join. Whether it's one of the sites we've featured or another, here's a rough step-by-step process for joining the table:

1. Visit the website. Make sure the poker site accepts players from Ohio.
2. Register an account. Click on the "Register" or "Login" button. Enter your email, login, password, and any other information requested.
3. Download and install the poker client. There will usually be a button to download and install the application next to the "Register" or "Login" button.
4. Verify your account (KYC). In order to be able to make withdrawals you must assure the platform's support that you are a real person by providing them with a document that proves your identity.
5. Deposit, зick a table and dive in! We recommend that you start with micro-stakes to build your confidence before moving up to higher stakes. Remember to always stick to bankroll management.

Is online poker legal in Ohio?

Online poker is not legal in Ohio. The state has not passed any laws to make this happen, so there are no online poker sites that are licensed by the state of Ohio. However, many people in Ohio use websites based in other countries. It's important to note that US or Ohio state law does not regulate these offshore sites. So playing there can be risky.

Worldpokerdeals recommends make sure the platform is legitimate and safe before jumping in.

BetOnline and ACR Poker, which are based offshore, have over 20 years of experience and a track record of thousands of satisfied customers.

Skeptical about offshore poker sites? Then sweepstakes poker sites like Global Poker are another option. These sites use the virtual currency Gold Coins, which can be purchased with real money. The game is played with Sweeps Coins, which can be obtained as bonuses for buying Gold Coins or winning tournaments. Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes or gift cards.

Sweepstakes poker sites are legal in most US states, including Ohio.

Will OH regulate online poker?

Online poker in Ohio is currently unregulated. However, there have been significant legislative efforts towards legalisation.

In September 2024, State Senator Niraj Antani introduced Senate Bill 312, which aims to legalise and regulate online casino gambling, including poker, in Ohio. The bill proposes a 15% tax rate on online gaming revenue, with allocations to counties, school districts and other state funds.

Ohio's legislative session continues through the end of the year, with several sessions and committee hearings scheduled for November and December. Senator Antonio hopes to hear SB 312 in November.

While these developments indicate progress, the passage of the bill and the establishment of a regulated online poker market in Ohio remain uncertain. 

Ohio card rooms

Don’t like online poker formats? The legal way to play poker for real money in Ohio is through casinos, charitable events, and private home games, provided they adhere to the state's gambling regulations. 

There are several land-based poker rooms in Ohio. If you don’t mind exposing your personality and want to experience a real poker game, you'll like these rooms. Here are the cities where they are located: 

These casinos provide a variety of poker games and tournaments for enthusiasts across the state.

Deposit and withdrawal methods

When you visit offshore poker sites, you will see that you have access to various payment methods: credit/debit cards, e-wallets Skrill, Neteller, etc. In most cases, you can only use crypto coins: BTC, ETH, LTC, DOGE, etc.

Why is that? Because online poker is illegal in Ohio, you can't use traditional payment methods. So only crypto will work. Other advantages include no fees, fast transactions and top-notch security.

A brief history of poker and gambling in Ohio

Ohio's history with gambling, including poker, is a story of evolution, reflecting the state’s gradual acceptance and regulation of the activity over time.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, gambling in Ohio was largely illegal. Like many other states, Ohio had strict laws prohibiting most forms of betting and games of chance.

In 1975, Ohio took its first major step toward legalizing gambling by introducing a state lottery. This marked a significant shift in the state’s stance on betting.

For decades, casino gambling was prohibited in Ohio, pushing residents to travel to neighboring states like Indiana and Pennsylvania to play poker and other casino games. In 2009, Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing the construction of four full-service casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo. This was a turning point for legalized gambling in the state.

By 2012, all four casinos were operational, offering poker rooms as part of their gaming facilities.

Ohio’s casino poker rooms became hubs for poker enthusiasts, offering cash games and tournaments for various skill levels.

The most prominent poker rooms include those at Hollywood Casino Columbus, JACK Cleveland Casino, and Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati.

Despite the rise of online poker in other states, Ohio has yet to regulate or legalize online poker, leaving live games as the primary option for residents.

As of today, gambling in Ohio is well-regulated, with oversight by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

Ohio also legalized sports betting in January 2023, further expanding the state’s gambling portfolio. However, online poker remains unregulated, with only sweepstakes poker sites available to residents.

Conclusion

Many Ohioans are skeptical about playing online poker in their state due to the lack of legal regulations for poker. Are you among them? After reading this page, you shouldn’t be, as you’ve just learned everything about online poker in your state.

More so, you know the best online poker sites in Ohio: CoinPoker, BetOnline, or ACR Poker. However, if none of them suit you, feel free to use our site-assessing template to find a poker platform that you like.

Responsible Gambling

The purpose of gambling is to deliver fun. When a bettor starts chasing other goals, they might easily get into a trap of gambling addiction. When it happens, you lose control over the time you spend playing, which harms not only your wallet but also your social life. Players who experience such issues can contact the following organizations for help: