Legal Poker For Ohio Residents
Ohio has a well-regulated land-based gambling industry, but has not legalized any form of online gambling, including online poker. Residents can legally play real money poker at licensed casinos in Ohio.
This page presents a brief overview of the online gambling scenario in Ohio besides providing expert opinions on the legality of playing real money poker at offshore online poker rooms. The page also provides a list of well-researched online poker rooms accepting Ohio residents.
Ohio Poker Laws & Statutes
Ohio is home to a prosperous, regulated live gambling industry, which it protects with strict gambling laws. Section 2915.01(B) specifically explains what the state means by the word “bet.” Accordingly, if players bet anything of value on the outcomes of an event at any gambling facility not licensed and authorized by the state, they will be gambling illegally. Players can gamble as much as they want to in state licensed and regulated gambling facilities.
Sections 2915.01(D) and 2915.01(C) make a clear distinction between “games of chance” and “schemes of chance.” Accordingly, games such as roulette, craps, and poker are “games of chance” and number games, lotteries, slots, and others are “schemes of chance.” In brief, Ohio makes all types of gambling, except those forms legalized and regulated by the state, illegal.
The gambling laws of Ohio are a bit vague when it comes to penalties for operating and taking part in illegal games. The laws suggest that taking part in illegal games is a first degree misdemeanor, but operators caught running unlicensed gambling facilities can be charged on many other counts.
Ohio’s home poker laws are not that clear, but they suggest that players can conduct and take part in home poker games as long as the house does not accept a commission. The state also permits certain forms of social gambling, but under strict terms and conditions.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in Ohio?
There is nothing in Ohio’s law books that clearly states that it is against the law for residents to register at online poker rooms licensed in offshore gambling jurisdictions and play online poker games for real money. In the absence of clear-cut online poker laws, the state of Ohio cannot prosecute residents for playing real money poker online. Since offshore online poker rooms accepting Ohio residents are not based in Ohio, the state cannot penalize them for accepting Ohio residents. The state can argue that its existing land gambling laws apply to online gambling too, but so far, the state has not prosecuted any of its residents for playing online poker for real money.
Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker Ohio?
Operators of illegal and unlicensed online poker rooms in Ohio are the only ones who can get into trouble. Since the state has not legalized online poker, it does not license, authorize, and permit any individual or company to run online poker businesses in its jurisdiction. Anybody who does so is punishable by law.
The story, however, is different for online poker players. While it is risky for Ohio residents to play poker for real money at unlicensed online poker rooms based in Ohio, it is perfectly legal for them to sign up at offshore online poker rooms, licensed and regulated by remote gambling jurisdictions. Players can rest assured that they will not get into trouble with their state as long as they play at the offshore online poker rooms we have recommended on this page.
Legal Poker Sites That Accept Ohio Players
Many who live in Ohio have a passion for poker, but are held back from realizing it due to a lack of quality information as to where online poker can be played in a manner that is not only legal and safe, but can be fun for all skill levels. Listed below are solutions to this problem in the form of excellent online poker rooms that happily accept Ohio residents. Join the millions of Americans who have found a home with these superior sites.
Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For Ohio
The first place for Ohio residents to start is with the most legitimate legal poker site that has been operating the longest. For over two decades, the Bovada online poker room has served Ohio residents to their utmost satisfaction, and there is no end in sight to what has been a fantastic run. Millions of US citizens trust Bovada for all their poker needs every day, and why shouldn’t they? In all their years of operation, this legal poker network has earned every shred of credibility the hard way – by providing solid, reliable service for years on end. Join the thousands of Ohio residents who already know better, and pay this fantastic legal online poker room a visit.
In order to sweeten the deal, Bovada even lets new users play for free. That’s right – upon the creation of every new poker account, once the account is created and a deposit has been made, that deposit is eligible for a full 100% bonus for simply being active in poker games, the very thing the account was probably created for. It takes a strong and confident business indeed to offer Ohio residents free money for simply using their product, but any player will find in due time that that’s exactly what Bovada poker is.
BetOnline Poker - All Ohio Players 18+ Welcome Here
For Ohio residents who consider themselves avid poker players and therefore require no bells or whistles to enjoy or make a profit from a quality online poker experience, the BetOnline poker room may just be the place for you. BetOnline has long built up a reputation as one of the world’s foremost legal poker sites for Ohio residents leading the charge in not only safety and legitimacy, but speed of payouts. With an account this superior poker site for Ohio residents, money that is won in the morning can be cash in hand by the afternoon. Nowhere else on the web can playing poker be as profitable quite so fast.
The real cream of the BetOnline's poker room lies in their room for the high limit players. This part of the site is certainly not for newbies, as stakes can be extremely high. But, this should not scare away the novice players from using BetOnline's fantastic poker software, as they have tables and tournaments for all levels of player...this site offers tables as low as $.01-$.02. Like the other legal poker sites for Ohio residents that pride themselves on being accessible to seasoned veterans and newcomers alike, this website is a benchmark for others to follow.
| Legal Ohio Poker Sites | Welcome Bonus | What To Play | Site Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up | $1,000 FREE - 100% Match | Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo |  |
| BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up | Maximum $1K: 200% Rate | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| SportsBetting Play / Sign Up | 200% Match / $1,000 Max | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| 5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up | Vary Weekly - Check Website | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo |  |
Does Ohio Have Legal Land-Based Poker?
Playing poker for real money in Ohio is absolutely legal as long as players play in state licensed and approved casinos. Players can also take part in home poker games and tournaments, provided the organizers do not accept a commission. Ohio’s list of accepted games for charity gambling does not contain poker, but a number of poker clubs run charity poker tournaments and the state does not interfere with them. Residents and visitors can therefore take part in a charity poker tournament without worrying that they might be violating the state’s gambling laws.
Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For Ohio Players
Ohio residents have plenty of legal land-based real money poker gaming options. The state is home to several licensed commercial casinos, which include live poker rooms. Players are free to visit casinos such as Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hollywood Casino Indiana, Hollywood Casino Columbus, Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, and Shark Tank Poker Club to play a few real money poker cash games and tournaments. Besides, players can also take part in home poker games and charity poker tournaments.
As previously mentioned, it is also legal for Ohio residents to play poker for real money at licensed offshore online poker rooms, such as the ones mentioned on this page. The online poker sites we recommend are not based in Ohio, but are licensed and regulated in foreign gambling jurisdiction. It is perfectly legal and safe for Ohio poker players to play poker at these offshore poker sites.
Future of Poker/Online Poker in Ohio
Online poker could have a good future in Ohio, although no definite statements can be made as yet. No legislator has proposed an online poker bill in Ohio so far, but the state is home to prominent gambling companies such as Rock Gaming and Caesars Entertainment. Besides, the state has a large population.
Recently Rock Gaming signed a deal with Caesars Entertainment, according to the terms of which Rock would acquire a share in Caesar’s online gaming subsidiary. The companies will not be able to launch any real money online poker product at present, but there is nothing to stop them from launching social poker sites, which can be converted into real money poker sites as soon as the laws become more favorable.
