Ohio Online Poker Sites

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The best Ohio poker sites are offshore sites that operate outside of the US, but are still available to Ohioans. The Buckeye State has yet to create a regulated online poker presence, so this guide will highlight the best online poker sites that accept Ohioans.

You will discover the best all-round site, the best option for high-rollers and our top choice for beginners, so keep reading to learn more about playing online real money poker in Ohio.

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Ohio Poker Overview

Ohio Poker Overview

There are four commercial casinos in Ohio, which are permitted to host poker rooms. There are also some small social poker rooms, such as River Room in Akron, which do not charge a rake.

Unlike several neighboring states, Ohio has not yet passed legislation permitting local companies to launch online poker sites. However, there are no laws to prevent Ohioans using online poker rooms based overseas, known as offshore poker sites.

Type of GamblingAvailabilityReason
Online Poker RoomsOffshore OnlyOhio has never passed any legislation permitting online poker or casino games,
so you need to use trusted poker sites based overseas to play online.
Land-Based Card RoomsAvailableThere are land-based poker rooms at the major commercial casinos in Ohio,
along with some smaller social poker clubs, which operate on a rake-free model.
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How Old Do I Have to be to Play Poker in Ohio?

You need to be 21 or older to play poker at a land-based commercial casino in Ohio. Some forms of gambling have a minimum legal age of 18 in the Buckeye State, but sportsbooks and casinos require you to be at least 21.

There is no local market for online poker in Ohio, so it does not have an official minimum age right now. Most offshore poker rooms operating in Ohio have a minimum age of 18.

Top Poker Rooms in Ohio

Top Poker Rooms in Ohio

We set out to find the best online poker rooms that accept players in Ohio. Our experts identified a selection of online poker sites and conducted in-depth reviews of them, focusing on the criteria laid out further down the page.

We decided that these are the top three online poker sites for Ohio players:

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Ignition: Best Poker Site for Ohio Overall

Ignition Casino
300% up to $3,000 Welcome Bonus
ignition casino screenshot
Casino Games: Slots, Blackjack, Baccarat +2 more Live dealer, Keno.
Live Dealer: No
Payment Options: Visa, MasterCard, American Express +8 more American Express, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Secure Voucher, Check, American Express.

Ignition Casino reigns supreme as the No. 1 poker room for Ohioans. It offers unrivaled liquidity and traffic, so you should have no trouble finding poker games and tournaments that meet your requirements. Ignition is part of PaiWangLuo, the busiest poker network in the United States, making it a great place for novices and experienced players alike.

The software at Ignition is impressive, resulting in a smooth user experience. You can download the platform or simply log into your account online. It is a feature-rich site, with customizable table setups, quick-seat features, unique bonuses, helpful data, the option of anonymous tables, and much more.

Ignition features guaranteed weekly prize pools of $2 million. There are plenty of high-roller tournaments, but it also has lots of low-stakes events for casual players. The site also offers compelling bonuses, 24/7 support, and same-day withdrawals.

  • Excellent traffic and liquidity due to large player pool
  • Offers a 150% sign-up bonus worth up to $1,500
  • Feature-rich online poker room with quality software
  • Everygame is a better option for low-stakes players
  • Some players do not like the anonymous tables feature

SportsBetting.ag: Best Site for High-Rolling Ohioans

SportsBetting.ag
100% up to $3,000 Welcome Bonus
SportsBetting Screenshot
Casino Games: Slots, Blackjack, Video poker +4 more Live dealer, Baccarat, Roulette, Craps.
Live Dealer: Yes
Payment Options: Bitcoins, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano +10 more Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Tether, MasterCard, American Express, Visa, Bank Transfer, Check.

Sportsbetting.ag is the best site for high rollers to play online poker for real money in Ohio. It accepts deposits of up to $500,000, and you can also withdraw up to $100,000 per transaction. The site hosts lots of No Limit Hold’em tournaments with substantial guaranteed prize pools, along with high-stakes cash games.

It runs on the Chico network. The network is not as busy as Bovada’s PaiWangLuo, but it still attracts a broad selection of players, including plenty of fellow high rollers. Sportsbetting.ag also offers regular bonuses and quick payouts.

  • Sports betting, casino games, online poker, and esports all in one place
  • Wide range of promotions, including welcome bonuses, reload bonuses, free bets, and contests
  • Access the site from your mobile browser or download the SportsBetting poker app
  • Large variety of banking options, including a whopping 12 cryptocurrencies
  • High deposit and withdrawal limits
  • E-wallet banking methods not available
  • While poker traffic is decent, it falls in the medium range
  • Varied transaction fees for most payouts

Everygame: Best Poker Site for Novice Players

Everygame
100% up to $1000 Welcome Bonus
everygame sportsbook screenshot
Casino Games: Progressive jackpot, Slots, Roulette +3 more Blackjack, Video poker, Keno.
Live Dealer: No
Payment Options: Visa, American Express, MasterCard +7 more Bitcoins, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, EcoPayz, Paysafe, Check, Bank Transfer.

If you are just getting started in the wonderful world of online poker, look no further than Everygame. This established online poker room runs regular freerolls, which allow you to hone your skills without risking your own money. It has very low stakes, too, starting at just 2c/4c, which allows you to ease your way in.

The software is user-friendly, making it easy to find tournaments and games. Everygame also offers superb customer service and a market leading rakeback rate. As you grow more experienced, you can start competing in games and tournaments for bigger stakes at Everygame, which also offers secure withdrawals and some appealing bonuses.

  • Wide variety of sportsbook bets available
  • Sports welcome bonus of 100% up to $500
  • Very quick response from live chat operators
  • Payouts within 48 hours using preferred methods
  • Confusing site navigation
  • $50 withdrawal fee for bank transfers and check
Ohio Poker Sites: A Comparison

Ohio Poker Sites: A Comparison

Here’s a quick look at how our poker sites for Ohio players compare:

Poker SiteWelcome BonusDownloadable?Min DepositRead Review
Ignition Casino100% up to $1,500Not necessary, but available if you prefer$5Ignition Review
SportsBetting.ag100% up to $1,000Not necessary, but available if you prefer$20Sportsbetting.ag Review
Everygame200% up to $1,000Download$20Everygame Review
How We Evaluate Poker Sites in Ohio

How We Evaluate Poker Sites in Ohio

We evaluate the user experience, payout speeds, customer support, security, and reputation of each site when conducting our reviews. Our experts also focus on these key areas:

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Availability in Ohio

The Ohio poker sites we recommend make the registration process quick and easy. While they are based overseas, they are designed for American players.

That means you will be able to make USD deposits and withdrawals, and you will be competing against fellow players from Ohio and other states.

slot-machine

Game Variety and Table Types

The best operators host Limit and No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, mixed games, and more. They host everything from deepstacks to turbo poker, and they have events to suit all budgets.

As we mentioned earlier, traffic and liquidity are key concerns. We only recommend busy poker rooms that offer a broad range of buy-ins and large guaranteed prize pools each day.

hand-with-coin

Rake and Bonuses

We appreciate that poker rooms need to take a commission, as it allows them to operate a viable business and invest in high-quality software, customer support, and so on.

However, if the rake is too high, it will significantly reduce your long-term chances of earning a profit. We seek out sites with realistic fee structures, and we also factor in bonuses, promotions, and rakeback programs when calculating the cost of playing poker at a site.

casinos

Table Features

Online poker has a few advantages when compared with land-based poker. For example, you can benefit from live data while the action unfolds, you can customize your setup, you can multi-table, and you can use features like “quick seat” to instantly be placed on tables that suit your budget.

Is Online Poker Legal in Ohio?

The Buckeye State does not currently have a state-regulated market for online poker. Ohio has a reasonably liberal stance when it comes to gambling, as the state permits online sportsbooks, along with retail sportsbooks, commercial casinos, racinos, pari-mutuel wagering, DFS sites, and a lottery.

However, it has not yet passed any legislation permitting online casinos or online poker rooms. On the bright side, there are no laws that prevent Ohioans from using offshore poker sites and casinos.

You simply need to select a reputable site that can be trusted to pay out, which is why we recommend Ignition, Sportsbetting.ag, and Everygame. They have been operating for decades, and they have a wide range of gambling options.

Land-Based Cardrooms in Ohio

Land-Based Cardrooms in Ohio

The best land-based Ohio poker rooms are located in commercial casinos. There are also private clubs offering poker tournaments, which are legal, provided they do not take a rake. They charge cover fees and sell food and beverages to make their money.

These are the best destinations for anyone interested in taking part in Ohio poker tournaments and cash games at a physical poker room:

Card RoomAddressTypes of Poker Available
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati1000 Broadway St, Cincinnati, 45202Limit and No Limit Hold’em,
Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha Hi-low
Hollywood Casino Columbus100 Public Square, Cleveland, 44113Poker room with 34 tables,
covering Hold’em and Omaha
Hollywood Casino Toledo1968 Miami St, Toledo, 43605Limit and No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha,
Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card Stud, mixed games
Jack Cleveland Casino100 Public Square, Cleveland, 44113
Limit and No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha,
Omaha Hi-Lo, daily tournaments
Who Regulates Poker in Ohio?

Who Regulates Poker in Ohio?

The Ohio Casino Control Commission regulates land-based poker at commercial casinos in the Buckeye State. It was established in 2011, and it is tasked with enforcing the state’s gambling regulations. The commission’s remit has expanded over the years, and it now covers sports wagering, too.

Ohio does not have a state-regulated online poker market, so the commission has no oversight of any online poker rooms. However, operators such as Ignition Casino, Sportsbetting.ag, and Everygame are regulated in their home jurisdictions. They hold remote gaming licenses, allowing them to accept players from Ohio and other states.

Ohio’s Poker Laws Compared to Neighboring States

Ohio’s Poker Laws Compared to Neighboring States

Three of Ohio’s neighboring states have regulated online poker markets. Michigan recently overtook Pennsylvania to become the largest state-regulated market for online poker in the United States.

It is part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), along with West Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Nevada. That allows those states to pool players. Pennsylvania has not joined MSIGA, so online poker rooms in the Keystone State can only accept players from Pennsylvania, resulting in lower traffic and liquidity.

The other two states that border Ohio – Kentucky and Indiana – do not have markets for online poker. However, they do permit land-based poker games at a handful of brick-and-mortar casinos, just like Ohio.

The Future of Poker in Ohio

The Future of Poker in Ohio

Ohio may legalize online poker rooms in the future, but it will be a long and painstaking process. It took several years to roll out a regulated online sports betting industry in Ohio, and poker would be harder to push through the legislature.

Three neighboring states have online poker markets, so Ohio may eventually feel compelled to follow suit, but it is unlikely to happen any time soon.

In the meantime, you can use offshore poker sites in Ohio. Just make sure you only play at safe, established, and trusted sites like Ignition, SportsBetting.ag, and Everygame.

Responsible Gambling in Ohio

Responsible Gambling in Ohio

There are lots of services and tools available to help you gamble responsibly in Ohio. You can set limits on your account – including time limits and deposit limits – at the best sites, and they also list warning signs that could potentially suggest a gambling problem.

If you need support, you can visit the sites listed below:

Ohio Gambling Legal Sources

Ohio Gambling Legal Sources

Where Will You Play Poker in Ohio?

Ohio is pretty resistant to online gambling, so it’s unlikely we’ll see a regulated online poker market emerge in the Buckeye State anytime soon.

Thankfully, poker enthusiasts in Ohio have access to a range of top-notch offshore sites. These poker sites offer good liquidity, a wide range of poker tables and games, as well as generous bonuses that state-regulated poker rooms simply cannot provide.

If you’re looking to get started with online poker in Ohio, we suggest signing up at Ignition, SportsBetting.ag, or Everygame for a high-quality experience.

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About the Author

Isaac E. Payne is an experienced technical blogger, creative writer, and lead content manager at GamblingSites.org. As a published author, he enjoys finding interesting and exciting ways to cover any topic. In his four years on the team, he has covered online gambling and sports betting and excelled at reviewing casino sites. In his free time, he enjoys playing blackjack and reading science fiction.