Ohio is one of the best states in the country for online horse racing — pari-mutuel betting has been legal since 1933, all major ADWs operate here, and the state has eight active racetracks running thoroughbred and standardbred meets across the calendar. Online sports betting also went live on January 1, 2023, opening the door to 15+ licensed sportsbooks led by FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Hard Rock Bet.

Bettors must be 21+ for sports wagering and 18+ for pari-mutuel horse racing.

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Ohio (2026)

All major US Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) apps operate in Ohio. Each lets you bet every Ohio track plus US, UK and international racing from one account. Minimum age 18.

1. 1
   ★ TOP PICK

   AmWager

   ★ 4.8 / 5

   AmWager fits Ohio, a harness-racing stronghold: it carries the Thoroughbred cards at Belterra Park and Thistledown, the busy standardbred circuit at Scioto Downs, Northfield and Miami Valley, and the Little Brown Jug at the Delaware County Fair. Add 250+ signals worldwide, HD streaming, and a 6–8% rebate on every wager, win or lose — a value play whatever your circuit.

   $50 DEPOSIT MATCH 6-8% REBATES LIVE STREAMING 250+ TRACKS
   Sign up at AmWager → Bonus: 100% deposit match up to $50
   18+. New AmWager customers only. Limit one signup bonus per person. Match applies to first deposit only, up to $50. To unlock the full bonus, deposit $50 and place qualifying wagers totaling $50 within 30 days. Cancelled or refunded bets don't count. Bonus credited in single deposit within 7 business days of meeting requirements. Bonus credits are non-withdrawable; winnings are cash and withdrawable. Unused bonus expires after 30 days. · Full AmWager review
2. 2

   FanDuel Racing

   ★ 4.6 / 5

   Best for: Live streaming. FanDuel Racing — TVG, owned by Flutter — gives Ohio horseplayers the polished app that pairs with the state’s market-leading FanDuel sportsbook. It covers Ohio’s Thoroughbred and harness tracks alongside the national simulcast menu, with expert daily picks and a first-bet refund up to $500 for new accounts.

   Bonus: Up to $500 back on first wager if it loses · Min age 18
3. 3

   TwinSpires

   ★ 4.5 / 5

   Best for: Triple Crown. Churchill Downs Inc.’s TwinSpires is the Triple Crown app in Ohio — official wagering partner of the Kentucky Derby, with Louisville just across the river. It carries Belterra Park, Thistledown and the Ohio harness tracks, and its stakes coverage is among the deepest on the market.

   Bonus: $200 bonus after $500 in wagers · Min age 18
4. 4

   1/ST BET

   ★ 4.4 / 5

   Best for: West Coast tracks. 1/ST BET comes from The Stronach Group (Santa Anita, Gulfstream, Pimlico), bringing premium Pegasus and Preakness coverage to Ohio. It carries the local Belterra and Thistledown cards within one of the slickest interfaces in racing — a fit for Ohio bettors who also follow the big East and West Coast meets.

   Bonus: Choice of three options up to $500 · Min age 18
5. 5 DRF Bets
   100% deposit match up to $200
6. 6 NYRA Bets
   $200 in cash rewards after $400 in wagers
7. 7 Xpressbet
   $500 cash-back package on first 30 days
8. 8 BetMGM Horse Racing
   Up to $200 first-deposit match

Best Sportsbook Apps in Ohio (2026)

Licensed online sportsbooks operating in Ohio, regulated by the state gaming authority. Minimum age 21.

1. 1
   ★ EDITOR'S PICK

   FanDuel Sportsbook

   ★ 5.0 / 5

   FanDuel went live on Ohio’s January 1, 2023 universal launch — one of the biggest single-day rollouts in US betting history — and has led the market ever since, with roughly 40% of statewide handle. The draw is the product: the cleanest app in the country, the deepest same-game parlays, and the current Bet $5-a-day-for-7-days, $350-guaranteed welcome offer.

   BET $5 GET $350 SAME-GAME PARLAY LIVE STREAMING
   Sign up at FanDuel → Bet $5 for 7 days, Get $350 in Bonus Bets — Guaranteed
   21+. New customers only, 21+ (18+ in DC, KY and WY) and present in eligible states. First online real-money wager only; place a $5+ wager on each of 7 consecutive days to receive $50 in Bonus Bets per day ($350 total, guaranteed). $5 first deposit required. Bonus Bets are non-withdrawable and expire 7 days after receipt. See full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. · Full FanDuel Sportsbook review
2. 2
   ★ BEST RETAIL TIE-IN

   Hard Rock Bet

   ★ 4.7 / 5

   Hard Rock Bet brings the Seminole-owned Hard Rock brand to Ohio, with a loyalty program tied to Hard Rock Hotels worldwide and a no-playthrough Bonus Bet structure friendlier to new players than most. Clean app, straightforward markets.

   $150 BONUS BETS NO PLAYTHROUGH RETAIL CASINO PARTNERS
   Sign up at Hard Rock Bet → Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets
   21+. New customers only. Min $5 first cash bet. Bonus paid as 10× $15 Bonus Bet tokens valid 7 days. T&Cs apply. · Full Hard Rock Bet review
3. 3
   ★ BEST LOYALTY PROGRAM

   BetRivers

   ★ 4.5 / 5

   Rush Street’s BetRivers has been live in Ohio since the January 1, 2023 launch, anchored by iRush Rewards — one of the most generous loyalty schemes in US betting, paying out on every wager rather than only at sign-up. A straightforward app with a cautious-friendly welcome offer.

   UP TO $500 2ND CHANCE BET PROMO CODE USBTRV iRUSH REWARDS iCASINO LINK
   Sign up at BetRivers → 2nd Chance Bet up to $500
   21+. New customers only. $10 minimum deposit. First wager placed within 30 days qualifies; if it loses, BetRivers returns the stake up to $500 as a single Bonus Bet. Bonus Bet expires after 30 days, 1× playthrough requirement. Use promo code USBTRV at signup. 21+. T&Cs apply. · Full BetRivers review
4. 4

   DraftKings

   ★ 4.8 / 5

   Best for: Daily fantasy + sportsbook. DraftKings launched in Ohio on day one, January 1, 2023, and sits a clear second behind FanDuel by handle. It leans into Ohio’s pro teams — Browns, Bengals, Cavaliers, Guardians and Blue Jackets slates — with the deepest prop and alternate-line menus and a daily-fantasy funnel that suits the state’s large fantasy crowd.

   Bonus: Bet $5, Get $200 · Min age 21
5. 5 BetMGM
   $1,500 first-bet offer
6. 6 Caesars
   $1,000 first-bet
7. 7 bet365
   Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets
8. 8 theScore Bet
   $1,000 First Bet Reset · rebranded from ESPN BET (Dec 1, 2025)
9. 9 Fanatics Sportsbook
   Bet and Get up to $2,000

Ohio’s eight racetracks — addresses & live cards

Signature stakes races at Ohio’s tracks

Beyond the everyday cards, each Ohio track hosts at least one feature stakes race that draws statewide attention — most are bettable through every ADW listed above.

Ohio’s state-bred incentives

Notable horses bred in Ohio

Active Ohio runners are searchable on our racing data section.

1. ★

   Meadow Skipper

   STANDARDBRED · b. 1960

   Foaled by Christy S. Hayes in Columbus, OH. Won the 1963 Cane Pace and 1964 American Pacing Classic. Earned $428,057 on the track — but his real legacy is as a sire: a foundation stallion whose bloodline runs through most modern pacers. US Harness Racing Hall of Fame (1983).

2. ★

   Speedy Crown

   STANDARDBRED · b. 1968

   Bred in Hamilton, OH by Ann Beissinger. Won the 1971 Hambletonian. Trotter of the Year 1971, Older Trotter of the Year 1972. Career earnings $545,495. US Harness Racing Hall of Fame (1996).

3. ★

   Harlan's Holiday

   THOROUGHBRED · b. 1999

   Ohio’s most successful modern thoroughbred. Won three Grade 1 stakes between 2001–2003, including the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. 2002 Kentucky Derby favorite (7th). Successful stud career.

4. ★

   Imp

   THOROUGHBRED · b. 1894

   Bred and owned by D.R. Harness of Chillicothe, OH. One of the dominant fillies of the late 19th century — won 62 of 171 starts including the 1899 Suburban Handicap against males.

How Ohio compares to neighboring states

Who regulates horse racing & sports betting in Ohio

Ohio uses two separate regulators for horse racing and sports wagering — each licenses operators independently.

Ohio horse betting — frequently asked questions

Is online horse racing betting legal in Ohio?

Yes. Pari-mutuel horse racing has been legal in Ohio since 1933, and online ADW betting is fully permitted under federal and state law. All major US racing apps operate in Ohio. You must be 18 or older.

What's the best horse racing app in Ohio?

Our editors rate AmWager the top choice for Ohio horse bettors — it covers every Ohio track plus 250+ tracks globally, offers 6–8% rebates on every wager, and runs a 100% deposit match up to $50 for new accounts. Sign up at AmWager. For broader app strength, FanDuel Racing and TwinSpires are also strong second choices.

Can I bet on the Kentucky Derby from Ohio?

Yes. Every Ohio-legal ADW carries Kentucky Derby betting, typically opening ante-post markets in late November. Best Odds Guaranteed varies by operator — TwinSpires and AmWager are our editor picks for Derby Week.

Is FanDuel Racing the same as FanDuel Sportsbook?

No — they’re separate apps with separate accounts and separate bonuses, even though both are owned by Flutter Entertainment. FanDuel Sportsbook handles team sports and requires 21+. FanDuel Racing (formerly TVG) is the dedicated horse racing app and accepts 18+. Both are legal in Ohio.

What happened to ESPN BET?

PENN Entertainment rebranded the ESPN BET sportsbook to theScore Bet on December 1, 2025 after its partnership with The Walt Disney Company ended. Existing ESPN BET accounts transitioned automatically — same login, same balances, new branding.

What's the minimum age to bet in Ohio?

18 for pari-mutuel horse racing. 21 for sports betting and casino gambling. Geolocation software in every licensed app verifies you’re inside Ohio before accepting a bet.

Where can I watch live horse racing in Ohio?

All eight Ohio tracks broadcast simulcast and live-stream their cards. Once you have an account at AmWager, FanDuel Racing, TwinSpires or another ADW, you can stream every race live in the app — included free with a funded account.

New to horse betting in Ohio? Explore our guides for clear answers to the most common questions — explained by veteran horse racing commentator Mike Brunker of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.