Ohio registers over 11 million sports betting transactions during the inaugural New Year's celebration
Ohio's sports betting market, launched in early 2023, has shown a progressive but developing trend in 2024, contrasting the strong growth and higher total revenues seen in established markets like New York and Pennsylvania.
Despite the nationwide sports betting revenue rising by nearly 25% between 2023 and 2024, reaching $13.78 billion, Ohio did not follow this upward trend. The state experienced a revenue decline compared to 2023, joining Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and South Dakota in this category[1].
New York, which legalized sports betting in 2019, has become one of the most lucrative sports betting markets in the U.S., characterized by rapid revenue increases and strong online wagering. Pennsylvania, an early adopter of sports betting in 2018, also boasts a mature and high-volume betting market driven by multiple well-established online platforms and land-based sportsbooks.
Ohio's slower growth can be attributed to the relative newness of its market, regulatory or operational challenges, and competition from neighboring states. However, the legal launch marked a significant milestone, and the market is still evolving towards maturity, including mobile betting expansion[1].
As of mid-2025, Ohio's sports betting industry is progressing but remains behind leading states like New York and Pennsylvania in terms of revenue and market development[1].
| State | Sports Betting Launch | 2024 Revenue Trend | Market Maturity | |------------|----------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------| | Ohio | 2023 | Revenue decline vs. 2023 | New and developing | | New York | 2019 | Strong revenue growth | Mature, among largest | | Pennsylvania| 2018 | Strong revenue growth | Mature, high volume |
In other sports news, Ohio's 11.3 million geolocation transactions on Sunday and Monday paced all U.S. states during that time period. The launch of regulated online sports betting in Ohio also means better protection for its citizens. More than a dozen mobile sportsbooks went live in Ohio, including Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, BetRivers, bet365, Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel, DraftKings, and PointsBet.
In the world of basketball, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers scored 71 points in an overtime win, surpassing his set point total of 29.5. This is the most points scored in an NBA game since Kobe Bryant's 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.
In football, Ohio State's football team lost to Georgia on a missed 50-yard field goal, with the final score being 42-41. The Bengals lead the AFC North heading into their Week 18 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. However, the Cincinnati Bengals' game with the Buffalo Bills was suspended in the second quarter due to Damar Hamlin suffering a cardiac incident on the field. Hamlin is currently in critical condition at a Cincinnati hospital.
In a surprising turn of events, the NFL announced that the suspended Cincinnati Bengals game won't be resumed this week. Some sportsbooks have already issued refunds to bettors on the suspended game. In the NFL, the Cleveland Browns won against the Washington Commanders with a score of 24-10. In the Cincinnati area, more than 1.9 million geolocation transactions were recorded.
[1] Source: American Gaming Association, Legal Sports Report.
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