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Social and sweepstakes casinos are legal in Ohio. The Buckeye State is one of 42 U.S. states that allow various types of sweepstakes.
Ohio gaming regulations permit sweeps casinos and traditional sweepstakes contests to operate in the state. This guide to Ohio sweepstakes laws aims to clarify the types of sweepstakes that are legal in the state, as well as point Ohio players to the best sweeps casino sites available.
Our best picks for Ohio sweepstake casinos
- Get 100,000 Crown Coins + 2 Sweeps Coins upon signing up.
- Get a 150% first purchase bonus: 800,000 CC + 40 SC for $14.99
- Wins redeem in 1-3 days
- Get 2.3 Sweepstakes Coins at sign up.
- 362,000 GC and 30 free SC for $19.99
- Wins redeemed in 24 hours (once verified)
- Welcome bonus of 7,777 Gold Coins + 10 free SC.
- 50,000 Gold Coins for $4.99 (Normally $10). Plus 10 FREE Sweeps Coins
- Wins redeemed in 3-5 days
- New players get 100,000 GC + 2.5 FREE SC upon signup.
- First purchase + no-deposit bonus of 325,000 GC + 52.5 SC for $24.99
- Wins redeemed in 1-5 days
- Exceptionally generous and varied promotions
- Engaging loyalty program with a fun theme
- Polished interface, mobile optimization & strong customer support
Quick snapshot of Ohio’s status
| Available in Ohio: | Yes |
| # of sweeps / social casinos: | 25+ |
| Are winnings taxed: | 4% at state level; 24% estimated at federal level |
| Max prize payout: | N/A |
| Minimum age: | 18 |
| Last updated: | September 2025 |
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Ohio?
Yes. Sweepstakes casinos are legal in Ohio, as they fall under the broader category of sweepstakes gaming.
If you live in Ohio, or you want to play at a sweeps casino while you’re in Ohio, you can find more than 25 top-notch platforms to choose from. Sweeps casino gaming is legal in 47 U.S. states, but the list of states in which a specific sweeps casino operates varies by casino.
Sweepstakes casino sites determine a player’s location with geolocation protocols. If you’re physically located within Ohio borders, you can play at all sweeps casinos that offer their services in the Buckeye State.
Most of the regulations that a sweepstakes contest must abide by are determined at the federal level. Most states (including Ohio) govern sweepstakes contests with very similar laws.
A recently filed bill, HB197, seeks to “prohibit online sweepstakes games” in Ohio. If passed, this bill would drastically change the landscape of the sweepstakes casino industry in the Buckeye State. The bill hasn’t yet been assigned to a committee, but it has plenty of time to advance before the end of the current legislative session on December 31, 2025.
Some quick facts about Ohio sweepstakes laws are listed below:
- Legal age: 18
- Prize payout restrictions: Ohio doesn’t restrict the maximum amount you can win in a single spin, jackpot, or bet at a sweeps casino. You’ll see some states (like Florida and New York) cap the amount of a single win at $5,000 (or the Sweeps Coin equivalent of $5,000)
- Taxable income: All states that allow sweepstakes gaming mandate an estimated 24% federal income tax on wins of more than $5,000. Ohio levies an additional 4% state tax on sweepstakes wins exceeding $5,000.
Top sweepstakes casinos in Ohio
While not all sweeps casino sites are legal in the Buckeye State, Ohio players do enjoy access to around 25 platforms that get the stamp of approval from our experts here at Sweepsy.
The U.S. market includes hundreds of sweepstakes casino sites, any of which can offer casino-style games, sports picks games, poker, and more. Not all sweeps casinos are created equal, however.
Our team has thoroughly researched more than 100 sweepstakes casino sites. If you’re in Ohio, we recommend the following platforms:
1. 🍀 LuckyLand Slots
LuckyLand Slots is an excellent destination for sweepstakes casino players in OH. It features a small library of 120+ games, but it packs a punch with hot titles like Barn of Justice and The Godfather. New players receive a generous welcome bonus of 7,777 GC + 10 Free SC. Once you’re registered, you can start grabbing the daily login bonus and other promos.
- Welcome Bonus: New players can get 7,777 GC + 10 Free SC after signing up with no purchase required.
- Game Highlights: The casino features slot games from top developers like Pragmatic Play, with titles including Enchanted Elixirs, Crown of Fire, and LuckyLand 7s.
- Redemption: Sweeps Coins are eligible for redemption. The minimum balance for prizes is $50.
- Ohio access: LuckyLand Slots is available to play in Ohio.
2. đź’“ Pulsz
Pulsz Casino is one of the pioneers of the sweeps casino industry. Launched in 2020, Pulsz is one of the most well-known casino-style platforms operating in the U.S. Slots dominate the game menu at Pulsz, and you’ll find 931 total games available. If you’re looking for a particular slot title, you’ll very likely find it at Pulsz.
- Welcome bonus: New users receive 5,000 GC + 2.3 Free SC after registering with no purchase required.
- Game highlights: Find arcade-style games and a couple of traditional table games from industry titans like NetEnt, BGaming, 3 Oaks, Pragmatic Play, and many more.
- Redemption: Sweeps Coins are eligible for redemption. Minimum of 10 SC for gift cards and $25 (eligible SC) for cash prizes.
- Ohio access: Pulsz is available to play in Ohio.
3. 🍔 McLuck
McLuck is a great spot for sweepstakes casino players in OH and elsewhere. You’ll find a stacked library of 1,681 games, including entertaining hits like Elvis Frog Trueways and Cowboy Coins. There’s a fantastic no-deposit bonus of 7,500 GC + 2.5 free SC for new players. Once you’re signed up, there are prize drops, daily login bonuses, and more to look forward to.
- Welcome Bonus: New players get 7,500 GC and 2.5 SC after registering. There is no purchase required to play.
- Game Highlights: The casino features games from top providers such as Booming Games and Playtech, with titles including Tiki Hut Megaways and Buffalo Blitz Live.
- Redemption: Sweeps Coins are eligible for redemption. A minimum balance of $10 (eligible SC) is required for gift cards, and 75 SC to redeem for cash prizes.
- Ohio access: McLuck Casino is available to play in Ohio.
4. 🎇 WOW Vegas
Since launching in 2023, Wow Vegas has garnered a well-earned reputation as one of the best all-around sweeps casinos available in the U.S. The game selection at Wow Vegas includes 2,317 titles. The software developers behind those titles include industry powerhouses like NetGaming, Evoplay, Pragmatic Play, Atomic Slot Lab, and many more.
- Welcome bonus: New players get 250,000 WOW Coins and 5 SC as a sign up bonus with no purchase required.
- Game highlights: Wow Vegas includes 2,317 game titles from top software developers like NetGaming, Evoplay, Pragmatic Play, Atomic Slot Lab, and many more.
- Redemption: Sweeps coins are eligible for redemption. A minimum balance of $25 SC is required for prizes.
- Ohio access: WOW Vegas is available to play in Ohio.
5. đź‘‘ CrownCoins
Crown Coins is one of the top rated sweepstakes casino sites in OH. There’s an awesome selection of 400+ games, including popular titles such as Immortal Romance. New players receive 100,000 Crown Coins and 2 free SC as a no-deposit welcome bonus after registering. Once you’re signed up, there’s a daily login bonus, a VIP program, and more.
- Welcome bonus: New players get 100,000 Crown Coins and 2 SC as a sign up bonus with no purchase required.
- Game highlights: The casino features games from top developers like Hacksaw Gaming and RubyPlay, with popular titles including Gold Blitz and Immortal 5.
- Redemption: Sweeps coins are eligible for redemption. A minimum balance of $50 SC is required for prizes.
- Ohio access: Crown Coins is available to play in Ohio.
📰 What’s happening now in Ohio
- September 2, 2025: Pragmatic Play announces that it will exit the Ohio market, citing “regulatory developments and evolving legislation.”
- August 22, 2025: Thrillz adds Ohio to its list of restricted states, effectively pulling its sweepstakes games out of the Ohio market.
- July 31, 2025: Governor Mike DeWine asked the Ohio Casino Control Commission to remove certain prop bets from the betting products list, amid concerns linked to recent MLB investigations and threats involving former players.
- July 27, 2025: Senate Bill 197, which aims to legalize online casino, iLottery, and horse-race wagering. The bill would grant licenses only to Ohio’s existing casinos and racinos, with high fees. Each operator would be required to pay $50 million initially, $5 million renewal, and tax rates between 36%–40% depending on operator structure.
- July 25, 2025: At the Ohio State Fair, Gov. DeWine reiterated his opposition to iGaming expansion, stating, “I’m not for it,” and signaling potential veto consideration. The biggest hurdle is fear that it would enable 24/7 access that could fuel gambling addiction.
- July 2, 2025: Ohio’s gambling industry posted strong May revenue results—retail casinos earned $91.6 million (up 8.4% YoY), and sportsbooks reached $88.8 million (up 31.7%, driven largely by online handle). Hollywood Columbus led with $25.8 million, Hard Rock Cincinnati generated $22.2 million, among other top performers.
- May 2025 – Legislation: Senate Bill 197, introduced by Sen. Nathan Manning, proposes legalizing online casinos, iLottery, and parimutuel horse betting, with steep licensing and tax terms.
- May 2025 – House Bill 298, introduced by Rep. Brian Stewart, would legalize iGaming but exclude sweepstakes, limit license availability to existing operators, impose a 28% tax, and demand licensing rollout by March 31, 2026. Sweepstakes‑style games would be explicitly banned—violations could be criminal.
Ohio gambling laws: quick snapshot
In the US, each state decides individually which forms of real-money gambling to allow. Ohio currently permits online sports betting and daily fantasy sports. Traditional online casinos, however, remain illegal for now. A pending proposal in the state legislature, Senate Bill 197, seeks to change that by authorizing online casinos, lottery games, and pari-mutuel horse race betting.
Importantly, this bill would not affect sweepstakes gaming sites, which are already legal in Ohio. These sites operate under a different set of rules and remain available to players.
That status could shift if a separate piece of legislation, House Bill 197, moves forward. Unlike Senate Bill 197, this proposal specifically targets sweepstakes casinos, calling for a ban on their operations. If passed before the end of the current legislative session on December 31, 2025, HB 197 would make sweeps casinos illegal in Ohio.
For now, the casinos remain a legal option for Ohio players, but their future depends on the outcome of the upcoming legislative debates.
Ohio sweepstake rules and restrictions
States that allow sweepstakes gaming must follow federal regulations. Most of the 47 states that have legalized sweepstakes gaming pretty much follow the federal guidelines to the letter.
Some states add unique conditions to sweepstakes gaming. Florida and New York, for example, limit sweepstakes wins to a $5,000 maximum. However, there are no limits on sweepstakes casino payouts in California
Let’s take a look at some of the basics of Ohio sweepstakes laws:
- Sweepstakes winnings of more than $5,000 are subject to a 4% state income tax (in addition to federal income tax).
- Sweepstakes sponsors must award prizes based on chance and not skill.
- Sweepstakes participants can’t pay more than the approximate retail value of the goods or services offered by a sponsor in exchange for one or more entries
- Ohio sweepstakes laws include several provisions that essentially outlaw a sweepstakes sponsor from selling low-value/worthless products in exchange for sweepstakes entries.
Other important areas of Ohio sweepstakes law include:
To satisfy both federal and state sweepstakes laws, sponsors must offer ways for players to enter sweepstakes contetsts without having to purchase anything. Sweepstakes sponsors must clearly state a “no purchase or payment necessary” message to all potential participants.
As this rule pertains to sweepstakes casinos, they must offer “alternative means of entry” (AMOE) that allow players to play in the Sweeps Coins games offered by the casino without being obligated to make a purchase or spend any money.
All sweepstakes casinos offering games in Ohio must meet the AMOE requirement by offering at least some of the following methods of obtaining free Sweeps Coins:
- No-purchase (no-deposit) offers
- Mail-in offers
- Social media giveaways
- Daily login bonuses
Sweeps Coins (SC) function as a virtual currency that players can use in the sweepstakes games at the casino. Players can redeem Sweeps Coins for cash prizes, usually at a rate of 1 Sweeps Coin to 1 U.S. dollar.
All sweepstakes casinos give players free Sweeps Coins as a gift/bonus with the purchase of Gold Coins (play money currency) packages. While Gold Coins/Sweeps Coins bundles are a great way to collect SC, you can always obtain SC for free using the AMOE methods listed above.
You can find more details about the AMOE methods offered at a particular sweeps casino within that casino’s Sweepstakes Rules. The link to the sweepstakes rules page is usually found in the footer or side menu of the main lobby.
All sweepstakes contests operating in Ohio (including sweeps casino websites) must clearly list the official rules of the contest.
At sweepstakes casinos, the official rules are usually labeled as “Sweepstakes Rules” (or something similar) and found in the footer or side menu of the main lobby (when you’re logged into your account).
The sweepstakes rules provide a detailed outline of how the Gold Coins/Sweeps Coins dual-currency system functions and how Sweeps Coins redemptions work. The sweepstakes rules will also inform players how to use any available alternative means of entry.
Ohio sweepstakes laws don’t allow sweepstakes sponsors to promote a contest with the tactic of informing players that they’ve been “specially selected” to win something.
In most states, the language around this restriction reads something like this:
“Specially Selected means a representation that a person is a winner, a finalist, in first place or tied for first place, or otherwise among a limited group of persons with an enhanced likelihood of receiving a prize.”
In other words, a sweepstakes sponsor can’t legally send any kind of communication that indicates that a player has already won a prize, and can claim that prize by following certain next steps, etc.
A “sweepstakes sponsor” refers to the operator or administrator of a sweepstakes contest. As it relates to sweeps casinos, the sweepstakes sponsor is the casino itself (or the parent company of the casino).
By Ohio sweepstakes law, a sweepstakes sponsor isn’t permitted to sell any kind of information that could give a player a perceived edge in the contest.
Ohio sweepstakes at the Federal level
All states that authorize sweepstakes contests, must abide by federal sweepstakes gaming regulations.
More than 40 states have legalized sweepstakes gaming, and all of those states follow federal regulations very closely. Because of this, sweepstakes laws are very similar in most states.
Sweepstakes winnings of $5,000 or more (or the Sweeps Coins equivalent of $5,000) are subject to federal income tax in all U.S. states. Ohio applies an additional 4% state income tax on applicable sweepstakes winnings
Federal laws require sweepstakes (including traditional sweepstakes contests and sweeps casinos) to meet the following regulations:
- A sweepstakes is a promotion in which prizes are awarded by chance rather than skill
- Sweepstakes can’t require a purchase or payment as a condition for entry
- Sweepstakes must clearly state official rules, and those rules can’t change once the contest has begun
- Sweepstakes winnings of $5,000 or more are subject to a 24% estimated federal income tax
Florida and New York both restrict the maximum amount you can win in a single spin or bet at a sweepstakes casino. In both states, this amount is $5,000 (or the Sweeps Coin equivalent of $5,000).
Responsible gambling in Ohio
Ohio’s sweepstakes casinos offer an alternative to traditional online gambling, but responsible gaming practices remain crucial. For those facing challenges with online gambling, several support options are available:
- National Council on Problem Gambling
- Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (PGNO)
State Initiatives
The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) and Ohio Lottery Commission (OLC) have implemented Time Out Ohio, a self-exclusion program allowing individuals to voluntarily restrict access to Ohio’s gambling venues for 1 year, 5 years, or lifetime
Final thoughts
Ohio hosts a bustling online sports betting economy, and land-based casino gaming is available in several areas throughout the state. Real-money online casinos probably aren’t coming to Ohio any time soon, however, despite the success of other forms of real-money gambling in the state.
If you’re looking for casino-style games on safe and secure platforms in Ohio, sweepstakes casinos are your best bet. The status of sweepstakes gaming won’t likely change in the near future, and as such the Ohio sweeps casinos that we highlight in this article aren’t going anywhere.
While not every sweeps casino operates in Ohio, the list of available platforms includes some of the very best, as rated by our experts here at Sweepsy.