Ohio Betting Hub’s Rating Guidelines

Ohio users have a growing number of licensed sports betting sites to choose from as of January 2023. Our hands-on testing and evidence-based rating guidelines explain how we evaluate sportsbooks to find the best options for sports bettors.

We use testing methodology tailored specifically to Ohio’s sports betting regulations and player protection requirements. Our guidelines are based on the latest regulatory and licensing requirements for sports betting operators, placing a strong emphasis on responsible gambling support and tools.

Every Ohio sportsbook we review is independently tested without operator coordination, and our scores and findings are independently verified before publication. Unlike operator-sponsored reviews, our ratings are based on real-money testing to reflect the experience of real bettors who sign up. They’re also continuously updated to reflect regulatory changes, new features, and trends among Ohio bettors.

This page provides an in-depth explanation of how our ratings work, including a clear breakdown of our methodology and ranking criteria. It also explains our scoring system, how we maintain editorial independence in our reviews, and how we ensure our ratings are accurate and up-to-date as Ohio’s regulated sports betting market grows.

Editorial Independence & Trust

We strive to provide unbiased reviews of regulated sportsbooks in Ohio through a transparent testing process conducted without prior coordination with operators. Here’s how we ensure objective reviews that reflect an authentic player experience:

• Our editorial and research teams are independent from the team responsible for advertising and partnership deals.
• Every sportsbook rating is validated by secondary reviewers and peer-reviewed against our public scoring metrics before being published.
• Our full methodology guidelines are publicly accessible, so our readers can understand and audit how ratings are created and updated.

Scope – What We Rate

We only rate licensed and regulated Ohio sportsbooks that are legally accessible to bettors who meet the legal age requirement in compliance with the state’s sports betting laws.

Who We Rate:

• Online sportsbooks in possession of a valid sports betting license from the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
• Ohio sportsbooks that offer legitimate betting services to Ohio bettors over 21 years old and physically residing in the state.

Who We Don’t Rate:

• Unlicensed or offshore operators that aren’t licensed to operate in the state.
• Sportsbooks that don’t meet our security and responsible gambling standards.

Our Testing Methodology

We use a 12-step process to evaluate every Ohio sportsbook to maintain consistency across our reviews and provide an authentic assessment from the bettor’s point of view.

Below is a summary of the steps we take to evaluate an online sportsbook and produce our ratings.

Step 1: Researcher Prep

First, we create a detailed test plan tailored to Ohio’s regulatory framework and what bettors in the state prioritize. We also verify the sportsbook’s license, review the operator’s house rules and terms, and confirm availability across desktop, iOS, and Android devices.

Step 2: Account Creation

Next, we create a real user account to review the registration process and the required information. In this step, we note how easy it is to sign up and how long it takes to complete the registration process and set up two-factor authentication (if available).

Step 3: Identity & Geolocation Verification

Once we’ve set up an account, we complete the required KYC and age verification checks and confirm geolocation (physically in Ohio). This step is important for us to determine how smooth KYC and geolocation checks are, note any errors encountered (if any), and how they are resolved.

Step 4: Deposit Testing

The next step is to fund the account using at least two different deposit methods, such as online banking, credit cards, or PayPal. This is where we check fees, minimum and maximum deposit limits for each payment method, and actual processing times.

Step 5: Bet Placement

After making a deposit, we place test wagers across a few different sports and markets, including pre-game and live markets. We also test more niche markets and bet types, such as props and SGPs, to evaluate how easy it is to create a betslip and submit a wager. This also includes checking odds quality, how quickly odds are refreshed – particularly in live markets – cash-out availability, and bet settlement speed and accuracy.

Step 6: Withdrawal Testing

Once a bet settles as a win, we test the efficiency and speed of the withdrawal process by requesting withdrawals using at least two payment methods. This allows us to review associated fees, compare actual processing times with the operator’s estimated payout times, and identify any additional identity checks triggered on the first withdrawal attempt.

Step 7: Support & RG Tools

Next, we test the average response time and resolution quality by contacting customer support with predefined test scenarios. We contact the team through multiple channels, particularly live chat and email, and note how helpful and knowledgeable the agents are across a range of topics.

We also check if the sportsbook provides the required responsible gambling tools in compliance with Ohio standards. If they are, we test them by activating tools such as deposit and loss limits, timeouts, and self-exclusion to confirm accessibility.

Step 8: UX & Reliability

We assess the site’s overall user experience and quality by looking for intuitive navigation and accessibility. This includes clear sports menus, search filters, bet builder, and SGP functionality, and loading times across devices. We also monitor app stability, average load times, and errors or crashes across multiple tests.

Step 9: Evidence Documentation

Next, we document our findings and support them with relevant, timestamped screenshots, transaction records, customer support transcripts, and bet slips. This enables us to establish a complete audit trail, making it easy to review our findings or conduct an independent audit.

Step 10: Scoring

The documented evidence is then used to map our findings to our Ohio-tailored checklist and scoring rubric. We apply our red-flag rules when our testing identifies issues such as unresponsive customer support, unresolved payouts, or legal compliance failures, which may cap scores even if the sportsbook performs well in other areas.

Step 11: Editorial Review

Before publication, a secondary reviewer validates our findings, performs QA checks, and, if required, retests critical criteria. Any discrepancies are resolved and documented accordingly to ensure consistency.

Step 12: Publication & Monitoring

Finally, we publish our ratings, testing dates, and version details to provide readers with context when reviewing our ratings. We also established key retest triggers to ensure up-to-date information, including any regulatory actions or major product updates. All changes and revisions to our ratings are documented in a public changelog so readers can see exactly what changed and why.

Rating Criteria & Weights

We rate Ohio sportsbooks across 9 weighted categories, with scores based on our real-money testing of the platform. Below is a breakdown of each rating category, the weight each category carries in our overall rating, and the specific criteria we use to assess each category.

The 1–5 Star Rating Scale

At Ohio Betting Hub, we use a 1–5 star rating scale with half-star increments to provide a precise score for every sportsbook we review. The overall rating is the sum of each category score, reflecting real-world performance tailored to Ohio betting preferences and user trends.

Here’s a breakdown of our rating scale, which explains what each star level represents for the sportsbook:

4.5–5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Outstanding

• Top-tier odds across major sports
• Seamless live betting with fast odds updates
• Stable performance on desktop, mobile, and app
• Strong responsible gambling support with easily accessible tools
• Responsive and efficient customer support
• Excellent track record without unresolved complaints or red flags

4.0–4.4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Strong

• Competitive odds and reliable live betting features
• Seamless navigation and usability across platforms
• Clear and fair bonus terms
• No significant inconsistencies between posted and real transaction processing times
• Reliable customer support
• Minor user errors or KYC delays due to re-checks, but no red flags

3.0–3.9 ⭐⭐⭐ Adequate

• Fair odds and functional betting across pre-game and live betting markets
• Inconsistencies between posted and real payout processing time, or slow withdrawals
• Issues with app performance or slow loading times
• Slow or inconsistent customer support resolution
• Meets key rating criteria but doesn’t stand out from competitors

2.0–2.9 ⭐⭐ Weak

• Lack of competitive odds and limited markets, especially major teams and college betting in Ohio
• Unavailable, slow, or unhelpful customer support that relies on automated replies
• Frequent site or app crashes
• Payment delays and poorly functioning cash-out features
• Overall poor user experience and KYC hurdles

1.0–1.9 ⭐ Poor

• Odds are lower than most competitors
• Unreliable betting and slow betslip acceptance
• Lack of clear terms and a functional cash-out feature
• Poor UX and serious UX issues across devices
• Unresponsive or inadequate customer support
• Repeated issues with payout delays and withdrawal failures
• Potential regulatory concerns or lack of compliance

Continuous Monitoring & Updates

Once we publish our review and ratings, we continue to monitor and update them as needed. As Ohio’s regulatory framework evolves and the number of licensed sportsbooks grows, we ensure accurate ratings by conducting the following:

• Quarterly reviews: We retest every licensed sportsbook quarterly to ensure accurate ratings and information.
• Event-driven checks: We perform additional checks whenever there are app updates, policy changes, or important regulatory actions.
• Transparent updates: We maintain an updated changelog with date, reason, and score explanation for every update.

How to Get Listed

For Ohio sportsbook operators to be listed on Ohio Betting Hub, they must meet all our baseline requirements:

• ✅ Active Ohio License
• ✅ Secure Platform
• ✅ Transparent Terms
• ✅ Responsible Gambling Tools
• ✅ Customer Support

Unlicensed and offshore operators are automatically excluded from our site to protect Ohio bettors.

Our Commitment to You

At Ohio Betting Hub, our ratings are built on three core promises to ensure full transparency and trust with our readers:

• Transparency: We publish our full methodology, maintain documented changelogs, and provide full disclosure of our commercial relationships.
• Independence: Our ratings are never affected by partnerships, and our editorial and business teams always operate separately.
• Accuracy: Every sportsbook review and evaluation is peer-reviewed, QA-checked, and supported by a complete archive of documented findings and evidence.

References & Regulatory Framework

Our ratings and evaluations are always based on the current Ohio regulatory framework and sports betting laws, overseen by the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

• Ohio Casino Control Commission official sports betting rules and regulations.
• Ohio Casino Control Commission laws and regulations.

Remember that Ohio sports betting laws prohibit wagers on high school sports and Ohio college and university teams.

Ohio Responsible Gambling Resources

For more information about responsible gambling or help with problem gambling, please visit the trusted sources available to Ohio residents listed below:

• Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-589-9966 – Provides 24/7, free, confidential support with problem gambling.
• Time Out Ohio – State-wide self-exclusion program across all Ohio casinos, racinos, and sportsbooks.
• National Council on Problem Gambling: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)

Questions?

If you’d like to learn more about how we operate, please visit our privacy policy page. For any other questions or feedback on our methodology, please contact us here.