Although Ohio has a strong land-based casino industry where you can play poker and has even legalized online sports betting a few years ago, the state still hasn’t taken the required steps to regulate online poker.
But don’t worry, as you can still enjoy poker through the sweepstakes loophole, as sweepstakes poker sites are allowed to offer poker games to Ohio residents. Alternatively, you can also explore offshore poker sites that support real-money games.
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Great casino offer On this page, we’ll share our top picks for the best offshore/sweepstakes poker sites and cover other important information you should know. Read on to learn more!
Can I Play Online Poker in Ohio?
Yes, you can play online poker in Ohio, but not on any state-licensed platform, as none are currently available in the state. Instead, you can sign up and play with virtual currencies on a sweepstakes poker site or create an account with an offshore poker platform that offers real money play.
Ohio Online Poker Facts
| Available options | Sweepstakes operators & offshore sites |
| State-regulated poker sites | Not available |
| Age limit for Ohio online poker | 18+ |
| Best OH poker site | CoinPoker |
Best Online Poker Sites in Ohio
Whether you’re looking for a sweepstakes or real-money option, we’ve made a shortlist of the best poker sites that’s got you covered. Here are the best poker platforms in Ohio:
#1. CoinPoker – The Best Pick for Ohio Players
CoinPoker firmly reigns as the top offshore poker platform for players who want to play for real money. This cryptocurrency site offers great privacy, fast transactions, and a solid lineup of poker formats. With the latter in mind, you can currently find No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and Pot Limit Omaha 5 variations available on CoinPoker.
The platform has done its best to ensure that the action never stops. You can find daily cash game leaderboards with $1,000 prize pools and monthly tournament leaderboards with $15,000 prize pools.
Additionally, its Cosmic Spins jackpot spin-and-go tournaments offer guaranteed wins of up to $100,000. The site also hosts exciting events, including the Crypto Series of Online Poker and others.
#2 ClubWPT Gold – Backed By WPT With 24/7 Action
ClubWPT Gold, backed by the well‑known WPT brand, delivers a strong sweepstakes poker experience for U.S. players. Highlights include very soft competition, a wide range of daily tournaments, and both cash games and MTTs running around the clock. The site currently only offers Texas Hold’em games.
The platform recently added a downloadable Windows client to support multi‑tabling, a major upgrade. Moreover, the ClubWPT Gold software offers great customization, both in features that directly impact your play and in cosmetic options.
#3. Stake US – Soft Action And Low SC Redemption Threshold
Stake US is a great site for sweepstakes players who are looking for low-stakes action. Not only does it host super soft games, but it also offers a very low SC redemption threshold of just 46 SC, making it a very player-friendly platform in this regard.
The platform uses exclusively cryptocurrencies and offers Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha in tournament, ring game, and sit-and-go formats. Regulars can look forward to 5% rakeback, which offsets the slightly higher rake Stake US charges compared to other sites. It also regularly updates its ongoing promotions, so you can expect solid value on this front as well.
Free Poker vs Real-Money Games
Online sweepstakes poker offers a legal alternative to real-money poker in states where it is restricted or unregulated. Real-money poker involves depositing and wagering actual cash and is regulated by state gambling laws.
In contrast, sweepstakes poker sites use virtual currencies: Gold Coins for entertainment play and Sweeps Coins for promotional play that can be redeemed for cash prizes. The gameplay mirrors real-money poker, with similar tables, rules, and competition, but the dual-currency model makes it legally distinct.
Sweepstakes Model Explained
The sweepstakes model works under federal promotional laws rather than traditional gambling laws. Players typically purchase a bundle of Gold Coins for entertainment use and receive bonus Sweeps Coins as part of the promotion.
For example, buying $50 worth of Gold Coins will award you 50 Sweeps Coins. These Sweeps Coins can be used to enter games, and any winnings can be redeemed for cash prizes. This structure avoids direct cash wagering, keeping the platform compliant with the law.
Regulation Landscape in Ohio
Although three of its neighbouring states have already legalized online poker, Ohio still lags behind. The state’s laws allow in-person poker at casinos but do not permit licensed online poker sites.
In 2025, bills like SB 197 and HB 298 were introduced to create a regulatory framework for online casino games, with HB 298 explicitly including poker. These bills outline licensing, age verification, and taxation structures for operators.
While the legislative environment is promising, regulatory approval and political alignment will determine the timeline. If Ohio moves forward, residents could see legal online poker platforms operating in the next few years.