Ohio Sports Betting Revenue Falls 19.9% in August 2026

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Mon Oct 05, 2026, 11:00 am ET

Read Time: 4 minutes

Ohio Sports Betting Revenue Falls 19.9% in August 2026

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Ohio sports betting revenue fell sharply in August 2026 despite a smaller decline in wagering activity. According to the Ohio Casino Control Commission report, sportsbooks generated $58.3 million in revenue during the month. That represented a 19.9% decline from August 2025.

However, the state's betting handle reached $637.6 million, down just 3.8% year over year. The gap between handle and revenue reflected weaker sportsbook hold. The state's sportsbooks kept about 9.1% of wagers during August, compared with roughly 11% a year earlier.

Ohio Sports Betting Handle Declines Moderately

Ohio bettors continued to wager substantial amounts throughout August. The $637.6 million handle showed that betting demand remained relatively strong despite the annual decline.

At the same time, sportsbooks returned a larger share of wagers to bettors. That outcome reduced the amount operators retained as revenue. Therefore, the lower hold played a major role in the state's revenue decline.

The August figures also reflect the seasonal nature of sports betting. August generally falls between major football betting periods. Consequently, operators often see stronger activity once the NFL regular season begins.

Online Betting Dominates Ohio's Market

Online sportsbooks continued to generate nearly all of Ohio's sports betting revenue. Digital operators produced approximately $629.5 million in gross receipts during August.

They also generated about $57.35 million in revenue, representing a 19.1% year-over-year decline. Meanwhile, retail sportsbooks recorded roughly $8.1 million in handle and $985,000 in revenue.

Retail sportsbooks took the brunt of the decline. Their revenue fell approximately 49.1% from the same month last year.

That split shows how heavily Ohio gambling depends on mobile and online wagering. The state's online market continues to drive overall betting performance.

For US online sportsbooks, Ohio remains an important market because of its large betting base. However, August demonstrated that high handle does not always produce comparable revenue growth.

FanDuel and DraftKings Remain Market Leaders

FanDuel and DraftKings continued to dominate Ohio's competitive landscape during August.

DraftKings accepted approximately $204.4 million in wagers. FanDuel followed with roughly $196.3 million in handle.

However, FanDuel narrowly led the revenue rankings. The operator generated approximately $20.7 million in revenue, compared with about $19.1 million for DraftKings.

Other major operators included bet365, Fanatics, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook. Their combined activity helped maintain Ohio's large online betting market.

Ohio Collects Millions in Betting Taxes

The August betting results also generated significant revenue for the state. Ohio applies a 20% tax rate to sports gaming revenue.

Based on taxable revenue of approximately $58.4 million, state tax collections reached roughly $11.7 million. That figure highlights the public financial impact of Ohio's regulated betting market.

Therefore, the revenue decline affected more than sportsbook operators. Lower gaming revenue also reduced the tax contribution generated during the month.

Ohio Remains Ahead Through August

Despite August's weaker performance, Ohio's broader 2026 results remained positive. Sports betting revenue reached approximately $629.5 million through the first eight months.

That figure represented growth from the same period in 2025. Therefore, the August decline has not erased the market's overall gains this year.

The results also show why monthly performance requires additional context. A weaker hold can significantly affect revenue without causing a comparable decline in betting activity.

NFL Season Likely to Boost September Results

September should provide a stronger test of Ohio's sports betting market. The NFL regular season traditionally produces a major increase in wagering activity.

Ohio's September 2025 results demonstrated that seasonal effect. The state's handle increased sharply after football betting returned.

Therefore, September 2026 could produce a significant rebound in wagering and revenue for NFL picks and odds. Still, sportsbook hold will remain an important factor in the final results.

Overall, August delivered a weaker revenue performance for Ohio sportsbooks. Yet the market continued to post year-to-date growth through the month.

The combination of strong online activity and the NFL season could support a stronger finish. For now, August's figures point primarily to lower sportsbook hold rather than a major decline in betting demand.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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