Lawmakers in Ohio may be taking some time in getting a bill on the legislative table but their calm and considered approach to launching sports betting may in fact, save time in the long run.

Other states could be accused of attempting to push through legislation for the sake of simply promoting themselves midst a new craze, realizing eventually they’re further from fixing a workable framework than when they first started out.

This isn’t the case in Ohio where the arrival of sports betting has already been described as a matter of when rather than if.

Top Ohio officials are instead opting to approach the matter with less haste and more emphasis on getting it right, first time around - refreshing to say the least.

But where does this leave budding sports bettors in The Buckeye State in the meantime? How long until Ohio legalizes sports betting?

With the launch of the industry described as inevitable by the state governor, the prospect of walking into betting establishment, laying down hard cash and betting on the fortunes of the Browns, Cavs or Indians is a real one for Ohians.

This said, the common view held by lawmakers to do things right or not at all means Ohio is currently in no rush to approve legislation.

Even the fact neighbors Indiana and Kentucky seem to be edging ahead in the race to become to the first Midwest state to legalize sports betting, hasn’t fazed lawmakers who remain committed to meeting the needs of all stakeholders before moving forwards.

There is, however, growing belief that sports betting in Ohio could be fast tracked and implemented before the end of 2019, providing it’s put forward in the state’s legislative session.

Who will get to house sports betting?

It’s most likely the state’s 11 land-based casinos and racinos will run sports books.

The prospect of seeing sports betting in every bar or street corner shop is one lawmakers are keen to avoid, hence the call to keep betting confined to establishments already known for gambling.

There’s no denying there are sceptics regarding the subject of mobile wagering but the common consensus centers on the inevitability of it.

Whether you’re a fan of the technology boom or a tech phob, mobile phones aren’t going anywhere soon.

If anything they’re only going to become more advanced and become ingrained further into our everyday lives.

Besides, it has never been easier to place a bet on a game from the comfort of your own sofa, don’t expect betting companies or individual states to miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime.

Quite rightly, the safety of vulnerable bettors - gambling addicts and budding bettors under the legal age - will come under scrutiny and will require addressing.

The arrival of sports betting will only add another temptation into the mix for addicts struggling with gambling on a daily basis and potentially expose minors to gambling too easily. Ultimately, though, the positives of Ohio mobile wagering far outweigh the negatives.

There’s a collective desire to ship unlicensed betting operators out of town, not just for the estimated $150 million lost to illegal activity at Ohio’s expense, but to bring better safety and security to an activity already viewed as a mainstream hobby by many.

Regulation would allow for the integrity of matches to be maintained.

Match fixing prevention systems capable of identifying suspect activity via industry algorithms will come into play, as will anti-money laundering procedures aimed at taking down the black market.

In a word, no.

The idea of major sports leagues being entitled to a cut of the betting handle (total amount of money wagered) through a royalty/integrity fee looks to be flatly rejected, not an unusual stance so far of course.

Rep Bill Coley made his feelings on the subject clear, likening the proposal to farmers asking for payment for the way their crops sell. In other words, the leagues stand to gain the most from the industry through exposure anyway - why should they be entitled to benefit twice over?

The sports leagues long standing reservations about sports betting which seems only to have softened since the money available has come to light, leaves the genuine intentions of the sports leagues there to be questioned.

Which sports will be available to bet on in OH?

With its rich sporting background, it’s no surprise find a pro team across each of the major leagues.

All in all, the Buckeye state is represented by seven professional teams:

The Cincinnati Reds (MLB) boast five World Series titles and nine National League pennants among a raft of honors.

The Big Red Machine last posted a division title in 2012 though so you could say some silverware is overdue!

The Paul Brown Stadium is the home of the Cincinnati Bengals (NFL).

Numerous opportunities to appear in the Superbowl have been passed up with the Bengals failing to convert any of their 14 appearances into a final berth but they do have a variety of division championships to call upon.

There’s plenty of local rivalry at stake when the Bengals meet the Cleveland Browns (NFL) who are behind their state rivals in terms of all-time series wins but possess the greater history in number of division championships won. Fans have been starved of success of late with little to show for the past two decades.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) have enjoyed a large percentage of their success through the 90s, backed up strongly with four successive Eastern Central Division Championships between 2015 and 2018.

The newest franchise in Ohio, Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) only came into existence in 2000 so they can be forgiven, at least for the time being, for an empty trophy cabinet.

Colombus Crew SC (MLS) were born six years earlier but with soccer a slow burner for Americans only now are The Crew finding it easier to attract crowds to the Mapfre Stadium.

- Best wagers for betting on the NFL

Whether you’re a follower of the NFL or not, the huge interest drummed up in the Superbowl has seen the popularity of football rocket both stateside and also globally too; you could even go as far to say it has overtaken the NBA as the country’s favoured sport. The sportsbooks certainly think so - NFL betting now tops the menu options of the best and biggest sportsbooks in America.

Whichever side of the fence you fall, NFL is certainly Ohio’s number one sport to bet on with not one but two teams: the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns.

NFL point spreads, Money lines and NFL Over/Under odds make up the most popular go-to wagers and tend to be the most requested but this doesn’t mean the markets are limited to these.

You can gain an expert insight through our NFL betting page, here.

- Best wagers for betting on the NBA

The NBA is still one of the popular sports where money is often wagered.

The likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, to name a few, continue to drive interest by turning out and doing the business for their respective teams.

Generally, bettors tend to gravitate towards point spreads when betting on the NBA, something which leaves punters themselves scratching their heads as to why they’d assign themselves an assignment so tough.

Whereas a point spread can be easier to predict a low scoring NFL match, the high scoring nature and see-saw momentum of an NBA match doesn’t exactly make a points spread a simple task. But therein lies the challenge, what you say?

Don’t worry though; our comprehensive guide on how to bet on the NBA should point you in the right direction.

- Best wagers for MLB betting

Given how long the MLB season runs for, and the amount of games available to wager on, there’s a case to be made for professional baseball to be the most popular in terms of overall bets made, surpassing the efforts of the NFL even.

Run line and moneyline odds are up there with the most common played when betting on the Cincinnati Reds or another game for that matter.

Regardless of your level of betting, our extensive guide on how to bet on MLB should help you cover all the bases!