Online sports gambling has exploded across the United States since the 2018 Supreme Court decision that struck down the federal ban. In Ohio, where legal sports betting launched on January 1, 2023, the market has grown rapidly, with residents placing bets primarily through mobile apps. Statewide data from the Ohio Casino Control Commission shows clear growth in wagering volume, tax revenue directed largely toward education, and a concurrent rise in calls to problem-gambling helplines. While county-specific statistics are not publicly broken down, the trends apply equally to southern Ohio, including Ross County and adjacent areas such as Pickaway, Highland, Fayette, and Pike counties.
Explosive Growth in Wagering and Revenue
Ohioans wagered $10.3 billion on sports in 2025, up 16% from 2024 and marking the third straight year of increases since legalization. This followed roughly $8.9 billion in 2024 and $7.7 billion in the partial first year of 2023. Mobile betting dominates: more than 98% of revenue comes from online platforms, with FanDuel and DraftKings holding the largest market shares.
Gross gaming revenue (the amount operators keep after paying out winnings) reached a record $1.04 billion in 2025, surpassing the previous high. In 2024 it totaled $900.5 million. The state taxes this revenue at 20% (up from an initial 10% in early 2023). In 2024 alone, sports betting generated approximately $181 million in state tax revenue.
Tax benefits are significant. After covering regulatory costs, the vast majority of sports-betting tax revenue flows into an education fund that supports public and non-public K-12 programs through legislative appropriations. Two percent is dedicated to a state problem-gambling fund. This adds to the broader gaming tax revenue that helps fund schools, local governments, infrastructure, and public services across Ohio’s 88 counties.
Participation and the Southern Ohio Picture
No official county-level data tracks exact numbers of sports bettors in Ross County or southern Ohio. Statewide surveys and helpline trends, however, indicate broad participation.
The most recent comprehensive Ohio Gambling Survey (2022, with post-legalization trends tracked separately) found that roughly 80% of Ohio adults engage in some form of gambling. Approximately 2.8% of adults — an estimated 255,000 people — have a gambling disorder, while nearly 1 in 5 adults (about 1.8 million) are at some risk. Sports betting has become a leading driver of new helpline contacts.
Calls to Ohio’s Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-589-9966 or text 4HOPE to 741741) rose 55% in 2023, the first full year of legal sports betting, from 6,835 in 2022 to 10,637. Sports betting quickly became one of the top reasons for calls, especially among younger males. United Way 211, which manages the line, reported a 277% spike in sports-gambling-related calls in the first month after launch compared with the prior year, with continued monthly increases.
In Ross County, sports betting kiosks became available in bars, restaurants, and other licensed venues shortly after the 2023 launch, as reported by the Chillicothe Gazette. However, statewide kiosk usage remained minimal (under 0.2% of total handle), and the majority of Type-C kiosks were removed in 2025 because mobile apps proved far more popular. Residents in Chillicothe and surrounding southern Ohio counties now bet almost exclusively online, with the same easy 24/7 access available anywhere in the state.
Wins, Losses, and the Human Toll
Individual verified “big wins” from southern Ohio have not been publicly highlighted in official reports or major news coverage. Operators and advertising often feature large payouts, but state data focuses on aggregate revenue rather than specific bettor outcomes.
On the other side, the human costs are well documented. Governor Mike DeWine has publicly expressed regret over signing the sports-betting legislation, citing aggressive advertising and the normalization of daily wagering. Public-health experts and the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio note that sports betting’s constant availability — every day, every game, with in-play options — has contributed to sharper rises in addiction calls than many anticipated. Studies in other states have linked expanded sports betting to increases in certain crimes around major events, though Ohio-specific crime data tied directly to betting is still emerging.
A Balanced View for Ross County and Beyond
Legal sports gambling has delivered measurable tax revenue that supports Ohio schools and generated economic activity. At the same time, the surge in helpline calls and expert warnings from state officials underscore the need for vigilance. Southern Ohio communities, where traditional industries and family structures are strong, are not insulated from these statewide patterns.
Ohio law requires operators to promote responsible gambling, offers self-exclusion programs, and funds treatment. Anyone concerned about their own gambling or that of a family member can call the confidential, 24/7 Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or text 4HOPE to 741741.
As Ohio enters its fourth year of legal sports betting, the data shows both opportunity and risk. For Ross County and southern Ohio, the story is the same as the state’s: billions wagered from phones and computers, millions returned to public education, and a growing awareness that easy access requires equally strong safeguards and community support.
Sources include official reports from the Ohio Casino Control Commission, the American Gaming Association’s 2025 State of the States, the 2022 Ohio Gambling Survey, and coverage from the Ohio Capital Journal, Cleveland.com, and the Chillicothe Gazette. All figures are drawn from verified state data as of early 2026.
