How to Start a Sports Betting Business in Ohio: Casino Control Commission Licenses

Sports gaming has been legal in Ohio since January 1, 2023, under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3775, and the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) licenses every operator. If you want to build a sports betting business in Ohio, you need the right license type for your model, an entity and ownership record that will survive a background review, and enough capital to cover the license fees and the taxes that follow. This guide walks through the sequence: choose a license type, form your entity, gather materials, file, pay, and register for the other obligations you will owe.

This article is informational, not legal or tax advice. Fees, eligibility rules, and tax treatment can change. The fee figures below come from the Legislative Service Commission fee list dated January 30, 2026, and every figure should be confirmed with the agency named before you commit money. Gaming licensing is complex and mistakes are costly, so talk to a gaming attorney and a CPA before you file.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these items before you open the OCCC process. Missing paperwork is the most common reason applications stall.

• A chosen license type (Type A, Type B, or Type C) tied to a written business model
• A legal entity. Articles of Organization for a domestic limited liability company (Form 610) cost $99. Initial Articles of Incorporation for a domestic for-profit corporation (Form 532A) also cost $99.
• An Ohio statutory agent, which is Ohio's term for a registered agent, with a street address in Ohio
• A complete ownership chart and personal history for every owner, officer, and key person, because each one may be investigated
• Financial records that show where your money comes from and that you can fund the license fees and early operating costs
• Proof of your Ohio place of business or facility, such as a lease, deed, or purchase agreement
• Budget for the $150,000 proprietor application fee plus the license fees listed in Step 1
• An account on Ohio Business Central at https://www.ohiobusinesscentral.gov/ for entity filings

Step 1: Choose the Right License Type

Ohio issues three main proprietor license types, and each one carries a different fee and a different operating model. The fees below are from the LSC fee list cited under ORC 3775.04(E) and OAC 3775-4-02.

License	What it covers	Fee
Proprietor application	Required application fee for a proprietor	$150,000
Type A	Online sports pool	$500,000 for a professional sports organization, or $750,000 initially. Annual payments for four years are $125,000 or $187,500, respectively.
Type B	Sports gaming facility at one location	$50,000, or $100,000 if you also hold a Type A license. Then $10,000 a year for four years.
Type C	Self-service or clerk-operated terminals placed at Type C host locations	$100,000 initially, then a $25,000 renewal every five years
Mobile management services provider	Application to provide mobile management services	$150,000

The pairing of initial and annual Type A figures is a reading of the fee list. Confirm which figure applies to your entity with the OCCC before you budget.

Most first-time operators pick one of two paths. A Type A license runs an online sports pool and is the most expensive route. A Type B license runs a sports gaming facility at a single location and is cheaper, but the state caps Type B licenses at 40 statewide, and county population limits control where a facility can go. Type C is the path for bars and restaurants that want to offer betting without becoming a proprietor themselves. Choose the path that matches your capital and your real location, not the one with the lowest headline number.

Step 2: Form Your Entity and Lock In Your Name

Most applicants form a limited liability company first, though you should confirm with the OCCC which entity types it accepts. An Ohio LLC name must include the words “limited liability company” or one of the abbreviations “L.L.C.,” “LLC,” “limited,” “ltd.,” or “ltd.” The name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State’s records from any other domestic or foreign LLC, corporation, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, or registered trade name, unless the prior holder consents in writing.

You can reserve a name for 180 days for $39 through the Ohio Secretary of State at https://www.ohiosos.gov/. Regular service takes 3 to 7 business days from receipt, and filing through Ohio Business Central is the fastest standard route. Expedited options are available: Expedite Service 1 costs $100 above the filing fee and is processed within 2 business days, Expedite Service 2 costs $200 and is processed within 1 business day, and Expedite Service 3 costs $300, requires in-person delivery, and is processed within 4 hours if received by 1:00 p.m.

If your betting brand will use a name different from your legal name, register that trade name with the Secretary of State for $39. Trade names are not registered with the county. An Ohio LLC files no annual report, so no recurring report fee applies to the entity itself.

Step 3: Appoint an Ohio Statutory Agent

Every Ohio LLC must appoint and continuously maintain a statutory agent. The agent must be either an Ohio resident who is a natural person, or an entity with a business address in Ohio. The address must be a street address, not a post office box, even one that has a street address attached. For an individual, it is the agent’s primary Ohio residence. For an entity, it is the agent’s usual place of business in Ohio.

The Secretary of State will not accept your articles unless they come with a written appointment signed for the company and a written acceptance signed by the agent on the prescribed form. If you later change the agent, change the agent’s address, or file a resignation, expect a $25 fee. A resignation takes effect 30 days after it is filed, so plan the handoff before you need it.

Step 4: Confirm You Qualify for Your License Type

Eligibility rules differ sharply by license type, and this is where many plans fail.

• Type A: You need an Ohio place of business with multiple employees, or you must hold a Type B facility. An online-only plan without an Ohio operating footprint does not meet this test on its own.
• Type B: The facility is limited to one location, the statewide cap is 40, and county population limits apply. Check current county eligibility and any remaining availability with the OCCC before you sign a lease.
• Type C host: If you own a bar or restaurant, you may be eligible for a Type C host license, which costs $1,000 under ORC 3775.07. The facility must hold an A-1-A, A-1c, D-1, D-2, or D-5 liquor permit. The OCCC issues the host license on the recommendation of the State Lottery Commission.

A host does not become a proprietor. A bar or restaurant owner with a host license offers betting through a Type C proprietor, which runs the terminals and holds the proprietor responsibilities. If your goal is to own the betting business and keep the betting revenue, a host license alone does not get you there.

Step 5: Prepare and File Your Proprietor Application

The OCCC reviews your application as a whole, so the paperwork has to be consistent across every document. Expect a background investigation of each owner, officer, and key person. Disclose everything, including old business ties, prior legal matters, and financial relationships, because an omission discovered later is more damaging than a disclosure you made up front.

Build a single master file with your ownership chart, entity documents, statutory agent acceptance, financial statements, facility documents, and a written description of your operating plan. Use the same legal name and addresses on every form. Confirm the current forms and checklists on the Ohio Casino Control Commission’s official website, since the OCCC sets its own review timeline and it can change. Ask the OCCC for its current review timing before you sign leases, hire staff, or sign vendor contracts.

Step 6: Plan the Payments, Including the Annual Ones

The license fees are only part of the cash picture. Type A and Type B licenses carry annual payments for four years after the initial fee, and those payments are due on top of your operating costs. A Type A applicant that pays $750,000 up front and then $187,500 a year for four years needs a multi-year cash plan, not just a first-year budget. Confirm the timing of each payment, including when the application fee and initial license fee are due, with the OCCC in writing.

Step 7: Budget for the State Tax on Sports Gaming Receipts

Ohio taxes sports gaming receipts at 20% under ORC 5753.021. This is the headline tax for a sports betting operator, and it has to sit in your pricing and cash flow model from day one. Ask the Ohio Department of Taxation at https://tax.ohio.gov/ and the OCCC how “receipts” are defined for your model, how often payments are due, and what records you must keep. Do not guess at the definition, because your margin depends on it.

Step 8: Register for the Other Taxes and Obligations

Sports betting operators rarely have just one tax to file. Work through this list before opening day.

• Sales tax vendor’s license: Ohio has no state general business license, and counties issue no business license either. If you make taxable retail sales, such as merchandise or concessions, you need a vendor’s license. The county auditor issues it under a state statute, and the application fee is $50.
• Commercial Activity Tax (CAT): Ohio has no corporate income tax and no LLC annual tax. Instead, businesses pay the CAT at 0.26% of Ohio taxable gross receipts, with returns filed quarterly. Starting in 2025, only businesses with more than $6 million of Ohio taxable gross receipts owe the CAT or must register. Confirm with the Ohio Department of Taxation how the CAT applies to receipts that are not sports gaming receipts.
• Workers’ compensation: Buy coverage from the state BWC fund. Do not assume a private policy will satisfy the requirement.
• City or village net profit tax: Many Ohio cities and villages tax business net profit under their own rates, separate from the state. Check the rate and filing rules for each city where you have an operating location.
• Construction licensing: Ohio has no statewide general contractor license. If you build out a facility, check local permit and licensing requirements in the city or county where the project sits.

Step 9: Plan for Supplier and Occupational Licenses

Supplier licenses for vendors and occupational licenses for individual employees are separate from your proprietor license. Do not sign a vendor contract or hire key staff on the assumption that your proprietor license covers them. Ask the OCCC which vendors and roles require their own approval, and build those timelines into your launch plan.

What to Expect From the Process

A well-prepared applicant may face fewer requests for supplemental information than one who files incomplete or inconsistent materials, though the OCCC controls the pace and the outcome. Once licensed, you may begin operating within the terms of your license, but you will carry continuing compliance duties, including tax filings and reporting. Treat the license as the start of an ongoing obligation, not a finish line. Plan staffing, vendor approvals, and cash reserves on the assumption that review can take longer than you hoped.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Budgeting only the application fee. The $150,000 proprietor application fee is not the whole cost. Type A and Type B annual payments run for four years.
• Assuming a bar becomes a proprietor. A host license lets you host Type C terminals. It does not make you the proprietor.
• Using a post office box for the statutory agent. Ohio requires a street address, so a box will not work.
• Skipping the name check. A name that is too close to an existing record can delay your articles or force a rename. Reserve the name early.
• Looking for a county business license. Counties issue no business license. The county auditor issues the vendor’s license for taxable sales.
• Expecting an LLC annual report. Ohio LLCs file no annual report, but your tax obligations are still real.
• Treating the 20% tax as your only tax. The CAT, vendor’s license, workers’ compensation, and city net profit taxes can all apply.
• Hiring or contracting before licensing. Occupational and supplier approvals are separate and can gate your opening date.

Practical Tips for a Cleaner Application

• Call the OCCC early with a short written question list. Written answers protect you if priorities change later.
• Keep your ownership chart current. Every change in ownership or key personnel can mean more paperwork.
• Choose your license type based on the facility you can actually secure, not the one you wish you could get.
• Register your trade name with the Secretary of State at $39 before you print signage or launch marketing.
• Set up Ohio Business Central access on day one so filings are not delayed by login problems.
• Assign one person to own the compliance calendar for taxes, payments, and renewals.

When to Bring in Professionals

Sports betting licensing combines gaming regulation, entity law, tax, and real estate, and the penalties for errors are serious. Hire a gaming attorney to review your application and ownership disclosures, and a CPA to model the 20% state tax, the CAT, and your multi-year license payments. The cost of professional review is small compared with a rejected application or a tax assessment you did not plan for.

Reminder: this article is general information about Ohio sports betting licensing, not legal or tax advice. Verify every fee, eligibility rule, and deadline with the Ohio Casino Control Commission, the Ohio Department of Taxation, or the Ohio Secretary of State before you act.