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The road to legal sports betting in the state of Ohio hit the accelerator in December 2021. This was when Governor Mike DeWine officially signed House Bill 29, which finally legalized sports betting in the state. And as of January 1, 2023, Ohio officially launched retail and mobile sports betting!
BetRivers Sportsbook along with many operators positioned themselves to launch successfully on day in one of America’s top legal sports betting markets. BetRivers Sportsbook, developed by Rush Street Interactive and launched in June 2020, has quickly grown into one of the top options available in the US market.
Already live in several states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, BetRivers’ inclusion in Ohio was highly anticipated by bettors. Follow along as we explore what BetRivers offers the sports betting world and what it brings to the Ohio market.
New customer bonuses have become a way for sportsbooks to make a name for themselves in new markets. Bettors can expect to receive BetRivers’ standard Welcome Bonus when they sign up for an account in Ohio. A Second Chance Bet up to $500 in free bet credits.
| BetRivers OH Promo Code | Coming Soon |
| BetRivers OH Bonus Offer | $500 Second Chance Bet |
| OH License Partner | Penn National Gaming (estimate) |
| Launch Date | January 1, 2023 |
Ohio bettors must choose bets of -200 or longer. Bonus money will be credited soon after your first deposit and must be used within 30 days of the deposit.
Make sure your first deposit is at least $10 to qualify. If your first bet loses, BetRivers will provide you with a second chance bet. BetRivers will match your stake ranging anywhere from $10 to $500 in free bet credits.
While the BetRivers welcome bonus may not be ground-breaking, we did find that BetRivers is very competitive about other promotions and offers available to their existing clientele. Current promotions are advertised on the main screen and are readily available for quick and easy redeeming for BetRivers users.
We found a larger-than-normal menu of profit boosts and odds boosts, which change daily. There is also a healthy menu of contests for users, usually centering around significant events such as championship games. A healthy number of promotions span the sportsbook and online casino wings of the BetRivers site.
Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive (RSI) was founded in 2012. It quickly became a household name in a few states around the country thanks to the company’s retail facilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, under the Rivers Casino and Sugarhouse brands.
For its online sportsbook, RSI decided to go with BetRivers as the marquee nationwide option. Consequently, Play SugarHouse became a secondary option (only in NJ/CT). The technology and platform are virtually identical; the only real difference is the brand name.
Ohio’s legal sports betting launch was official on January 1, 2023.
Ohio was the final domino to fall among some of its neighboring states in regards to sports betting. States such as Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan have been legal for years and now, Ohio bettors do not need to drive over their state border to place bets themselves!
BetRivers’ sign-up procedure is aimed at getting people in on their legal sports betting experience as quickly as possible. This is of course as long as they are at least 21 years old and absent from any exclusions list. It only takes a few minutes.
Once you click on the state where you want to sign up, you will be directed to that state’s page. Then, you will see a “Join now” button at the top. You don’t have to be in Ohio to sign up for an account. However, in order to place a bet, you are required to be within state lines.
There is a 3-step registration process that follows after clicking the “Join Now” button.
Deposit and payout options can set a sportsbook apart. Therefore, we are happy to report that BetRivers offers a variety of banking choices. All of them will get the job done. Not only are the methods quick, easy, and all-encompassing, but they are, from what we have seen, as safe and secure as any sportsbook in the country.
Payouts with the BetRivers Sportsbook are a strength. While not as expansive as the company’s deposit options, BetRivers Ohio Sportsbook offers a nice variety of withdrawal options, with various completion times. Most are just a reverse of the deposit options, including:
With banking options identified, it’s a good time to talk about how safe and secure your personal and banking information is with BetRivers. Site security is a critical part of a sportsbook’s focus. This means that one data breach could doom a sportsbook not only in Ohio but across the country.
We are happy to report that BetRivers uses elite SSL encryption software that has so far proven impenetrable. BetRivers has passed stringent regulatory safety hurdles in a lot of US jurisdictions and has also withstood scrutiny in Canada. Security hasn’t been an issue for the company since launching in 2020 and we don’t expect any nefarious action in Ohio.
All of the banking options, security, and easy sign-up options mean nothing without an attractive product that provides users with an unforgettable experience. BetRivers happens to be a solid sportsbook option in the US market, complete with the visual stimulation and overall performance we would expect from such a big name in the industry.
BetRivers Sportsbook offers desktop, iOS, and Android options for its Ohio clientele. Download options include the BetRivers site itself, the App Store for iOS users, and the Google Play Store for Android users. As for the software, we found it to be as modern and as intuitive as any in the business.
The mobile app is fairly quick and as responsive as any you will find in the Ohio market. The site is well laid out, has a helpful search function, and allows for shortcuts for users that are more familiar with the functions.
We loved the inclusion of valuable stats which accompany the odds, and we were happy that the bet slip is easy to view (or hide) on the side if so desired. On the downside, we have heard reports of some reports of lag-time with the mobile app, although we didn’t experience any during testing.
BetRivers, as an established operator in the US legal sports betting scene, has assembled a healthy menu of sports options. All domestic pro and college leagues are covered as well as most of the most prominent international sporting leagues and events. Bettors in the Ohio market can expect to find action in the following sports:
A handy Search option on the BetRivers platform gives bettors a chance to inquire about more under-the-radar sports betting options, both domestic and international. With both college and pro options available, Ohio bettors LOVE being able to place wagers on teams like the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and more.
In this section, you can read about the different bet types offered by BetRivers. Find out more about Point Spread, Moneyline, Total, Parlays, Teasers, Prop Bets, Futures, and Live Betting.
Wagering on a specific game in which oddsmakers have determined “the spread”, which is simply the number of goals/points they think a team/person will win or lose by. For example, let’s say oddsmakers have the Cincinnati Bengals -3.5 (3.5-point favorites) over the Cleveland Browns +3.5 (3.5-point underdog).
The Bengals would have to win by 4 or more points to cash. A bet on the Browns would be successful if the Browns win outright or lose by fewer than 4 points.
Perhaps the simplest bet type to understand. You are just betting on who you think will win the game/match. There is almost always an underdog and a favorite set out by oddsmakers and the amount of winnings is largely based on those odds.
You may see the Bengals as a -140 favorite to beat the Browns +120. In all cases, the payout is higher if you take the underdog.
Commonly referred to as the Over/Under, bettors wager on the amount of points/goals scored in a game. The “Total” is set out by oddsmakers, and you simply wager on whether the teams/players go “Over” or “Under” that number.
For example, if oddsmakers have the Total set at 9 for a Cincinnati Reds/Cleveland Guardians game, betting the “Over” would mean that you think more than 9 runs will be scored during that contest. By betting the “Under” you are hoping the teams combine for fewer than 9 runs.
Multiple individual bets combined into one wager. It could be betting on the outcome of 3-or more games, prop bets, or any combination of the two. All bets in a parlay must win to get paid. Falling short on any “leg” means you lose the whole bet, making this bet-type risky but potentially lucrative.
Allows you to move the “Total” or “Spread” in your favor but requires you to do it in a parlay form, meaning that you will have to bet on more than one game to place a Teaser. For example, if the Cleveland Cavaliers are 10-point favorites over the Knicks, you will have the ability to move that down to a 4-point favorite on a 6-point teaser.
Increasingly popular, sometimes whacky, and random bet-types that don’t necessarily have anything to do with the outcome of a game. Player prop examples include items like, “how many touchdowns Joe Burrow will throw in a game – over or under 2.5”.
Fun game props could include the color of the Gatorade poured over the winning coach’s head, or how long the national anthem runs for.
A futures bet is a bet on the outcome of an event that will happen in the “future.” This could include future Champions in various leagues, who will be selected #1 in pro drafts, and even future MVPs.
Live betting takes place only after a game is underway and keeps bettors engaged throughout the entirety of the desired event by being able to wager on the game as it is going on, or even on the outcome of an individual play.
BetRivers is one of only a handful of major sportsbooks that does offer a loyalty program – a definite perk of using their product. The iRush Rewards program was developed to offer more value to the BetRivers customer. Simply put, the more real-money wagers you place, the more points you earn.
Those points can be redeemed in the iRush Rewards store which is easily accessible on the site. Players start at Level 1 and ascend to Level 11. Point status is monitored on the Bonus Bank, and the various iRush reward meters on the site. BetRivers allows for Bonus Points to be collected and used in their sportsbooks and online casinos.
We are fans of loyalty programs – BetRivers happens to be one of the few with an established system. The company provides perks and value to bettors and manages to do so simplistically and conveniently.
Customer service is becoming a more crucial aspect of a sportsbook offering. While BetRivers does offer all of the typical Customer Service methods, we were slightly disappointed that they don’t offer 24/7 support like some of their competition.
That said, BetRivers has taken the time to populate a comprehensive FAQ section that covers most of the questions its customers will have. They boast a satisfactory chat option, phone option, and e-mail support that is available from 9:30 AM to 2 AM.
You can expect knowledgeable and friendly service reps that deal with queries promptly and up to the standards we expect from high-end providers. We also loved the accessibility of the Customer Service options thanks to their “Help Center” link at the top of the screen.
While it may not have the name cachet of the DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM, BetRivers does offer a quality wagering experience. From the rash of competitive promotions (for both new and existing customers) to their variety of markets and bet-types, banking choices, and overall ease of navigation, BetRivers is worth a look.
| BetRivers Ohio Pros | BetRivers Ohio Cons |
|---|---|
| Various deposit and withdrawal options | Reports of lag-time with the mobile app |
| Available for Desktop, iOS and Android | No 24/7 support |
| Numerous available sports and bet types | |
| iRush Rewards program |
BetRivers provides bettors with one of the better live streaming options that we have seen, has one of the best Odds Boost programs in the industry, and its Jackpot Parlay is something we recommend every new bettor check out. The iRush Rewards program is also a very nice perk that comes along with joining the BetRivers family.
