Ohio sportsbooks reported $87.7 million in adjusted gross revenue for September, up 12.7% from a year earlier, lifting year-to-date revenue 7% to $721.6 million through the first three quarters, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
The gain came from higher hold, not more wagering. Handle slipped 2.3% to $945.3 million, and operators reduced promotional spending.
The 9.3% hold was more than 1.2 percentage points higher than a year earlier. Hold is the share of wagers sportsbooks keep as revenue, and it can swing from month to month based on game results.
A year earlier, operators reported $77.7 million in revenue on a $967 million handle, with a hold near 8%. Handle for the year totals $7.07 billion, essentially flat compared with the same period in 2025. September marked the first full month of the football season, when operators typically ramp up marketing to keep and win customers.
Operators spent $38.5 million on promotions in September, down 17.7%, or roughly $8.3 million, from September 2025. The decline may have contributed to the lower handle, though the commission’s report does not link the two.
The pullback was uneven. FanDuel’s $13.4 million in credits and bonuses fell 24.6%, and DraftKings’ $10.2 million dropped 33.4%. bet365 went the other way, with $8.6 million in promotions, up 25.9%.
Promotional marketing is also under review in Ohio. The commission has proposed a rule that would pause direct marketing to customers for 48 hours after they enable or change a responsible gambling tool.
FanDuel led in handle at $320.5 million, up 4.7%, and narrowly led in revenue. Together, FanDuel and DraftKings accounted for about two-thirds of statewide handle. FanDuel won $28.9 million, down 11.9%, as its hold fell 1.7 percentage points to 9%. DraftKings finished less than $105,000 behind in revenue, which rose 33.1% on a 9.4% hold, even as its handle fell 10.4% to $306.9 million.
bet365 ranked third in both categories with $8.8 million in revenue, down 8.7%, as its hold dropped more than three percentage points to 9.5%.
BetMGM and Fanatics followed. BetMGM won $5.5 million, up 36.3%, on a 9.4% hold despite a 2.7% drop in handle. Fanatics won $4.8 million, up 68.2%, with handle up 8.6% to $56.9 million and promotional spending down 26.1% to $1.8 million.
Hard Rock posted $3.3 million in revenue, up 40% and its second-best month in the state, on an 11.4% hold. Its handle rose 23.5% to $29.4 million.
Ohio taxes sports betting revenue at 20%, and the state collected an estimated $17.5 million in September. Tax collections for 2026 total $134.9 million, $9.4 million ahead of last year’s pace.
The commission publishes monthly sports gaming revenue reports on its website. Year-to-date, revenue growth of 7% is running well ahead of flat handle.
October results will show whether hold stays near 9% and whether promotional spending rebounds in the fourth quarter. bet365 spent $25.9 million in last year’s fourth quarter, so year-over-year promotional comparisons could swing.
The commission’s proposed marketing rule, which had a comment deadline of October 30, could also affect how operators spend if it is adopted.
