Matched Betting in Ohio (Complete 2026 Guide)
- Adam Small
- 58 minutes ago
- 16 min read
1. Introduction to Matched Betting in Ohio
Ohio launched its online sports betting market on January 1, 2023, and moved almost immediately into the top tier of national markets - the state processed over 11.3 million geolocation transactions in its first two days alone, and its first full month of combined retail and online handle topped $1.1 billion, more than every state except New York at the time. That kind of scale, sustained by one of the broadest licensing frameworks in the country, makes Ohio a genuinely strong market for matched betting.
Ohio's licensing structure is also worth understanding on its own terms. House Bill 29 created three separate license types: Type A licenses for mobile and online operators (available to Ohio-based casinos, racinos, and professional sports organizations, including the Bengals, Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians, Blue Jackets, Reds, and Crew), Type B licenses for retail sportsbooks, and Type C licenses for betting kiosks at bars, restaurants, and lottery retailers statewide. That framework is part of why Ohio ended up with one of the deepest operator fields in the country.
Most people hear "sports betting" and think of predicting winners. Matched betting works differently. Rather than trying to guess outcomes, matched bettors focus on extracting value from sportsbook promotions while minimizing exposure to the actual result. An Ohio sportsbook running a bonus bet promotion views it as a marketing expense. A matched bettor views it as a controlled, repeatable profit opportunity.
At OddsMatched, matched betting is the foundation layer of a larger advantage betting framework:
Layer | Purpose |
Steam Betting | Signal |
Positive EV Betting | Decision |
Arbitrage Betting | Risk-Free Execution |
Matched Betting | Foundation |
OddsMatched | Complete System |
Most profitable bettors don't stop after a few welcome offers. They expand into arbitrage, positive EV, and steam betting while keeping the same disciplined process that made matched betting work in the first place. Ohio's operator density supports that progression well, even with some of the legal complexity around prediction markets covered later in this guide.
If you're new to the concept itself, start with The Ultimate Guide to Matched Betting (Beginner Tutorial). For the full index of guides, calculators, and platform comparisons, bookmark The Ultimate Matched Betting Guide Library.
This guide covers exactly what's legally available to an Ohio bettor today, verified against current operator and platform lists rather than assumed.
2. Is Matched Betting Legal in Ohio?
Yes. Sports betting has been legal and regulated in Ohio since January 1, 2023, and matched betting is simply the structured use of those legal, licensed promotions.
Requirement | Ohio Rule |
Minimum Age | 21+ |
Location Requirement | Must be physically inside Ohio when the wager is placed |
Identity Verification | Required |
Licensed Online Operators | Roughly 13 currently active |
Licensed Retail Sportsbooks | 13, plus 40+ betting kiosks statewide |
Regulator | Ohio Casino Control Commission (Types A and B); Ohio Lottery Commission (Type C kiosks) |
Ohio's operator tax rate has moved since launch - it doubled from 10% to 20% in July 2023, and Governor DeWine proposed doubling it again to 40% in his February 2025 budget, though lawmakers removed that increase from the final 2026-27 budget in June 2025. The 20% rate remains in effect. That's operator-side taxation and doesn't change a bettor's own legal standing, but it's useful background given how much it's shaped recent promotional strategy across Ohio operators.
Ohio has also taken an unusually restrictive approach to certain bet types: it banned individual college athlete prop bets in March 2024, a national first, and Governor DeWine has pushed for a broader ban on all player prop bets, professional included, though no regulatory action had been taken on that broader proposal as of this guide. That restriction is relevant later in this guide when it comes to why some Ohio bettors look outside the regulated market for certain bet types.
As in any state, the sportsbook is a private business separate from the underlying legality of the activity. An Ohio operator can still limit or reduce promotional eligibility for an account it considers unprofitable, and that has nothing to do with whether matched betting itself is legal.
Tax treatment of any winnings depends on individual circumstances, and anyone with specific questions should consult a qualified tax professional. Ohio operators issue W-2G forms for large wins, and as of 2026 the state withholding rate on wins over $600 (and at least 300x the wager) is 2.75%.
For the broader legal picture, read Is Matched Betting Legal in the US, UK and Canada and Matched Betting in the United States (Complete 2026 Guide).
3. How Matched Betting Works
Matched betting has nothing to do with predicting winners - that misconception trips up more beginners than anything else.
The process is built around promotions and hedging:
Claim a sportsbook promotion.
Place a qualifying bet.
Create a hedge position against that outcome.
Unlock the bonus or free bet.
Convert the bonus into withdrawable value.
Sportsbooks spend enormous sums acquiring customers. Welcome offers, bonus bets, odds boosts, and profit boosts are marketing expenses designed to bring new users through the door. Most customers use those offers casually. Matched bettors treat the same offers as a structured, repeatable source of value.
Traditional Sports Betting | Matched Betting |
Predict outcomes | Extract promotions |
Profit depends on winning | Profit depends on execution |
High variance | Controlled variance |
Emotion-driven | Process-driven |
Sports knowledge critical | Process knowledge critical |
Consider a simplified example. FanDuel offers a bonus bet promotion tied to a qualifying wager on a Cleveland Cavaliers or Cincinnati Bengals game. A bettor places that qualifying bet at FanDuel's price, then creates a hedge position on the opposing outcome at DraftKings or BetMGM, wherever the better hedge price sits that day. The goal isn't predicting the winner - it's completing the promotion while minimizing exposure to the result. Once the qualifying bet settles, FanDuel awards the bonus, and that's where the bulk of the profit comes from.
For the step-by-step mechanics, read How to Make Your First Matched Bet: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners. For how a hedge relates to the original wager, see Back Bet vs Lay Bet Explained: The Complete Beginner Guide. For the full strategic picture, see The Complete Guide to Matched Betting Strategies 2026.
4. Where Ohio Bettors Can Actually Place Bets
Licensed, legal online sportsbooks in Ohio currently number roughly 13.
Sportsbook | OddsMatched Guide |
DraftKings | |
FanDuel | |
BetMGM | |
Caesars | |
Fanatics Sportsbook | |
BetRivers | |
bet365 | |
theScore Bet (rebrand of ESPN BET, launched December 2025) | |
Hard Rock Bet | No dedicated guide yet |
betJACK | No dedicated guide yet |
MVG Bet | No dedicated guide yet |
Prime Sports | No dedicated guide yet |
Bally Bet | No dedicated guide yet |
Two exits are worth flagging explicitly, since general matched betting content sometimes lists them as live options without checking: Betway exited the Ohio market on July 31, 2024, and Betfred Sports stopped accepting Ohio players on August 31, 2024. Neither operates in Ohio today despite having guides elsewhere in this library for states where they remain active. PointsBet's Ohio presence also folded into Fanatics following that brand's 2024 acquisition, and Tipico exited the US market entirely after being acquired by MGM for its platform technology.
Retail sportsbooks number 13 statewide, tied to Ohio's four full-service casinos (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo), seven racinos, and select professional sports venues. Betting kiosks - Type C licenses - are also available at more than 40 bars, restaurants, and lottery retailers, giving Ohio one of the most physically distributed legal betting footprints in the country alongside its online market.
Prediction markets in Ohio carry more legal uncertainty than in several neighboring states, and it's worth being precise about that rather than assuming access. In April 2026, the Ohio Casino Control Commission issued cease-and-desist orders specifically to Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com, arguing their sports-related event contracts meet Ohio's legal definition of sports gaming and therefore require licensure. Kalshi has pushed back in federal court, and reporting indicates federal courts have temporarily paused state enforcement in Ohio while the underlying jurisdictional question - CFTC authority versus state gambling law - remains unresolved.
Platform | Confirmed Accessible in Ohio? | Notes |
Kalshi | Contested - check current status | Named in Ohio's April 2026 cease-and-desist order; federal court has reportedly paused state enforcement while litigation continues, but this is actively unsettled |
Polymarket (Polymarket US) | Check before use | Not specifically named in Ohio's April 2026 cease-and-desist order, but the state's broader enforcement posture toward event contracts makes this worth confirming directly |
ProphetX | Likely accessible | CFTC-designated sports-focused contract market; not named in Ohio's cease-and-desist action, but confirm current status given the state's active posture |
DraftKings Predictions | Check before use | Sports-contract rollout has generally prioritized specific states first; confirm current Ohio availability directly |
FanDuel Predicts | Check before use | Sports contracts specifically are only turned on in a subset of states; confirm current status directly |
Ohio is a genuinely fast-moving state for this question specifically - more so than most others covered in this library - so treat any prediction market claim here, including this one, as something to re-verify on the platform itself before depositing.
Offshore, unregulated sites are worth naming directly, and Ohio has a specific driver toward them that's worth understanding: the state's ban on individual college athlete prop bets, combined with Governor DeWine's push for a broader ban on all player props, has pushed some Ohio bettors toward offshore books specifically to access prop bet types the legal Ohio market doesn't offer. Nationally, the American Gaming Association estimates Americans wagered around $84 billion with illegal bookies and offshore sportsbooks in the past year, with roughly one in ten sports bettors relying on unlicensed sources exclusively.
For education, some of the more commonly referenced names in that offshore space include operators like Bovada, MyBookie, and BetOnline. We're naming them here because pretending this part of the market doesn't exist would leave this guide incomplete, not because we're recommending them: none of these operate under an Ohio license or any other US state license, none are subject to US consumer protection or dispute-resolution rules, and using them carries real legal and financial risk that a licensed Ohio operator simply doesn't - risk that's harder to justify given how many legal Ohio operators already exist for anything outside the state's specific prop-bet restrictions.
5. Hedging Options for Ohio Bettors
Most of the exchanges written about in general matched betting content are UK- or EU-licensed and block US registration entirely - a restriction that applies nationally, and Ohio is no exception.
Hedging Method | Actually Usable From Ohio? | Why |
Betfair | No | UK/Malta-licensed exchange; blocks US registration entirely |
Smarkets | No | Accepted countries are limited to the UK, Ireland, Malta, and a handful of others; USA is not included |
Matchbook | No | Alderney-licensed; USA is named on its own excluded-countries list |
Betdaq | No | UK-licensed exchange with no US registration path |
Orbit Exchange | No | Excludes the USA along with the UK and several other jurisdictions |
BetInAsia | No | Broker terms explicitly bar USA, UK, France, and Singapore residents |
Sportmarket | No | Same broker-style restriction; USA excluded in its terms |
BetConnect | No | UK-licensed peer-to-peer platform with no confirmed US access |
SX Bet | No | Terms of service explicitly prohibit US users |
ProphetX | Likely yes | CFTC-regulated prediction market; not named in Ohio's cease-and-desist action, but confirm given the state's active enforcement posture |
That leaves Ohio bettors with two realistic hedging paths: sportsbook-to-sportsbook hedging, made possible by the state's roughly 13 online operators, and ProphetX, with the caveat above.
Sportsbook-to-Sportsbook Hedging
With DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, BetRivers, bet365, and theScore Bet all licensed and live, an Ohio bettor can typically claim a qualifying bet on one operator and hedge it on another without leaving the state.
Approach | Why It Works |
Claim on a major operator (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM), hedge on another | The largest operators tend to have the deepest liquidity and tightest lines, making them reliable hedge partners for each other |
Claim on a mid-tier book (Caesars, Fanatics, BetRivers, bet365, theScore Bet), hedge on a major one | Mid-tier operators often run more aggressive promotions to build share, while larger books provide a reliably priced hedge |
Rotate promotions across all active operators | Working through each operator systematically, including smaller names like Hard Rock Bet, betJACK, MVG Bet, Prime Sports, and Bally Bet, extends welcome offer value further |
Comparing live prices across a dozen-plus operators is exactly the kind of task an odds matcher tool is built to speed up - see Odds Matcher 2026: What an Oddsmatcher Is and How to Use It to Guarantee Profit.
For background on exchange mechanics in general, read The Complete Guide to Betting Exchanges 2026. If you're wondering whether an exchange is strictly necessary, Matched Betting Without a Betting Exchange: Is It Really Possible? answers that directly - and for Ohio, sportsbook-to-sportsbook hedging is the clear answer given the operator's field's depth.
6. How Much Money Can You Make in Ohio?
Ohio offers a strong earning environment, driven largely by its unusually deep operator field for a single state.
Three factors drive the outcome:
How many of the roughly 13 online operators a bettor opens accounts with.
How systematically the process is tracked and executed.
How much of the prediction market opportunity a bettor is comfortable pursuing, given Ohio's more unsettled legal posture there compared to some other states.
Approach | Realistic Expectation |
A few major operators only | Solid welcome offer value, moderate recurring opportunity |
Full rotation across ~13 online operators | Meaningfully more welcome offer value plus a wide base of recurring promotions |
Full operator rotation + confirmed-accessible prediction markets | The most opportunity realistically available in Ohio |
For beginners, welcome offers across Ohio's many operators are usually the largest single source of early profit. After that, recurring promotions - odds boosts, profit boosts, and loyalty rewards - stay meaningfully available given how many operators are competing for the same customers.
For realistic income expectations nationally, read How Much Money Can You Make With Matched Betting. To understand starting capital, see How Much Money Do You Need to Start Matched Betting? Beginner Bankroll Guide. For a long-term view, Can You Make a Living From Matched Betting? The Honest Answer covers what's realistic.
7. The Tools That Make Matched Betting Easier
Matched betting can be done manually. With 13 sportsbooks to track in Ohio, manual comparison gets slow fast - which is exactly where tools earn their keep.
Tool Type | Purpose | Benefit |
Odds Matchers | Find qualifying bets across markets | Saves time |
Calculators | Calculate correct stakes | Reduces errors |
Tracking Tools | Monitor profit and history | Improves organization |
Opportunity Finders | Surface arbitrage and EV opportunities | Increases efficiency |
To see how odds matching works in practice, read Odds Matcher 2026. For a full platform comparison, see Best Matched Betting Tools & Platforms 2026. Before placing a first bet, review Best Matched Betting Calculators and How to Use Them Correctly.
8. Manual Matched Betting vs Using a Complete System
Every matched bettor starts manually. In Ohio, that approach strains quickly once a bettor is working across a dozen-plus operators plus keeping track of which prediction markets are currently accessible.
Manual Approach | System-Based Approach |
Disconnected tools | Centralized workflow |
Manual opportunity searches | Faster opportunity discovery |
Higher risk of errors | Consistent execution |
Time intensive | Scalable |
Ohio adds a layer most other states don't have to the same degree: keeping track of which prediction markets are currently accessible given the state's active cease-and-desist posture. A system that flags status changes is worth more here than in a state with a settled legal picture.
For opportunity discovery, read How to Find the Best Matched Betting Opportunities Step-by-Step. For tracking, see Matched Betting Spreadsheet: The Best Way to Track Every Bet. For calculation accuracy, review Essential Matched Betting Calculators for Guaranteed Success.
9. The 5 Biggest Mistakes Ohio Matched Bettors Make
1. Using Betway or Betfred guides without checking current availability. Both operators have exited Ohio. General matched betting content that doesn't account for state-specific exits will send bettors to a signup page that no longer works.
2. Assuming prediction market access is settled. Ohio's cease-and-desist action against Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com is still working through federal court. Bettors who don't check current status risk relying on outdated information.
3. Forgetting about Ohio's prop bet restrictions. Individual college athlete props are banned outright, and professional player props could face restrictions too. Promotions built around prop bets need to be checked against Ohio's specific rules before assuming they apply.
4. Sticking to only two or three sportsbooks. With roughly 13 operators available, limiting activity to just DraftKings and FanDuel leaves real promotional value untouched.
5. Poor record keeping across a large operator field. Ohio's operator density is an advantage, but it also means more accounts to track. Bettors who don't consolidate records lose track of real profitability fast.
Mistake | Consequence |
Using exited operators' guides | Wasted signup effort |
Assuming prediction market access is settled | Relying on outdated information |
Ignoring Ohio's prop bet restrictions | Missed or misapplied promotions |
Sticking to too few sportsbooks | Leaving available profit unclaimed |
Poor multi-account tracking | Weak decision-making |
For the full list of universal mistakes every beginner should know, read 15 Matched Betting Mistakes Beginners Make and How to Avoid Them. You should also review Do Sportsbooks Ban Matched Bettors and What to Do When They Do.
10. A Real-World Ohio Matched Betting Workflow
Step 1: Claim a welcome offer. A new bettor opens a DraftKings account and identifies a qualifying bonus promotion.
Step 2: Identify the hedge before betting. Before placing the qualifying wager, the bettor checks FanDuel and BetMGM for a suitable hedge price on the opposing outcome.
Step 3: Place the qualifying bet. The wager is placed at DraftKings according to the promotion's requirements. The game's outcome is largely irrelevant at this stage.
Step 4: Place the hedge. The hedge goes down on whichever operator offered the best available price.
Step 5: Convert the bonus. Once the qualifying bet settles, DraftKings awards the promotional credit, which the bettor works to convert into withdrawable value using the same process on a new event.
Step 6: Record everything. Stake size, bonus amount, hedge cost, and net profit all get logged.
Step 7: Repeat across the remaining operators. The process expands to BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, BetRivers, bet365, theScore Bet, and Ohio's smaller operators, checking prediction market status as a supplementary track when confirmed accessible.
Workflow Stage | Objective |
Signup | Access promotion |
Qualifying Bet | Unlock bonus |
In-State Sportsbook Hedge | Reduce risk |
Bonus Conversion | Generate profit |
Tracking | Measure performance |
Repeat Across Operators | Scale results |
To learn the process in greater detail, read How to Make Your First Matched Bet: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners. Once you understand bonus optimization, continue with Free Bet Conversion: How to Turn Free Bets Into Cash.
11. Using Arbitrage Betting Alongside Matched Betting
Most bettors discover arbitrage betting after they've become comfortable with matched betting, and Ohio's roughly 13-operator sportsbook field creates real opportunities for it.
Matched Betting | Arbitrage Betting |
Promotion driven | Price driven |
Ideal for beginners | Requires more monitoring |
Lower opportunity volume | Higher scalability |
Foundation strategy | Expansion strategy |
Ohio's arbitrage opportunities are most reliably found across its sportsbook field rather than between sportsbooks and prediction markets, given the more unsettled status of prediction market access in the state right now.
To understand how these opportunities form, read Arbitrage Betting Explained: Complete 2026 Guide. To see how bettors identify them in real time, review Arbitrage Finder Guide: How to Find Risk-Free Betting Opportunities in Real Time 2026. You should also compare the two approaches in Matched Betting vs Arbitrage Betting: What's the Difference?
12. Understanding Positive EV Betting
Positive EV betting doesn't rely on promotions and doesn't guarantee a profit on any single wager - it focuses on finding prices better than the true probability of an outcome, letting that edge play out over a large sample.
Positive EV Betting | Matched Betting |
Probability driven | Promotion driven |
Variance exists | Controlled outcomes |
Market evaluation required | Predictive skill unnecessary |
Ohio's roughly 13-operator sportsbook field gives a positive EV bettor a wide set of prices to establish a fair line from before identifying a book pricing an event out of step with the rest.
For the underlying math, read The EV Betting Strategy Guide 2026. To understand how EV opportunities are identified, review Positive EV Finder: What It Is, How to Use It. For a tool comparison, see Best EV Betting Sites 2026.
13. Understanding Steam Betting
Steam refers to fast, significant line movement caused by respected money entering a market - it's a signal, not a strategy by itself.
Recreational Bettor | Advantage Bettor |
Follows steam blindly | Analyzes the move |
Chases market action | Evaluates whether value remains |
Within the OddsMatched framework, steam is the signal layer, positive EV is the decision layer, and arbitrage is the execution layer, all built on the matched betting foundation. In Ohio, watching for gaps between how quickly the state's larger operators move a line versus its smaller ones - betJACK, MVG Bet, Prime Sports, and Bally Bet among them - is a practical way steam awareness applies locally.
To learn how steam moves develop, read Steamers Betting Guide 2026. For responsible use, review Steamers Betting Strategy Guide 2026: How to Use Steam Without Losing Money. For a tool breakdown, see Best Steamers Betting Sites 2026.
14. Comparing OddsMatched to Other Betting Platforms
Platform | Primary Focus | Comparison |
RebelBetting | Arbitrage & value betting | |
BetBurger | Arbitrage betting | |
Smart Betting Club | Tipster ecosystem | |
BetOnValue | Positive EV betting | |
SureBet | Arbitrage tools | |
BreakingBet | Arbitrage software | |
Trademate Sports | Sharp betting analysis | |
EdgeHunters | Value betting | |
OddsMonkey | Traditional matched betting | |
OddsJam | Positive EV & arbitrage | |
OutPlayed (formerly Profit Accumulator) | Traditional matched betting |
Most of these platforms specialize in a single strategy. For an Ohio bettor working across a dozen-plus sportsbooks while keeping track of a genuinely unsettled prediction market landscape, a platform that only covers one layer leaves real gaps. OddsMatched is built around all four layers of the framework - matched betting, arbitrage, positive EV, and steam - working together rather than in isolation.
15. Who Matched Betting in Ohio Is Best For
Good Fit | Poor Fit |
Comfortable managing accounts across many operators | Wants to stick to just one or two sportsbooks |
Willing to double-check prediction market status regularly | Uncomfortable with legal ambiguity in any part of the process |
Patient and methodical | Impulsive bettors |
Interested in scaling into arbitrage, EV, and steam betting | People who dislike record keeping |
Ohio rewards a bettor who's comfortable managing a large operator field and doesn't mind checking prediction market status more often than in a state with a fully settled legal picture. For bettors who'd rather not deal with that uncertainty at all, the sportsbook-only path through Ohio's roughly 13 operators is still strong on its own.
If you're brand new to the strategy, start with The Ultimate Guide to Matched Betting Beginner Tutorial, then review How Beginners Can Make Their First $1,000 With Matched Betting.
16. Frequently Asked Questions About Matched Betting in Ohio
Is matched betting legal in Ohio? Yes. Sports betting is legal and regulated online and at retail locations statewide, and matched betting simply uses those legal promotions in a structured way.
How many sportsbooks can I actually use in Ohio? Roughly 13, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics Sportsbook, BetRivers, bet365, theScore Bet (formerly ESPN BET), Hard Rock Bet, betJACK, MVG Bet, Prime Sports, and Bally Bet.
Are Betway or Betfred available in Ohio? No. Betway exited Ohio on July 31, 2024, and Betfred stopped accepting Ohio players on August 31, 2024. Both are legal in other states but not currently in Ohio.
Are prediction markets legal in Ohio? This is unsettled. The Ohio Casino Control Commission issued cease-and-desist orders to Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com in April 2026, and the matter is currently in federal court. Reports indicate enforcement has been temporarily paused, but confirm current status directly on each platform before depositing.
How many people use offshore sportsbooks instead of legal ones in Ohio? Nationally, the American Gaming Association estimates around $84 billion is wagered annually with illegal bookies and offshore sportsbooks, with about one in ten bettors relying on them exclusively. In Ohio specifically, the state's ban on individual college athlete props (and the possibility of a broader player prop ban) has been a notable driver toward offshore books for that particular bet type.
Do I need a large bankroll to start? No. Many beginners start with a few hundred dollars and scale as profits accumulate across Ohio's many available welcome offers.
What should I learn after matched betting? Most successful bettors expand into arbitrage betting, positive EV betting, and steam betting - all of which Ohio's deep sportsbook field supports well, even with the added step of verifying prediction market access along the way.
17. Verdict: Is Matched Betting Worth It in Ohio?
Ohio is a strong state for matched betting, driven by one of the deepest sportsbook fields in the country and a genuinely distributed retail and kiosk network. The one area that requires extra diligence is prediction markets, where Ohio's active cease-and-desist posture toward Kalshi puts it in more legal flux than states like North Carolina or New Jersey.
The biggest mistake an Ohio bettor can make is either ignoring that uncertainty entirely or letting it discourage using the state's sportsbook field, which stands on its own regardless of how the prediction market question resolves.
The framework doesn't change just because one layer carries more legal uncertainty than usual:
Matched Betting = Foundation
Arbitrage Betting = Risk-Free Execution
Positive EV Betting = Decision Layer
Steam Betting = Signal Layer
Ohio simply asks a bettor to stay a little more current on one part of the picture than most other states in this library require.
For your next step, explore The Complete Guide to Matched Betting Strategies 2026, review Master Matched Betting With Expert Guides and Tools, and keep The Ultimate Matched Betting Guide Library bookmarked as your central resource.
If you're ready to start making money:
written by: Adam Small - Matched betting expert @ OddsMatched.com
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