Casinos and racinos operating in Ohio took in $196 million in gambling revenue in August, according to monthly reports released by the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Ohio Lottery on Tuesday. This represents a slight increase of 0.8% from the $194.2 million posted the same month last year. However, it is 5.2% down from the $206.7 million registered in July 2022.
Despite Ohio casinos and racinos no longer appearing to outpace their 2021 totals, 2022 has been a very strong year in the Buckeye State for casino gaming, and it will undoubtedly close out as one of the strongest on record. So far in 2022, Ohio’s four casinos and seven racinos have taken in more than $1.4 billion in gambling revenue, up 1.2% year-over-year.
Additionally, while last month’s numbers were only slightly up from the same month in 2021, the increase was still enough for the state to barely break a new record for August.
Jack Cleveland Casino
In terms of statewide revenue, casinos posted revenue of $84.2 million, a $1.8 million gain from August 2021. Hollywood Columbus placed first among all venues, at $22.2 million.
The casino was followed by Jack Cleveland Casino ($21.8 million), Hard Rock Cincinnati ($21.1 million), and Hollywood Toledo ($19 million). Hollywood Columbus and Hard Rock Cincinnati posted revenue up from July 2021, while Jack Cleveland Casino and Hollywood Toledo experienced revenue drops.
MGM Northfield Park
Racinos posted statewide revenue of $111.7 million, 5.3% down from the $118 million delivered last month, but nearly on par with the $111.8 million registered in August 2021. MGM Northfield Park placed first at $24.2 million in revenue, followed by Eldorado Scioto Downs ($19.7 million), and Miami Valley Gaming ($19 million).
Meanwhile, JACK Thistledown Racino delivered $15.7 million in revenue, while Hollywood Mahoning Valley posted $13.8 million, Hollywood Dayton took in $13 million, and Belterra Park posted $7.7 million.
Martino's on Vine, one of the first 200 approved establishments in Ohio.
So far, the Ohio Casino Control Commission has approved over 300 sports betting licenses ahead of the state’s market launch in 2023. The Cleveland Browns, JACK Casino, JACK Thistledown Racino, Hollywood Casino Toledo, and the Cincinnati Reds are among the parties that have been approved for online (type A) and in-person (type B) licenses.
Of the total number of greenlighted licenses, the majority of them –300– correspond to type C permits for various restaurants, bars, and suppliers who will now have the opportunity to offer gambling kiosks on their premises. As for type A and B licenses, the OCCC only considered 10 licensure applications from companies who submitted “complete and timely applications.”
Ohio's Cleveland Browns.
All Ohio sportsbooks will commence operations on January 1, 2023, which was set by the Casino Control Commission as the universal launch date. The OCCC is currently in the process of creating rules, applications, forms, and other essentials to launch. The state estimates that sports betting will be a $1 billion industry in Ohio in its first year or so of operation, growing to $3.35 billion within a few years.
