After registering their second-best month of the year, Ohio casino and racino operators are celebrating.
According to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, Ohio’s casino revenue shot past $84 million in May, topping April by over a million dollars. This marks the second most profitable month for retail casino activity in 2024.
The state also has seven racinos, a combination of a casino and a horse track, contributing to the strong numbers in May.
The state’s 11 casinos and racinos brought in a combined $204 million in May, up from $196 million in 2023 and $202 million in 2022. According to data from the OCC and lottery commissions, the combined record for the month was set in 2021, at $209 million.
Hollywood Columbus Has Biggest Increase
Which casinos generated the most revenue in May? It was a close race because three out of Ohio’s four standalone casinos experienced increased revenue month-on-month.
However, it was Hollywood Columbus who led the way with nearly $24 million in overall revenue, followed by Jack Cleveland and Hard Rock Cincinnati, while Hollywood Toledo was the only property that saw a decline.
Here’s the breakdown:
Casinos:
- Hollywood Columbus: $23.6 million
- Jack Cleveland Casino: $21.3 million
- Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati: $20.4 million
- Hollywood Toledo: $19.1 million
Total casino revenue generated topped out at $86.4 million.
Racinos:
- MGM Northfield Park: $26.8 million
- Miami Valley Gaming: $21.6 million
- Scioto Downs: $19.9 million
- JACK Thistledown Racino: $15.4 million
- Hollywood Mahoning Valley: $15 million
- Hollywood Dayton: $13.3 million
- Belterra Park: $7.6 million
The total racino revenue reached $119.8 million. Additionally, Jack Cleveland had the highest table games revenue during May.
Online Casinos Could Add To The Profits
The question everyone is asking now is: Will online gaming arrive in Ohio soon?
Online casinos would give consumers the chance to legally play slots and table games through mobile apps or browser-based sites.
Ohio is a strong contender for expanding online gaming due to its existing features:
- Online Sports Betting: Ohio allows online sports betting, with top-rated sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.
- Retail Sportsbooks: Multiple Brick-and-mortar sportsbooks operate in the state.
- Casinos: Ohio has four land-based casinos.
- State Lottery: The state runs a lottery.
The state achieved a significant milestone by reaching $10 billion in lifetime betting volume in April, making it the fastest state to do so. And despite having only four casinos, Ohio’s continued casino success is impressive. Compared to other states of similar size, the Buckeye State has significant untapped revenue potential.
If online gaming is added to the gambling options in the Buckeye State, experts say it would instantly become one of the strongest iGaming markets in the country.
We’ll have to wait and see.
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