Ohio's Casinos, Racinos Had Hard Time In October

October brought a drop in gaming revenue in Ohio’s casino/racino industry compared to both the month and year before.

The four casinos and the seven racetracks with video lottery terminals combined for $187.8 million in winnings from customers, based on October revenue reports from the Ohio Casino Control Commission and Ohio Lottery. That was off 2.1% from September and a slightly steeper 2.2% from October 2022.

The racinos, whose total 10,296 VLTs are more than the number of slot machines in Ohio’s casinos, fared slightly better — meaning less worse — in the monthly and annual comparison. They combined for $108.4 million in revenue, just 0.3% less than September and 0.6% less than the year before.

The casinos’ slots and table games collectively earned $79.4 million, which was 4.5% less than the month before and 4.4% less than the prior October.

The casinos and racinos also have retail sportsbooks, and the casino commission separately reported that those and online sports betting combined for October revenue of $80.2 million in Ohio, which has not legalized online casino gambling.

Little good news among the casinos

Among the four casinos, there was only one kernel of positive news, with the $21.5 million earned in October by JACK Cleveland representing a 1.1% improvement from October 2022. It was down 2.2%, however, from September.

While Hollywood Casino Columbus earned the second-highest revenue among the casinos, at $21.3 million, that was 5.9% less than the month before and 10.2% less year-over-year.

Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati also had a tough month, with earnings of $18.9 million that were off 6% on a monthly basis and down 5.4% from the year before.

While Hollywood Casino Toledo has more slot machines than the others (1,774), its $17.7 million in revenue was the least. It represented a modest decline of 3.8% monthly and 2.2% on an annual basis.

Rebound by MGM Northfield

MGM Northfield Park was the bright spot among racinos, rebounding nicely in October from declines it had seen the month before. The biggest earner among the racetracks, its $24.5 million in October revenue represented a 7.2% monthly improvement and 4.9% annual upswing.

The only other increase from September came at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley, whose $13.5 million in October was 1.9% better than the month before. It was down 3.7%, however, from October 2022.

Multiple racinos made more money than the year before but less than the month prior. Belterra Park’s $6.9 million was 4.1% better on an annual basis but 0.4% down by monthly comparison.

Also, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, with $12.7 million, showed a 2.5% annual improvement but 0.8% decrease monthly.

JACK Thistledown’s $14.6 million was about even with October 2022 but off 4.8% from September.

Miami Valley Gaming, which has the most VLTs with 2,235, made $18.6 million from them, but that was 4.1% less than the month before and 1.1% less than the year before.

Lastly, Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs had the toughest month. Its $17.6 million in revenue was 3.3% less than in September and an 8.6% reduction from October 2022.