Racino revenue in Ohio is continuing its steady growth. In fiscal 2019, for the first time since racinos opened in Ohio in 2012, annual gaming revenue from slot machines at the state’s seven racinos surpassed $1 billion, according to Ohio Lottery Commission figures. MGM Northfield Park, which began the year as the Hard Rock Rocksino, led the pack, taking in $256 million after paying out winnings, up from $246.5 million in fiscal 2018.
Slots revenue at racinos reached $733 million in 2015, $869 million in 2016, $923 million in 2017 and $987 in 2018.
In June, overall gaming revenue in Ohio totaled $161.4 million, up 4.5 percent from $154.5 million in June 2018, including $91.1 from the seven racinos and $70.3 million from the four casinos. No. 1 was Hollywood Columbus with $19.5 million in revenue, up from $19.1 million in June 2018, followed by JACK Cleveland Casino with revenue of $17.5 million, up from $16.4 million in June 2018, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
Unlike racinos, Ohio casinos are allowed to offer table games and skill-based slots. In June, JACK Cleveland had the highest table-game revenue at $8.2 million.
At the racinos, in June MGM Northfield Park posted $20.8 million in slots revenue, down from $22.2 million in June 2018, when it was the Rocksino; it was the only Ohio racino that collected less in slots revenue in June 2019 compared to June 2018. JACK Thistledown Racino in North Randall posted slots revenue of $11.9 million, up from $11.2 million in June 2018.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission collects taxes of 33 percent on casino gaming revenue, which primarily goes to counties, schools and host cities. One-third of racino revenue goes to a state fund for schools.
