Ohio casino and racino revenues stayed relatively level in September even as football season heated up.
The monthly totals for Ohio casinos and racinos came in at $188.6 million. That’s down 3.8% from August’s $195.9 million but up 1.7% on September 2021’s $185.4 million.
Year-to-date revenue totals show that both casinos and racinos maintained the same percentage increase in September as in August.
- January-September 2021 total revenue for casinos and racinos: $1.741 billion
- January-September 2022 total revenue for casinos and racinos: $1.763 billion
- Percent increase: 1.2%
Casino and Racino Revenue Percent Increase from 2021 to 2022
The leveling trend could be a sign that an upturn is coming in Ohio’s retail industry that has posted exceptional numbers on the year, all things considered.
Ohio casinos could be turning the corner
If not for a poor showing last month by the Hollywood Toledo casino, September’s casino revenue totals may have come in much closer to August’s.
Total revenue for the month of September ($81.4 million) was down 3.5% from August ($84.3 million), but it outpaced September 2021 revenue ($78.9 million) by 3%.
Both JACK Cleveland and Hollywood Columbus came in above their revenue totals for August – an atypical result for the year – with Hollywood Columbus continuing to lead the way in statewide revenue. Overall, these totals are an improvement over last month, when all four Ohio casinos came in at least $1 million below July’s totals and only outpaced August 2021’s totals by 2%.
Year-to-date revenues affirm the possible turnaround in casinos as the percentage increase over 2021 held steady for the second month in a row at 2.5%.
- January-September 2021 total casino revenue totals: $740.1 million
- January-September 2022 total casino revenue totals: $759.7 million
- Percent increase: 2.5%
| Casino | September 2022 Net Revenue (in millions) | August 2022 Net Revenue (in millions) | September 2021 Net Revenue (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JACK Cleveland | $21.9 | $21.8 | $21.3 |
| Hollywood Columbus | $22.3 | $22.2 | $19.7 |
| Hard Rock Cincinnati | $20.1 | $21.2 | $19.7 |
| Hollywood Toledo | $17.1 | $19.5 | $18.1 |
| Total | $81.4 | $84.2 | $78.9 |
Racinos continue to tread water
Just as last month, nearly all Ohio racinos saw drops in their monthly revenue totals. The lone exception was Hollywood Mahoning Valley. They held steady from August to September.
The Eldorado Scioto Downs took the biggest hit from August to September, dropping more than $1.5 million in revenue in the last month. The other racinos saw only modest dips. MGM Northfield Park continues to be the top performing racino in the state, but with the poor showing by Eldorado, Miami Valley Gaming came in as the second-highest earner.
Year-to-date totals haven’t shifted from August to September. Ohio racinos have virtually matched their totals from last year, outpacing 2021’s totals by a thin .2%.
- January-September 2021 total racino revenue totals: $1.001 billion
- January-September 2022 total racino revenue totals: $1.004 billion
- Percentage increase: .2%
| Racino | September 2022 Net Revenue (in millions) | August 2022 Net Revenue (in millions) | September 2021 Net Revenue (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGM Northfield Park | $23.7 | $24.2 | $22.9 |
| Eldorado Scioto Downs | $18.1 | $19.8 | $17.8 |
| Miami Valley Gaming | $18.8 | $19.1 | $17.5 |
| JACK Thistledown Racetrack | $14.9 | $15.7 | $15.6 |
| Hollywood Mahoning Valley | $13.0 | $13.0 | $12.8 |
| Hollywood Dayton | $12.0 | $12.2 | $12.0 |
| Belterra Park Thoroughbred Track | $6.6 | $7.7 | $7.9 |
| Total | $107.2 | $111.7 | $106.5 |
Continued frustration at OCCC over sportsbook applicants
The Ohio Casino Control Commission continues to be swamped with incomplete sports betting applications and applicants pestering OCCC staff with questions about the status of their applications.
OCCC Executive Director Matt Schuler explained that applicants scrambling to meet the Oct. 5 final application deadline for the Jan. 1 launch bombarded staff with questions about whether their applications were on the day’s agenda.
They also infuriated Schuler and his staff by asking procedural questions that they should’ve already known. He went so far as to call these applicants “petulant children” for their lack of propriety and respect for the hard work undertaken by the OCCC to meet the launch.
The OCCC next meets on Oct. 19. It should become clear if some of the operators on the outside looking in have gotten their papers in order or will be left behind for launch.
