According to recent data from the Ohio Lottery, the Buckeye State’s racinos won $112.5 million in August.
Those figures are down 4.3% from July, when the state’s seven properties won $117.5 million. However, they represent an incredibly small year-over-year uptick from August 2022 when racinos won $111.7 million.
As a result, the Ohio Lottery received $37.7 million in taxes from the racinos.
MGM Northfield Park leads the way again
MGM Resorts is a Las Vegas-based giant in the casino industry. With several properties on the famed Las Vegas Strip and 19 nationwide, MGM is known for its casino dominance.
The company dominates the Ohio market but doesn’t own a casino. Instead, MGM owns MGM Northfield Park, the state’s most popular racino.
MGM Northfield Park recorded gross revenue of $25.9 million in August. That’s more than any of the four Ohio casinos won in July, the most recent month with data available for casino earnings. However, it’s likely the property’s revenue takes a hit in September after a cyberattack affected most MGM properties.
MGM Northfield Park hosts harness racing, slot machines and has a BetMGM retail sportsbook. On the other hand, casinos can’t have racing but can offer traditional table games.
Hollywood Casino Columbus was the highest-grossing casino in July with $23.2 million. The state’s four casinos reported nearly $86 million during the month.
Despite casino dominance, Columbus racino still thrives
Those in the state’s capital clearly have a love for gambling. The Hollywood casino in Columbus was the highest-grossing casino and the city’s racino was near the top of the list.
According to the Ohio Lottery data, Eldorado Scioto Downs reported $18.5 million worth of revenue. The figure is nearly identical to Hollywood Casino Columbus’ slot machine revenue of $18.3 million.
Scioto Downs was the third-highest-grossing racino in the state, behind only MGM Northfield Park and Miami Valley Gaming. Miami Valley Gaming in Lebanon reported $19.1 million worth of revenue.
August Ohio racino revenue
| Property | Revenue |
|---|---|
| MGM Northfield Park | $25.9 Million |
| Miami Valley Gaming | $19.1 Million |
| Eldorado Scioto Downs | $18.5 Million |
| JACK Thistledown | $15.3 Million |
| Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway | $13.5 Million |
| Hollywood Mahoning Valley | $13.2 Million |
| Belterra Park | $6.9 Million |
2024 fiscal year outlook looks promising
During the 2023 fiscal year, which ended at the start of July, racinos won $1.3 billion. The first two months of the 2024 fiscal year appear on par with the prior pace.
Therefore, it looks like racinos should be in for another 10-figure year if nothing unexpected happens in the market.
