Ohio Gaming Facilities Collect $194.3M Revenue For August

Commercial gaming revenue in Ohio fell below $200 million for August, as the 11 facilities in the Buckeye State collected $194.34 million for the month.

That was the lowest gambling revenue figure for Ohio since February, but that decline must be put in perspective because the past six months have been the most lucrative stretch ever for Ohio gaming facilities.

Ohio casinos and racinos set a record in March, combining for $215.8 million. That was just the start of a scorching spring and summer. That record fell again in April with revenues of $217.1 million.

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Total revenues have exceeded $190 million each month since March and surpassed $200 million four times in that span.

And last month was the best August on record in Ohio as well. In August 2020 the state pulled in $172 million. The figures for August 2021 were $22.2 million higher than that.

The state’s four commercial casinos combined for $82.5 million in total revenue for August 2021, down 8.9% from the $90.5 million collected in July, according to figures from the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

JACK Cleveland led the way in August with $21.9 million in revenue, followed by Hollywood Columbus ($21.1 million), Hard Rock Cincinnati ($19.9 million) and Hollywood Toledo ($19.5 million). Hard Rock Cincinnati had set its record in July at $21.5 million.

The handle figures were $715.8 million for slot coin in and $107.25 million in table games drop for the month.

Ohio Racino Revenue Also Declines

The seven racinos (video lottery terminals at racetracks) combined for $111.86 million in net win for August, down 7.3% from the $120.7 million they made in July, according to the Ohio Lottery. The payout percentage was nearly identical – 90.89% in July and 90.86% in August.

MGM Northfield Park led Ohio racinos with $23.26 million in August revenue, down 6% from July’s $24.75 million. Eldorado Scioto Downs was next at $19.65 million, followed by Miami Valley at $17.9 million, JACK Thistledown at $17 million, Hollywood Mahoning Valley ($13.4M), Hollywood Dayton ($12.46M) and Belterra Park Cincinnati ($8.2 million).

August was the sixth consecutive month in which Ohio racinos cleared more than $110 million in revenue. Before that hot streak, the record for a month was $103.1 million in March 2019. To put that in perspective, the figure for August was last among the past six months — but also No. 6 all-time for the state.

The handle for August at the VLTs, also called credits played, was $1.224 billion.