Ohio casinos and racinos report third-best revenue ever in April with $215.6M

Casinos and racinos operating in Ohio took in $215.6 million in April, according to monthly reports released by Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Ohio Lottery on Thursday. The figure was less than a percentage point away from the revenue posted the same month last year, when the 11 venues reported $217.1 million, the state's best April. 

This time around, casinos and racinos were just 0.7% away from that figure, making April 2022 the third-best month overall since casinos and racinos came back to the state in 2012, reports Cleveland.com.

Hollywood Columbus.

In terms of statewide casino revenue, casinos saw a slight improvement from last year with $92.8 million, about $300,000 more than in April 2021.

Hard Rock Cincinnati placed first among all venues, at $24.4 million, followed by Hollywood Columbus ($24.3 million), Jack Cleveland Casino ($23.1 million), and Hollywood Toledo ($21.1 million). Hard Rock Cincinnati, Hollywood Columbus, and JACK Cleveland casinos posted revenue up from April 2021, while Hollywood Toledo experienced revenue drops.

Racinos posted statewide revenue of $122.7 million, down $1.8 million from the $124.5 million delivered in April 2021. MGM Northfield Park placed first at $26.1 million in revenue (above $245 million the prior year), followed by Eldorado Scioto Downs ($22.5 million), and  Miami Valley Gaming ($20.1 million).

Meanwhile, JACK Thistledown Racino delivered $17.2 million in revenue, while Hollywood Mahoning Valley posted $14.5 million, Hollywood Dayton took in $14.2 million, and Belterra Park posted $8.6 million.

MGM Northfield Park.

Last week, the Ohio Casino Control Commission announced that it will begin accepting sports betting license applications in June. A first application window starts on June 15 for Type A, B, and C proprietors, first-designated mobile management services providers (MMSPs), management services providers, and suppliers. The window is to close on a July 15 deadline. 

A second application window will then commence on July 15 for Type C sports gaming hosts and second-designated MMSPs. It will close one month later, on August 15. 

New documents show there will be a “universal” start date, meaning approved operators will be launching on the same date. As required by sports gaming law, the universal start will be announced for a date no later than January 1, 2023, although the state could launch sooner than that given recent progress made in terms of regulations approval.

In order for licensing applications to commence on June 15, the regulator will submit by a June 1 deadline a batch of proposed sports gaming rules for final consideration.