Ohio gaming revenue rises in May

ng revenue at Ohio’s four full-service casinos showed a steady increase in May, suggesting the industry may have stabilised after nearly a yearlong run of poor results.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission reported this week the four casinos of the state took in $70.2m, representing a 5.5% increase compared to the prior-year period.

Jack Cleveland Casino was the top scorer in the state, collecting $17.4m in May – an 8.8% increase from the same month last year. In second place was Jack Cincinnati Casino, with a 6.8 percent growth; Hollywood Casino Toledo collected US$17.3 million in May, a 4.9 percent increase; whilst Hollywood Casino Columbus totalled US$18.4 million, the higher revenue but the smallest increase of only 3.6%.

As revealed by news outlet The Blade, year-to-date, Ohio’s four casinos have brought in a total gaming revenue of $348.2m, down less than 1% from the $351.4m they collected at the same point in 2016.

Last month, the state Senate passed House Bill 32 unanimously, which will amend a law that prohibited, until now, staff members to play slots and wagers at any of the state’s four casinos. As of now, casino operators or employees will be able to “participate in casino gaming at a casino facility, so long as they don’t have an interest in the facility, aren’t employed at the facility and don’t have an interest or employment at an affiliated facility in Ohio.”