The JACK casino in Cleveland showed steady growth in May year-over-year, as all casinos in Ohio did. (Image: Alexander Farmer/Alamy)

Ohio’s 11 casinos and racinos enjoyed their best May since 2021 this year, bringing in a combined $204.3 million in gambling revenue for the month.

That’s up from approximately $196 million in 2023, and $202 million in 2022, though short of the record $209 million the venues brought in during May 2021.

Nearly All Operators See Gains in May

In this case, it seems as though a rising tide lifted all boats. According to figures released by the Ohio Casino Control Commission, all four full casinos in the state saw revenues increase year-over-year in May.

The charge was led by the Hollywood Columbus, which brought in over $23.6 million in the month, up from $22.4 million last year. JACK Cleveland Casino, Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, and Hollywood Toledo all also posted gains.

The story was nearly as good at Ohio’s seven racinos. Six of the seven locations saw gains during May, with the one exception being JACK Thistledown Racino, which was down 2.1 percent to just over $15.4 million. The best performer for the month was MGM Northfield Park, which brought in over $26.8 million during May.

DraftKings, FanDuel Lead Ohio Sports Betting Market

The results were a welcome boost for the state’s casino industry after a disappointing April, in which overall revenues were down slightly from 2023. Even with a solid May, the casinos and racinos are still behind their overall yearly total from last year, having now brought in just over $1 billion for 2024 – down a little more than 1 percent year-over-year.

The state’s sports betting industry also performed well in May. Online and live betting channels combined to take $612.7 million in handle during May, up more than six percent over May 2023. Adjusted gross revenue rose 16.4 percent to $67.5 million for the month. 

Online betting continues to dominate the space, as it does in most states. Ohio saw $66.1 million in online sports betting revenue for the month, while just $1.2 million came in from retail outlets. DraftKings led the way in handle with $204.2 million, though FanDuel lead the way in revenue at $30.6 million thanks to a 15.3 percent hold for May. 

According to the American Gaming Association, Ohio ranks as the sixth largest gambling market in the United States, collecting $3.3 billion in total gaming revenue for 2023.