The Columbus skyline shines as March gambling revenues in Ohio show a significant increase. (Image: : Jon Lovette / Alamy)

The four casino destinations and seven racinos in the midwestern American state of Ohio had a good March after recording an increase of 1.3% year-on-year in aggregated gambling revenues to just beyond $94.74 million.

The tally, which does not include sports betting, was above the $93.47 million the venues managed to chalk up for the same 31-day period in 2023 and represented a rise of over 13% month-on-month. 

The figure was also almost 26% above January’s finishing figure of about $75.23 million and took the properties’ three-month reckoning to just north of $253 million, which was nevertheless a year-on-year contraction of nearly 3.3%.

Primary Particulars

Figures released by the Ohio Casino Control Commission showed combined March revenues from the state’s collection of 6,288 slots swelled by 14.2% month-on-month and 3.4% year-on-year to hit $69.04 million. This came as the period’s associated cash-in tally escalated by 15.3% sequentially to reach $889.05 million with a payout rate of 92.23% 

For Ohio’s 350 gaming tables - including poker tables, aggregated March revenues surpassed $25 million, which was an upturn of 11.3% month-on-month but a decline of 3.8% year-on-year. 

This followed a boost of 11.7% sequentially and 1.7% annually in aggregate, dropping to $110 million with a corresponding payout rate of 76.68%.

Successful Cycle

Regarding the biggest players in the state, Penn Entertainment Incorporated's Hollywood Casino Columbus facility saw an increase in gambling revenue in March of about $25.55 million, or 13.3% month over month and 5.1% year over year. 

This came as receipts from the venue’s 1,724 slots topped $19.69 million, with its 84 gaming tables contributing a further $5.86 million.

The picture was much the same for Jack Cleveland Casino, as its total March gambling revenues surpassed $24.51 million, which represented an increase of 13.3% month-on-month and 0.4% year-on-year. 

The 100,000 sq ft city center enterprise owned by Vici Properties Incorporated chalked up some $15.16 million from its collection of 1,170 slots, while its 109 gaming tables accounted for an added $9.34 million.

General Joy 

For its part, the Hollywood Casino Toledo venue with its 125,000 sq ft gaming floor saw March gambling revenues improve by 3.8% month-on-month and 8.3% year-on-year to about $22.46 million.

The enterprise located along the banks of the Maumee River recorded $15.16 million in receipts from its assortment of 1,170 slots, while its 109 gaming tables brought in a vastly improved $9.34 million.

Finally, Hard Rock International's Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati business saw its own gambling revenue for March increase by almost 10.5% month over month to $22.22 million. However, this figure represented a decline of 7.4% year-on-year despite a contribution of $14.86 million from its array of 1,620 slots, with its 100 gaming tables bringing in a healthy $7.36 million.