WASHINGTON: A strong June at three of Ohio’s four freestanding casinos has pushed statewide gaming revenues at the year’s halfway point to nearly back on track with last year’s figures. A Friday report from the Ohio Casino Control Commission shows the four casinos had collectively taken in $412.3 million as of the end of last month, down less than half a percentage point from the same time period last year. The agency said gaming revenues at the Hollywood Casino Toledo were $16.1 million last month, a 3.2 percent increase from the prior year. Revenues were up 6 percent at the Hollywood Casino Columbus, and 9.2 percent at the Jack Cincinnati Casino. Revenues continued to be weak at the Jack Cleveland Casino, coming in at just under $15 million, an 8 percent drop from the prior year. Gaming revenues at that casino have been lower in five of the year’s six months. Year-to-date, revenues there are down 6.7 percent.
Year-over-year revenues in the year’s first half were up 2.9 percent in Columbus and 3.1 percent in Cincinnati. At Toledo’s casino, first half gaming revenues were 0.8 percent lower than they were in 2016. The solid June report is an encouraging sign for the industry that saw a 10-month stretch of declining year-over-year numbers finally snapped in March. Since then, revenues appear to have stabilized. The monthly reports from the state only include revenue derived from gambling. Food, drink, merchandise, and event sales figures are not included. Gaming revenue from the state’s seven racinos, which has now surpassed revenue from the four full-service casinos, was up 10.5 percent in June to $78 million.
