Streak ended: Ohio’s casinos, racinos see revenue dip in April

Cleveland
 
Streak ended: Ohio’s casinos, racinos see revenue dip in April
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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio’s casinos and racinos saw a revenue dip in April, but are still on track to break a yearly record for gambling revenue in 2023.

The state’s 11 casinos and racinos had $204.6 million in gambling revenue in April, according to reports from Ohio’s Casino and Lottery commissions, falling short compared to the $215.6 million taken in last April. The record for April, $217.1 million, was set in 2021.

But because of a strong January, February and March, Ohio’s gambling totals are still ahead year-over-year.

There were nine Fridays or Saturdays when business typically is the strongest in April this year, down from 10 in April 2022.

So far in 2023 the 11 establishments have had $816.2 million in gambling revenue. By this time in 2022, the casinos and racinos had brought in just $782 million and went on to break a record that year.

Ohio’s total gambling revenue has increased each year since 2012, when the first casino opened — excluding 2020, a year plagued by pandemic-related shutdowns.

Gambling revenue is the money kept by the gambling houses, after paying out winnings, but before state taxes and fees.

The casinos brought in $86.5 million of gambling revenue in April, down from $92.8 million last year. The racinos brought in $118.1 million, also down compared to the $122.7 million brought in last April.

The four casinos, which can offer slot machines and table games like blackjack, brought in $86.5 million, down from the $92.8 million made last April. The state’s seven racinos, the gambling houses at horse racetracks that can only offer slot machines, brought in $118.1 million, down from $122.7 million in 2022

Newly legal sports betting is counted separately from casino and racino revenue. Each casino and racino also has a physical sportsbook.

In the Greater Cleveland market, April revenue was:

* $26.5 million at MGM Northfield Park, up from $25.6 million in April 2022.

* $16.7 million at JACK Thistledown Racino, down from $17.2 million.

* $21.9 million at JACK Casino Cleveland, down from $23.1 million last March.

Below are details for each Ohio casino and racino. Having trouble seeing this chart? Click here.

Sean McDonnell covers business and consumer topics for cleveland.com. You can reach him at smcdonnell@cleveland.com You can read more Cleveland business stories at cleveland.com/business/.