Ohio Reports Casino Revenue Decrease in September

Our best sports betting sites operating in Ohio had an excellent September, but land-based casinos in the state had a more somber outlook.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission for Sept. 2024 show a month-over-month dip from August and one of the lowest revenue figures for the year. The four casinos reported $81.6 million in total revenue for the month, a 4.7% dip from the $85.7 million recorded just one month prior. It also decreased slightly from the $83.1 million generated last September. 

While Ohio sports betting is a reality, the state doesn't have real-money online casinos. Residents (and visitors) can head to one of the state's four most populous cities to take advantage of casino offerings. The state is home to Jack Cleveland Casino, Hollywood Columbus Casino, Hard Rock Cincinnati Casino, and Hollywood Toledo. 

Finer details 

Of the four casinos, only Hard Rock Cincinnati reported a revenue increase from August. Cincinnati's casino reported $20.6 million in revenue in September, a slight boost from $20.3 million reported in August. 

Jack Cleveland saw the biggest downturn, with its revenue dipping from $22.8 million in August to $20.6 million in September. 

Slots caused losses across the board. Each of the four casinos saw a dip in slot revenue month over month, with $59 million generated from a handle of $761 million at the machines. Both the revenue and handle reported in September were the lowest figures the state had reported since January. 

Table games were mixed bag month over month. Jack Cleveland and Hollywood Toledo reported revenue decreases of roughly $1.4 million and $230,000, respectively. On the other hand, Hollywood Columbus and Hard Rock Cincinnati reported boosts in table game revenue, with approximate gains of $350,000 and $1.35 million, respectively. 

While table game revenue was down across the board, profit margins were up marginally. 

Other Ohio news

One Ohio senator wants to change the status quo regarding casino gaming in the state, introducing a bill that would make iGaming a reality similar to Ohio sports betting apps and allow residents to access our best mobile casino apps.  

In September, Senator  introduced  to the Ohio Legislature to legalize online casino games. The Senator has introduced the measure ahead of a lame-duck session at the end of 2024. As Atani is term-limited, the bill will lose its sponsor for the 2025 session if lawmakers don’t discuss it in the lame-duck session. 

"I don't think that it's needed, but this is an entertainment option people want," said Antani. "People should be free to gamble if they want."

The state has also taken the same steps as many others nationwide in trying to crack down on unregulated gambling options for residents. In August, the Ohio Casino Control Commission sent Harp Media — Bovada's parent company — a cease-and-desist. The offshore sportsbook heeded the warning and stopped operating in the Buckeye State.

It's no shock to see the state look to shut down offshore books. 

Ohio’s legal sports betting industry has thrived since going live, becoming a reliable top-10 jurisdiction. The are plenty of Ohio sportsbook promos to take advantage of.