(614) 462-5400
/
Contact Us

07

Feb2017

Crackdown Continues

/ Other Gaming
Law enforcement continues its crackdown on illegal gambling. Last summer the Ohio Investigative Unit raided Shelluke’s Bar and Grill in Fremont. Two gambling machines were seized. There were two such raids in Sandusky County in 2016. The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) conducted an investigation covering Fairfield, Franklin and Perry counties. Five locations were raided. Illegal ... Read More

03

Feb2017

Legal Beat

/ Other Gaming
Barring an appeal, the final challenge to the constitutionality of Ohio’s casinos has ended. Last Fall, a Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge ruled against Frederick Kinsey, the last of seventeen members of Ohio Roundtable who had filed a lawsuit in 2011 challenging the constitutionality of casino gambling in Ohio. The ... Read More

01

Feb2017

Gambling by the Numbers

/ Casino
The Columbus Dispatch analyzed gambling in Ohio for the period 2012-15. $62.9 billion was bet at Ohio’s legal gambling establishments with winning payouts totaling $53.3 billion, leaving $9.7 billion that people lost gambling. The casinos to date have generated over $1 billion in tax revenue. Ohio cities and counties have received over $660,000 ... Read More

30

Jan2017

2016 Casino Revenues Down

/ Casino
Overall, casino revenues in 2016 dropped nearly 2% from the previous year. Only Hollywood Columbus showed an increase ($213.5 million, up 1.5%). This was the first time that Hollywood Columbus has topped the annual casino revenue charts. JACK Cleveland, formerly Horseshoe Cleveland, experienced the largest decrease ($203.6 million, down 4.3%), but had been ... Read More

28

Jun2016

Clark County Roundup

/ Other Gaming
The Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) wrapped up their investigation in the Springfield area. Twelve bar owners have pleaded guilty to charges of illegal gambling. As part of the plea agreement, each owner will pay a $100 fine plus court costs. Last year 55 electronic gambling machines were seized from 15 county bars. The ... Read More

24

Jun2016

Another JACK

/ Casino
Horseshoe Cincinnati closed its doors for 40 hours earlier this month to complete their transformation to JACK Cincinnati. This completes the transfer of operations of Caesars Entertainment’s gambling facilities in Ohio to Jack Entertainment. The Cleveland casino and Thistledown racino reopened under the JACK brand earlier this year.

22

Jun2016

Casino Revenues Down, Racino Revenues Up in May

/ Casino
Ohio’s four casinos all experienced revenue declines from a year ago while the seven racinos all had revenue increases. JACK Cleveland, which recently closed for 40 hours for their makeover, experienced the largest decline. Revenues of $16 million were down 15% from a year ago. Hollywood Columbus ($17.8 million) and Horseshoe Cincinnati ($16.2 ... Read More

03

Jun2016

Draft Rules Regulating Skill-Based Amusement Machines Released by Ohio Casino Control Commission; Comments due June 10

/ Other Gaming
The Ohio Casino Control Commission has released draft rules addressing skill-based amusement machines. Under the draft rules, machine operators, vendors, key employees, and machine locations would all require licenses to continue operating. The application and license fees add up to $20,000 for some licensees.  Under the rules as drafted, any ... Read More

02

Jun2016

Trademark Lawsuit Update

/ Casino
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected Caesars Entertainment’s request to dismiss objections by The Ohio State University to the casino’s attempt to trademark “The Shoe.” Caesars wants to trademark “The Shoe” for entertainment services at the Horseshoe Cincinnati casino. OSU objected, claiming “The Shoe” has referred to its football ... Read More

01

Jun2016

Legal Blotter Update

/ Other Gaming
Stephen Cline, owner of Spinners, a Pickaway County establishment, has been sentenced to five years on probation and fined $10,000. He also has 30 days to rid himself of any gambling equipment he may still own. Cline had pleaded guilty in February to charges of money laundering and operating an illegal casino. ... Read More