A recent report from the American Gaming Association says that Ohio’s casinos and racinos are responsible for 18,000 jobs, have an economic impact of $3 billion and generate $900 million in tax revenues for the state.
All four casinos had increased revenues from a year ago. Horseshoe Cincinnati led the way. Revenues of $16 million represented a 15% increase over last year. Hollywood Toledo ($15.6 million) was up 2% and Horseshoe Cleveland ($17.9 million) was up 4%. Hollywood Columbus at $17.2 million was about the same ... Read More
The number of bingo games for charity is on the increase throughout the state but revenues continue to decline. This despite efforts by lawmakers who have passed legislation that allow larger prizes and permit charitable organizations to sell instant bingo tickets at an unlimited number of retail establishments in their home ... Read More
Thanks to an appropriation in Ohio’s biennial budget, six communities will each receive $1 million over the next two years to help with infrastructure costs and increased public safety for the racinos. The money will be paid in two installments of $500,000 each at the end of 2015 and 2016. Half ... Read More
The Ohio Supreme Court has heard oral arguments on whether a party has standing to file a lawsuit arguing against the constitutionality of VLTs at Ohio’s horse racing tracks. A Franklin County court originally dismissed the lawsuit, saying the plaintiffs didn’t have the right to file. The decision was upheld by the ... Read More
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley is adding 75 VLTs at a cost of $975,000. This will increase the total number of VLTs to 941. Hollywood Gaming already generates the most revenue per VLT among the state’s seven racinos. Penn National Gaming is hopeful construction will be complete by September 1.
Several former employees of Horseshoe Cincinnati have been indicted on two different scams that cost the casino more than $121,000. In one of the scams, a table games supervisor would place a predetermined sequence of cards into a deck at a baccarat table. Once the deck was ready, he would ... Read More
Horseshoe Cleveland and Horseshoe Cincinnati have been fined by the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC). The Cleveland casino was fined $50,000 for issues involving its surveillance system. Inadequate coverage of table games was discovered during a routine audit by the OCCC several months ago. It was the failure of the casino to resolve ... Read More
A Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel has upheld the federal ban on sports betting in all but four states. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was enacted in 1992. Nevada, Oregon, Montana and Delaware were grandfathered in as exceptions to the ban.
Another exception was granted to ... Read More
For the fourth consecutive month, Ohio’s seven racinos have exceeded the four casinos in revenue. July racino revenues totaled a near record $73.1 million, only behind May’s $73.6 million. Casino revenues totaled $69.5 million, a modest $1.5 million above last year (2.2%) but $6 million more than in June.
Horseshoe Cleveland saw no ... Read More
