March revenue up for Ohio casinos

Hollywood Toledo rises 21%, but lags other 3 venues

4/9/2013

COLUMBUS — Spring fever appeared to hit Ohio’s casinos in March as three venues saw bounces in betting.

They also were joined by a new kid on the block in Cincinnati as Ohio hit its full complement of four voter-approved, Las Vegas-style casinos.

Toledo’s riverfront Hollywood Casino saw a 20.9 percent jump in taxable wagering dollars in March. It took in $17.8 million, up more than $3 million from February.

The casino, however, was overshadowed by all three of its brethren, including newcomer Horseshoe Casino in Cincinnati, which opened on March 4 and took in $21 million for the rest of the month.

Penn National Gaming Inc.’s second Ohio casino, Hollywood Columbus, took in $20.9 million, up 13.3 percent over February. Horseshoe Cleveland, the state’s first casino, reported $24.5 million in March, up 11.1 percent. Rock Ohio Caesar’s owns both Cleveland and Cincinnati casinos.

So far, total wagering minus payouts — and the 33 percent state tax attached to it — have come in below what had been projected to voters when they were sold on bringing 24-hour gambling to the state.

In the meantime, competition continues to increase beyond what was known at the time of the 2009 vote. Scioto Downs near Columbus remains the only racetrack with a slots parlor attached. Thistledown near Cleveland will become the second today.

The tracks and their slot-like video lottery terminals were approved by the General Assembly rather than by voters.

On the same day the Ohio Casino Control Commission announced the latest revenue numbers, the state Department of Taxation announced that $62.9 million in wagering tax revenue had been deposited into various funds benefiting counties, schools, cities, and others from the January-through-March collections.

All counties split their share of the pot, but Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati received a greater share for serving as hosts to the four voter-approved casinos.

Lucas County and Toledo each received $608,895 from the county’s slice of the pie, and the city received $3.1 million more as host city.

School districts will not receive their portions of the tax revenue until after the first six months of the year.

Toledo’s 2,037 slot machines remained the biggest draw at the Hollywood Casino, representing better than $14 million of the total $17.8 million taken in.