Ohio casino revenue up 18.1% from pre-pandemic levels

Ohio casino revenue reached $86.8m in May, up 18.1 per cent from May 2019.

US.- Ohio casinos industry continues to show figures well above pre-pandemic numbers following the reopening after lockdown.

After setting new monthly records in March and April ($91.6m in March and $92.5m in April), revenue came in at $86.8m in May, down from those records, but still up 18.1 per cent over May 2019 despite lower capacities and fewer machines.

Casey Clark, senior vice President with the American Gaming Association, said: “I think there’s a lot of factors, including people having a lot of pent-up energy in wanting to get back out into the public after being confined to their homes throughout COVID. And even maybe some expendable income they saved throughout their pandemic.”

He added: “As capacity restrictions are lifted, as they have been recently in Ohio and elsewhere, more and more people will continue to seek out opportunities to do things, and I think casino gaming is one of them“.

The state’s seven slots-only racinos saw revenue rise 27.5 per cent against May 2019. Thistledown’s revenue was up 50.7 per cent to $19m, and MGM Northfield 14.4 per cent to $25m.

Casinos are taxed at a rate of 33 per cent, with that money going to help cities and counties in the state. Revenue generated in May meant an extra $28.6m in tax revenue on last year.

This uptick comes as the State Senate continues to debate sports betting. Sports betting will be taxed at 10 per cent, with that money going to education.