The gambling bug was a busy little creature in the Buckeye state last month.
Figures recently released by the state’s gaming commission showed that revenues increased solidly in March at all four of Ohio’s casinos.
At Hollywood Casino Toledo, which is owned by Penn National Gaming, Inc., revenues totaled $19.7 million last month, up 7.6 percent from March, 2017. The March revenues were up 25.5 percent from February’s $15.7 million total.
Penn National’s other gaming site, Hollywood Casino Columbus, had revenues of $22.4 million, up 8.7 percent from a year ago. The totals were up 20.4 percent from $18.6 million in February.
At Jack Cincinnati Casino, which is owned by Jack Entertainment LLC, gaming revenues totaled $19.5 million in March, up 5.6 percent from the same month a year ago. Revenues also were up 14.7 percent from $17 million in February.
Revenues at the Jack Cleveland Casino increased the most of the four — totaling $20.2 million or 12.2 percent higher than a year ago. The Cleveland casino’s March revenues also were also 23.9 percent over the $16.3 million in February.
Statewide revenues were $81.7 million last month, or 8.3 percent higher than March, 2017, when revenues totaled $75.4 million. The March state totals were an increase of 20.8 percent over February’s $67.6 million.
All the figures were released Monday by the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which serves as the governing body for slots and table gambling in the state.
The commission only calculates revenues from casino gambling. Sales from food, drinks, merchandise, and events are not included in the commission’s totals.
First quarter gaming revenues totaled $212.4 million, according to state figures. That represents a 5.9 percent increase over the first three months of 2017 when revenues totaled $206.5 million.
Revenues at the state’s seven “racinos,” which combine horse racing and video slots, totaled $96.5 million in March. That was up 102 percent from March a year ago when revenues were $87.5 million.
In a related development, it was announced last week that the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park in the Cleveland area is expected to be sold by Milstein Entertainment to MGM Growth Properties LLC for $1.06 billion. The purchase is still awaiting approval by the Ohio Lottery Commission, which oversees the state’s seven racinos.
MGM Growth Properties said it intends to retain ownership of the real estate and lease out the facility, anticipating $50 million to $60 million of annual rent. The Hard Rock casino is licensed and managed by Hard Rock International, the parent company of Hard Rock hotels, casinos and cafes, and is Ohio’s best performing gaming establishment among the state’s seven racinos and four casinos.
Contact Jon Chavez at jchavez@theblade.com or 419-724-6128.
First Published April 10, 2018, 4:30 p.m.