Ohio casino tax revenue falls during Q1

First-quarter revenues for Youngstown and Mahoning County each totaled USD 357,390 in 2017, compared with USD 362,488 in the same quarter last year, usd 352,854 in 2015, USD 341,549 in 2014 and USD 326,893 in 2013.

Revenues come from a 33% tax on gross gambling revenues paid by the state’s four casinos, which are in Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati.

In counties with a major city, the major city and county government share equally in the county’s casino tax revenue, which is distributed quarterly.

The casinos are facing competition from the state’s seven racinos, including Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Austintown, noted Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti.

The Austintown racino has an October-to-April live horse-racing season that helps generate first-quarter patronage there, she observed.

“There are a lot of people that are really interested in horse racing,” the commissioner said, noting that she has observed that the Austintown racino is “packed” with customers when the horses are racing.

“If they have one [a major gambling establishment] right in their own backyard, why should they drive to Cleveland or Pittsburgh?” Rimedio-Righetti asked.

“Competition from the racino sector is fierce,” said Alan Silver, assistant professor of restaurant, hotel and tourism at Ohio University.