Ohio's racinos collect a record $1 billion

Revenue for fiscal 2018 at the Northfield's Hard Rock Rocksino was $246.5 million, up from $232.6 million a year earlier. All seven of the racinos posted revenue gains in the last year.

Second largest was Scioto Downs in Columbus at $168.3 million, followed by Miami Valley in Lebanon ($151.6 million), JACK Thistledown in North Randall ($121.4 million), Hollywood Mahoning Valley in Youngstown ($115.3 million), Hollywood Gaming Dayton ($103.5 million) and Belterra Park in Cincinnati ($80.7 million).

The racinos, regulated by the Ohio Lottery Commission, operate on the state fiscal year ending each June. A third of the revenue from the racino slot machines goes to that Commission. 

There are no table games at the racinos. Ohio's four casinos, regulated separately by the state Casino Control Commission, are on calendar years. They have both table games and slot machines. Their taxes go mainly to counties, schools and host cities.

For the first six months of 2018, combined gambling revenue after paying out winnings totaled $420.5 million for the four casinos, up 2 percent ($8.2 million) from the first six months of 2017.

Revenue is up in Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo, and essentially flat at the casino in Cincinnati through six months. JACK Cleveland Casino revenue for the first half of the year totaled $102.1 million, up from $99.5 million during the first six months of 2017.

Elsewhere for the first six months of 2018, revenue was $115 million at Hollywood Casino Columbus, $102.7 million at Hollywood Casino Toledo and $100.7 million at JACK Cincinnati.

Among these, Cleveland was by far first for table games ($50.5 million) and Hollywood Toledo led for slot machines ($85.8 million).