The state of Ohio on Monday released March revenue reports for JACK Thistledown, JACK Casino Cleveland and the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, which on April 1 became known as MGM Northfield Park.
Gambling revenue at Ohio’s 11 casinos and racinos totaled $184 million in March after paying out winnings, with about a third of that - or close to $60 million - going to the state in the form of taxes or lottery fees.
The totals reported last Monday by the Ohio Lottery and Ohio Casino Control commissions were up 3.4 percent over March 2018, because gains at the seven slots-only racinos were able to offset a statewide decline in casino money,
The racinos generated $103.1 million from slot machines, up 6.9 percent from $96.5 million in March 2018. The four casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo had a total of $81.1 million in revenue from slots and table games, down 0.8 percent from $81.7 million.
The former Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, which on April 1 was rebranded under new ownership to MGM Northfield Park, was Ohio’s busiest racino or casino, with $24.5 million, well ahead of No. 2 Hollywood Casino Columbus at $21.5 million.
In the Cleveland/Akron market, revenue climbed 3.2 percent to $57.3 million, with gains at the two racinos but a drop in gambling business at the casino in downtown Cleveland. The Hard Rock Rocksino in its last month was up 4.9 percent from March 2018 to $24.5 million; JACK Thistledown Racino was up 8.4 percent to $13 million; JACK Cleveland Casino was down 1.8 percent to $19.8 million.
In combining the two JACK Entertainment properties in the Cleveland market, revenue was up 2 percent to $32.8 million. JACK last week announced it would sell its Cincinnati casino and Turfway Park in Kentucky to Hard Rock Entertainment and VICI Properties for $780 million.
Only Ohio’s four casinos are permitted to offer table games. The Cleveland casino led with $9.5 million, accounting for 38 percent of table game revenue statewide.