COLUMBUS, Ohio – Revenues at each of Ohio’s four casinos declined in December, leading to the worst statewide showing in the nine months that all four were open.
State casino regulators say revenues fell by nearly 6 percent last month at the Hollywood Casino Columbus, and by nearly 3 percent at Scioto Downs.
The opening of two new racinos this past month and the industry-wide gambling slowdown in December are blamed for decreased revenues at all four Ohio gambling palaces.
Figures released Tuesday by the Ohio Casino Control Commission show revenue from casinos in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toledo declined 9.8 percent.
The Cincinnati casino opened March 4, and the others opened in 2012. The statewide December revenue of $63.2 million was the lowest full-month total with all four facilities open.
The 5.8 percent decline at the Hollywood Casino on the West Side is pretty tame, compared with the 19.1 percent dropoff in Cincinnati and the 9.6 percent decline in Cleveland. The Toledo Casino saw a drop of 3.9 percent.
Gambling options in Ohio expanded in December with two new horse racing tracks with slots-style video lottery terminals. Those new racinos opened north of Cincinnati and near Cleveland.