Gaming revenues of Ohio’s four casinos hit the brakes in April due to one operator’s lackluster performance.
Figures from the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) showed that Ohio’s four casinos raked in $71.8 million last month, up by 1 percent from $71.1 million in April 2017. However, April’s growth was slower than the casinos’ 8.3 percent growth in March 2018.
The biggest loser for the month of April was Jack Cleveland Casino, which saw its revenues plunge 4.6 percent to $16.7 million. This was the lowest April revenue that Jack Cleveland posted since it opened six years ago.
Jack Cleveland’s revenue was also a surprise since it just recently opened its new electronic table games for millennials called Synergy. The game has 28 electronic play stations, giant video displays, and music courtesy of a live DJ.
Penn National Gaming’s Hollywood Casino Columbus, on the other hand, was April’s biggest winner as its gaming revenues grew 2.7 percent to $19.3 million compared with the $18.77 million in April 2017.
Columbus’ April 2018 revenue, however, was $3.1 million lower than its March 2018 total.
Meanwhile, Columbus’ sister property Hollywood Casino Toledo’s gaming revenue rose to $18.2 million last month from $17.9 million in April 2017, a new property record for the month of April.
Cleveland’s sister property Jack Cincinnati Casino reported revenues climbing 1.2 percent to $17.5 million from $17.29 million in April 2017. Cincinnati’s casino revenue, however, was $2 million lower than its March 2018 figures.
For the first four months of the year, Ohio’s casino revenue grew 2.2 percent to $284.2 million compared with $277.9 million during the same period last year, according to the state regulator.
The Ohio Lottery Commission announced that gambling revenues from the state’s seven racinos climbed more than 8 percent to $89.7 million in April.
