© Rich Exner/cleveland.com/TNS MGM Northfield Park, JACK Thistledown Racino and JACK Casino Cleveland.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio’s casinos and racinos took in $196 million in gambling revenue last month, just barely breaking a record for August.
Combined, the 11 facilities’ revenue was just above the record $194.3 million set in August 2021, according to reports Wednesday from the Ohio Casino Control and Lottery commissions.
Each of the last two Augusts were well above what had been the previous record of $172.1 million, set in 2020.
The state’s seven racinos took in $111.7 million, just $150,000 shy of August 2021, but $18.7 million ahead of August 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio’s four casinos took in $84.3 million, a $1.8 million gain compared to 2021 and a $12.8 million ahead of 2019.
The gambling revenue is what the casinos and racinos make after paying out winnings, but before taxes. About one-third of this money is forwarded to the state in the form of taxes or fees.
Casinos and racinos broke records just about every month coming out of the initial months of the pandemic, when they were ordered closed all or part of the time.
The last few months have seen gambling revenue dip below 2021 levels, but gambling establishments topped their past performances in August.
Through the first eight months of, 2022, gambling revenue is 1.2% ahead of 2021, according to a cleveland.com analysis of state data.
Gambling revenue is less than a percent down in the Cleveland market, compared to 2021.
* MGM Northfield Park had revenue of $24.2 million, up 4.2% from $23.3 million in August 2021. Revenue was $20.7 million for August 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
* JACK Cleveland Casino had revenue of $21.8 million, down 0.4% from $21.9 million. Revenue was $18 million in 2019.
* JACK Thistledown Racino had revenue of $15.7 million, down 7.6% from $17 million. Revenue was $12.2 million in 2019.
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