Casinos in Ohio Continue to See Revenue Growth in May

Casinos in Ohio continue to thrive.

Ohio’s casinos saw steady growth in May 2026, with total revenue reaching $95.7 million across the state’s four commercial properties. According to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, this marks a 4.5% year-over-year increase, showing continued strength in the land-based gaming market.

Slots remained the main driver of revenue in The Buckeye State, generating $72 million, up 5.3% from last year. Table games brought in $23.8 million, growing at a slower rate of 2%. This gap reflects a broader trend seen across casinos in Ohio, where slot machines consistently outperform table games.

We saw a similar performance in April. Despite the strong numbers from traditional casinos, legalizing online casinos in Ohio is still up for discussion.

Hollywood Columbus Leads Ohio Casinos

Hollywood Casino Columbus once again led all casinos in Ohio, reporting $28 million in revenue for May. This represents an 8.2% increase year-over-year, the strongest growth among all four locations.

• Slots: $21.7 million (+6.8%)
• Table games: $6.3 million (+13.4%)

The Columbus property accounted for roughly 29% of total casino revenue in the state. Its strong performance is tied to its location in Ohio’s largest metro area and a well-balanced mix of gaming options.

How Other Ohio Casinos Performed

While Columbus led the market, other casinos in Ohio showed mixed results:

• Jack Cleveland Casino: $23.6 million (+6%), with steady gains in both slots and table games.
• Hollywood Casino Toledo: $21.8 million (+2.3%), boosted by slot growth, but table games dropped sharply by 28.7%.
• Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati: $22.3 million (+0.6%), showing flat performance overall.

These results highlight how different markets across Ohio respond to player demand, especially between slots and table games.

Racinos Add Strong Revenue Growth

In addition to traditional casinos, Ohio’s seven racinos (which feature video lottery terminals instead of full table games) generated $139.3 million in May. That’s a 5.9% increase year-over-year and one of the stronger monthly totals reported recently.

Racinos continue to play a major role in the state’s gaming economy, often outperforming individual casinos in total revenue due to their wider geographic reach.

Trends Shaping Casinos in Ohio

Several key trends are shaping the performance of casinos in Ohio in 2026:

• Steady growth: Revenue increases have remained consistent month-to-month, with April also posting gains of over 5%.
• Slot dominance: Slot machines continue to drive the majority of revenue across all properties.
• Market differences: Columbus stands out as the strongest market, while others show more variability.
• External factors: Consumer spending, local economies, and competition from online betting and sportsbooks all influence results.

It’s important to note that sports betting revenue is tracked separately and is not included in these casino totals, even though it represents a significant part of Ohio’s overall gaming industry.

Why Hollywood Columbus Stands Out

Hollywood Casino Columbus continues to separate itself from other casinos in Ohio. It regularly exceeds $25 million in monthly revenue and has shown consistent growth throughout 2026.

Key advantages include:

• Location in the Columbus metro area, the largest in the state
• Strong brand backing from Penn Entertainment
• A balanced mix of slots, table games, and poker

Its double-digit growth in table games during May is especially notable, suggesting broader player engagement beyond slots.

What This Means for Ohio’s Casino Industry

The May 2026 report shows that casinos in Ohio are on a stable growth path. While gains are not explosive, they are consistent and supported by strong slot performance and solid demand in key markets like Columbus.

With both casinos and racinos contributing significant revenue — and generating tax funding for education and local programs — the outlook for Ohio’s gaming industry remains positive heading into the second half of the year.