Ohio’s casinos, racinos take in $216 million March, breaking record

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio’s gambling establishments eked out another record month in March, despite competing with pent up demand from last year.

The state’s 11 casinos and racinos brought in $216.3 million in gambling revenue last month, beating the $215.9 million brought in during March 2021, according to monthly reports released by the state’s casino control and lottery commissions on Thursday.

Ahead of the pandemic, the record for March was $184.2 million, set in 2019.

Going into March 2021, the gambling establishments were benefiting from the reopening of poker rooms for the first time in a year, elimination of overnight curfews related to the coronavirus, and stimulus money in the pockets of thousands of Ohioans.

Gambling revenue is the money kept by the house after paying out winnings.

Ohio’s casinos and racinos have broken the yearly record nine out of the last 10 years. The only year they didn’t was 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.

Ohio’s four casinos brought in $93.3 million in revenue in March, while the seven racinos brought in $123 million.

JACK Cleveland Casino and MGM Northfield Park posted gains in March over March 2021. JACK Thistledown Racino posted lower revenue than last year.

* MGM Northfield Park had $26.1 million in revenue, up from $25.3 million last March.

* JACK Cleveland Casino had $24.5 million, up from $22.2 million.

* JACK Thistledown Racino had $17.5 million, down from $17.9 million.