Ohio’s sportsbooks and casinos saw a very strong performance in May. Sports betting posted its best month of the year so far, while casino revenue saw an 8.4% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year. The state’s fiscal budget, released at the beginning of this month, appears to have taken some of the sting out of the push for regulated online gaming and may have helped stave off an increase in gambling taxes.
Ohio has 11 casinos and racinos, while sports betting was also legalized in 2023, although bettors must be present on Ohio land to place bets. Online casinos have not been regulated.
Bills are currently being debated in the House and the Senate, but, for now, Ohioans play at offshore casinos, including those reviewed in the Esports Insider Australia overview. These casinos are accessible to players from around the world, with many providing access to convenient, alternative payment methods like cryptocurrency and e-wallets, while also providing access to large portfolios of games and generous bonuses.
Online gambling expert Viola D’Elia says players can also benefit from a wide variety of bonuses, including those made available to new players, and VIP or loyalty-type programs for existing players.
While the submission of bills to the state legislature was deemed to have a good chance of seeing online gambling passed in the state, recent retail and budget performances may put the brakes on any development.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission, the body responsible for gambling oversight in the Buckeye State, released figures showing positive results for the gambling industry. In May, the state’s casinos brought in $92m of revenue, representing an 8% annual increase, and a 3.5% uptick compared to the month prior.
Of the state’s four main casinos, Hollywood Columbus retained its position at the top of the pack. It generated $25.8m for the month, which is the third consecutive month in which it has made more than $25m in revenue. JACK Cleveland generated $22.3m while Hard Rock Cincinnati and Hollywood Toledo posted revenues of $22.2m and $21.4m each, respectively. In terms of preferred game types, slot machines generated $68.4m of revenue, with table games posting $23.3m revenue for the month, which is not only consistent with historical figures for the state but is in keeping with general casino revenues.
In 2024, Ohio generated $3.3bn in casino revenue, giving it the 6th highest total of any US state. This figure was boosted by Ohio’s decision to regulate sports betting, with players able to place bets in casinos and racinos, as well as online, although they must be located within Ohio borders to be able to legally bet.
These revenue increases show an obvious demand for betting services, which may help persuade lawmakers of the need to regulate online gambling. However, it may also mean that lawmakers deem the regulation of online gambling unnecessary, especially considering the state of Ohio’s recent fiscal budget.
At the beginning of this month, Governor Mike DeWine signed the operating budgets for 2026 and 2027. The budgets are viewed as well-balanced and show positive year-end balances, as well as a strong stabilization reserve.
As such, there isn’t a pressing need for Ohio to push forward with online gambling regulation because the state doesn’t necessarily need the additional tax revenue, and may view the potential headaches of regulatory changes as an unnecessary demand.
While this could be bad news for online gamblers, the positive budget may also mean that the state will hold off on increasing gambling taxes, which would be viewed as positive news for Ohioans and gambling companies.