Ohio’s on line casino playing trade generated $2.3 billion in 2021, a brand new yearly excessive for the market that’s now a decade outdated.
Per state figures, the Las Vegas-style casinos and the racinos set the brand new file even with out sports activities betting, which was legalized by state officers late in 2021. Ohio will quickly have each retail and on-line sportsbooks.
Revenue to shut out the 12 months was slightly below $200 million in December, up about 50% from the identical month a 12 months prior. Ohio’s revenues plummeted in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, like different on line casino states within the U.S.
The 12 months 2019, earlier than the pandemic arrived, noticed $1.9 billion in mixed income from the casinos and racinos, the earlier all-time excessive for Ohio.
Ohio has 11 on line casino playing amenities, with the Las Vegas-style casinos situated in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo.
According to the American Gaming Association, the on line casino trade’s main commerce group, Ohio’s on line casino playing trade helps jobs for almost 20,000 Ohioans and generates greater than $1.1 billion in tax income yearly.
The state costs a 33 p.c tax on all gross on line casino income, with a separate VLT tax for the racinos. That income is cut up by contributing 66.5 p.c to the racinos as fee and 33.5 p.c to the Ohio Lottery, which regulates the machines.
Ohio’s 2021 efficiency got here alongside a banner 12 months for the on line casino trade nationwide. The 12 months was the highest-grossing ever for business gaming income, “with $44 billion generated and counting,” the AGA mentioned on Jan. 3.
Much of the positive factors have been because of the wave of sports activities betting legalization.