Ohio Casino Guide
Facts About Gambling & Online Casinos in Ohio
Ohio has done a great job regulating casino growth within the state. As of May 2015, there are seven racetrack casinos and four land-based casinos. This ensures players have options when it comes to playing in Ohio casinos. At the racetrack casinos, or racinos if you will, you can find thousands of the latest slot machines, so you’re not likely to get bored. Some even have online casinos in Ohio where you can play popular casino games for fun.
History of Gambling in Ohio
The OH! Lottery sold its first ticket in 1974 after voters agreed to amend the constitution. The money from these scratch-offs or lottery tickets goes, in part, to the state’s education fund.
When the federal government permitted Native American tribes to open casinos if their state agreed, Ohio wasn’t so quick to act. Voters would not approve a change to the constitution until 2009. At that point, only four casinos could open and each had to be in one of the four major cities: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, or Toledo. It would take another three years before the first legal casino in Ohio would open its doors.
With Ohio’s casinos in the works, the next big change to the current gambling laws came in 2012. The state authorized the installation of video lottery terminals in the state’s seven horseracing tracks.
Age Restrictions for Gambling in Ohio
As is true in many states, to purchase scratch-off tickets or lottery tickets or place bets on horse races, you must be 18. If you want to play casino games, you need to be at least 21.
Ohio’s Casino Gambling Outlook
Right now, Ohio seems focused on making sure that the four current casinos are operating legally, In May 2015, one casino was fined $125,000 for violations. Meanwhile all four casinos in Ohio saw their revenues fall, while Ohio racinos have been doing exceedingly well. With neighboring states continuing to compete, the state may soon have to consider branching into online poker and online casinos in Ohio to boost revenues.
Local Casinos
As of May 2015, Ohio has four land-based casinos and a handful of racetrack casinos known commonly as racinos. Here’s the current list:
Casinos:
• Hollywood Casino (Two locations: Columbus and Toledo)
• Horseshoe Casino (Two locations: Cincinnati and Cleveland)
Racinos:
• Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center
• Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park
• Hollywood Gaming (Two locations: Austintown and Dayton)
• Miami Valley Gaming
• Scioto Downs
• Thistledown Racino