Introduction to Ohio Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018
Ohio slot machine casino gambling consists of 11 casinos, of which all but 4 of these gambling establishments are pari-mutuel racinos with slot machines of the video lottery terminal (VLT) variety only.
In 2009, Ohio voters passed a statewide referendum to add a constitutional amendment allowing one non-racino-style, free-standing casino to be located in designated locations in each of four major cities:
- Cincinnati with JACK Cincinnati Casino;
- Cleveland with JACK Cleveland Casino;
- Columbus with Hollywood Casino Columbus; and
- Toledo with Hollywood Casino Toledo.
These 4 casinos were opened in 2012. They have traditional slot machines where the odds of winning are primarily controlled by the casino operator rather than VLTs controlled by the state lottery agency.
Each of these gambling establishments, whether a racino or full casino, report their slot payout return percentages to the state gaming commission.
This post continues the weekly blog series “Slot Machine Casino Gambling, State-By-State“, a year-long online resource project dedicated to guiding slot machine gambling enthusiasts to success.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Ohio*
The minimum legal age for casino gambling in Ohio is 21. For pari-mutuel wagering and participation in lottery activities, the minimum legal age is 18.
Legal statutes on Ohio gaming can be found in the Revised Code Section 3772 which, when passed, created the Ohio Casino Control Commission.
Ohio entered regulated casino gaming in November 2009 when 52% of Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment backed by the parties that would become the operators of Ohio’s four casinos.
In addition to the usual fees and taxes imposed Ohio businesses, the constitutional amendment levied a 33% tax on gross casino revenue and specified how proceeds of the tax are distributed.
It also required each licensed casino operator to pay a license fee of $50 million per casino dedicated to workforce development, as well as make an initial capital investment of $250 million for development of each casino facility.
This constitutional amendment also created the Ohio Casino Control Commission as well as required the Ohio General Assembly to pass other laws to facilitate the operation of the casino gaming amendment.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws apply to various forms of gambling. This information is not intended to provide legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Ohio
It is legal to privately own a slot machine in the state of Ohio.
Gaming Control Board in Ohio
The Ohio Casino Control Commission is a bipartisan regulatory body made up of seven Commissioners, and Executive Director, and supporting staff providing oversight of the casino gaming industry in Ohio. Its mission statement is:
“The Casino Control Commission has the responsibility to ensure the integrity of casino gaming by licensing, regulating, investigating and enforcing state laws.”
The Commission was created in 2011 following the passage of the state’s Casino Control Law, Revised Code Section 3772, authorizing the Commission to license, regulate, investigate, and exercise jurisdiction over all persons participating in casino gaming.
Administrative rules and resolutions adopted by the Commission establish the standards and procedures for casino operators, vendors, and licensed key and gaming employees.
The Commission is a law enforcement agency, responsible for enforcing the Casino Control Law. It:
- Ensures the integrity of casino gaming by enforcing gaming laws and working with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies;
- Serves as the Commission’s eyes and ears at the casinos; and
- Is comprised of gaming agents, investigators, and criminal intelligence analysts station on all casino properties as well as outside casinos when enforcing the criminal section of the Casino Control Law.
In its annual report, the Commission provides criminal statistics within its role as a law enforcement agency for each of the 4 non-pari-mutuel casinos.
Violations range from Aggravated Menacing to Voyeurism, and include number of occurrences as well as the casino location.
Casinos in Ohio
The largest casino in Ohio is the Hollywood Casino Columbus. In 2017, it had 2,229 slot machines, 70 gaming tables, and 34 poker tables. The second largest is Hollywood Casino Toledo, having 2,044 slot machines, 59 gaming tables, and 19 poker tables in 2017.
Several Ohio casinos also offer poker rooms and video poker on their gaming floor as well as horse racing tracks.
The 11 casinos and racinos in Ohio, along with their actual slot payout return percentages reported to the state for the beginning to mid-2017 are:
- Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center
- in Cincinnati;
- a commercial pari-mutuel racino with horse racing; and
- slot payout return: 91.08%.
- Hard Rock Rocksino at Northfield Park
- in Northfield;
- a commercial pari-mutuel racino; and
- slot payout return: 91.06%.
- Hollywood Casino Columbus
- in Columbus;
- a commercial casino; and
- slot payout return: 92.16% (the second-highest return in the state).
- Hollywood Casino Toledo
- in Toledo;
- a commercial casino; and
- slot payout return: 91.11%.
- Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway
- in Dayton;
- a commercial pari-mutuel racino; and
- slot payout return: 90.47% (the second-lowest return in the state).
- Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley
- in Austintown;
- a commercial pari-mutuel racino; and
- slot payout return: 90.09% (the lowest return in the state).
- JACK Cincinnati Casino
- in downtown Cincinnati;
- a commercial casino; and
- slot payout return: 91.58% (the third-highest return in the state).
- JACK Cleveland Casino
- in downtown Cleveland;
- a commercial casino; and
- slot payout return: 92.34% (the highest return in the state).
- JACK Thistledown Racino aka JACK Racino
- in Cleveland;
- a commercial pari-mutuel racino with horse racing; and
- slot payout return: 90.87% (the third-lowest return in the state).
- Miami Valley Gaming
- in Lebanon;
- a commercial pari-mutuel racino with horse racing; and
- slot payout return: 91.24%.
- Scioto Downs Racino
- in Columbus;
- a commercial pari-mutuel racino with horse racing; and
- slot payout return: 90.96%.
Summary of Ohio Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018
Ohio slot machine casino gambling consists of 11 casinos, of which all but 4 are pari-mutuel racinos with video lottery terminal slot machines.
In 2009, 52% of Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment for a Vegas-style casino to be located in the Ohio cities of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo. These 4 casinos opened in 2012, and have the only traditional slot machines in the state of Ohio.
The minimum legal age for casino gambling in Ohio is 21. For pari-mutuel wagering and participation in lottery activities, the minimum legal age is 18.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission establishes the standards and procedures for casino operators, vendors, and licensed key and gaming employees.
In its annual report, the Commission provides criminal statistics at each Vegas-style casino. Each racino or full casino, report their slot payout return percentages to the Commission.
Professor Slots Video on Ohio Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Series: Online Resource: State-By-State Slots Gambling Summaries – Now in its second year, this series is an online resource dedicated to slot machine casino gambling enthusiasts. It provides 56 weekly, detailed gambling summarizes covering each U.S. state, territory, and the federal district to capture dynamic changes occurring of late in the U.S. gaming/gambling industry specific to slots play.
- Previous: Northern Mariana Islands Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018 – Northern Mariana Islands slot machine casino gambling consists of 5 casinos on Saipan and 2 casinos on Tinian, 2 of 15 islands located 3/4 of the way between the Philippines and Hawaii. Other casinos include visiting cruise ships, casinos legally allowed to be open while docked, and an active casino junket industry.
- Next: Oklahoma Slot Machine Casino Gambling 2018 – Oklahoma slot machine casino gambling consists of 130 tribal casinos and two
pari -mutual racinos. Most offer only Class II bingomachines, and accept debit cards rather than cash. No public information is available with regards to gaming machine payout returns percentages from tribal casinos in the state of Oklahoma.