Ohio’s seven racinos posted their best February revenue numbers ever from video lottery terminals (VLTs) last month, retaining $114.4 million from what visitors put into the 10,000-plus machines.
The Ohio Lottery published data Tuesday showing the racinos’ VLT revenue was up both 13.8% over the $103.6 million collected in February 2022 and 3.7% over the $110.8 million this January, a longer month with three additional days for gambling.
The $114.4 million was the highest statewide revenue figure since the $118 million generated by the machines last July. The number of devices provided on the gaming floors has been modestly shrinking, meanwhile, so the average revenue per day per VLT of $396 last month represented the highest level since April 2021.
From the overall revenue, the Ohio Lottery collected $38.3 million as the state’s share.
One factor that could be helping boost the numbers is the addition of retail sports betting at all gaming properties in the state this year, potentially drawing customers who otherwise wouldn’t visit. The state’s casinos themselves just posted their best gambling revenue numbers for any January, with February’s numbers yet to be announced.
As part of the massive $1.1 billion in mobile and retail sports betting that took place in Ohio during its first month in January, the sports wagering windows and kiosks at the seven racetracks were responsible for $9.5 million of that, compared to $12.5 million at the four casinos.
The individual racino VLT breakdown
MGM Northfield Park had the most VLT revenue in the state, at $25.4 million, and nearly the biggest increase from a year ago, at 13.7%.
The biggest year-over-year increase belonged to Miami Valley Gaming, growing 14.3% to revenue of nearly $20 million. Its 2,249 machines are the most at any property. Close behind it in revenue, also just shy of $20 million, was Scioto Downs, up 10.1% from a year earlier.
JACK Thistledown retained $15.5 million, a 7.9% increase. That same level of increase was reported by Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley, raising its monthly revenue to $13.5 million.
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway had revenue of $13 million, up 8.6% year over year, and Belterra Park made $7 million from customers playing the machines, representing the smallest annual increase at 2.4%.
Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
