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• Gambling Age In Ohio Casinos Slot Machines

Hollywood Casino Columbus. 200 Georgesville Road. Columbus, OH 43228 (614) 308-3333 (855) 617-4206 – Toll Free. For instance, the gambling age in Ohio is of 21 for casino gaming and 18 only for horse racing, as is the case with most states.

For many years, Ohio was not a player in casino gambling. Players had to make the trip to neighboring states like Indiana and Pennsylvania to scratch their itch.

However, in 2009, Ohio decided to authorize the licensing of four land-based casinos. One in each of the major cities (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo). It took three years, but between May 2012 and March 2013, each of the four casinos opened its doors.

Slot machine-type gaming was further expanded by a legislative action in 2012 that put video lottery terminals (or VLTs) into the seven racetracks. VLTs are functionally the same as slot machines. They are actually administered differently and considered a form of lottery gambling, rather than a pure slot machine.

Still, in just five years, Ohio has managed to provide its residents with more than 18,000 video gaming and slot machine options – along with table games, poker, and horse racing.

Ohio now finds itself in an odd position: perhaps having too many casinos available for its own good, both inside and near the state. Many of the state’s gambling options are clustered in its northeastern quadrant. Revenues are declining for the four Las Vegas-style casinos. The drop is largely being blamed on the proliferation of racinos throughout the state. These attract some of the vital slots gamblers away from the four big-city venues (sometimes to racinos inside the same city).

Many experts believe that the northeastern United States in general is over-saturated with casinos. There are simply not enough customer dollars to go around.

Still, as long as state legislatures have budget overruns and a desire not to raise taxes on consumer products, casino gambling will likely be a go-to option for states in years to come. This is especially true if the door for gambling has already been opened. Below are the 11 casinos and racinos in Ohio.

Additionally, another favorite kind of gambling could be on its way to Ohio: sports betting. Read on for details.

Sweepstakes casinos in Ohio

Social casino site options

Several of Ohio’s casinos have free sites available through their websites. The two Hollywood Gaming casinos (Dayton Raceway and Mahoning Valley) and the three Jack casinos (Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Thistledown) all offer visitors the opportunity to sample the brands of slots available at their land-based operations for free. This practice continues to be a wise idea. It both familiarizes and desensitizes customers and potential customers with the variety of games they can play.

In effect, customers will know what machines they want to play as soon as they step through the door. Jack’s play money site even offers free poker and table games, further enhancing the experience. All the sites allow players to link their player cards to their play money accounts. This leaves open the possibility that the casinos could link comps to the play money functionality and increase the likelihood of new and returning customers entering the premises.

As usual, Zynga, Slotomania, Big Fish, and Doubledown are all accessible from Ohio social media sites. MyVegas, the ubiquitous MGM-owned free comp site is also available. However, its usefulness is limited, as there are no MGM-owned properties nearby. As it stands, House of Blues and Gray Line Tours are likely the only options for redemption. Still, Ohioans have some avenues if they’d like to play the games without risking any money.

Ohio sports betting

While there are a few gambling options in the Buckeye State, sports betting is not one of them, at least for now.

There are legislative efforts currently making the round in Columbus to legalize sports betting but thus far, nothing of significance has happened. One hold up lawmakers are finding difficult to overcome is deciding which government agency will oversee Ohio sports betting, the Ohio Lottery or Casino Commission.

However, at least one operator appears to be getting its ducks in a row. Penn National Gaming and Kindred have struck a partnership that would see the latter’s brand Unibet enter Ohio by way of Penn National’s Hollywood Casino. For now, the deal means nothing until sports betting is officially legal in the state.

Land-based slots options

Online gambling options

There are no laws on the books for or against online gambling in Ohio. As such, there are no officially-regulated options for residents and visitors to the Buckeye State.

However, the state just received a commissioned study from Spectrum Gaming Group. Among other recommendations, it suggested the state legalize online gambling to maximize its tax revenue. So, it is possible that an Ohio iGaming bill could happen – particularly after legislators have a chance to see how online gambling performs in neighboring Pennsylvania.

Operator profile

Jack Entertainment

Jack Entertainment LLC is a Detroit-based proprietor of several casinos and racetracks throughout the United States. Though the majority of its holdings are in Ohio, it also has properties in Michigan, Kentucky, and Maryland. The company is a subsidiary of Quicken Loans, which means it is in the same family of companies as the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The CEO for the company is Matthew Cullen. He also serves as a principal in the Rock Ventures holding company, which is the chief administrator of all Quicken’s portfolio. However, the company’s more industry-specific expert is its chief operating officer, Mark Dunkeson. Prior to taking this role at Jack, Dunkeson served as a senior vice president for Station Casinos. They are a Las Vegas-based company that operates a chain of casinos targeting the locals market, rather than the tourist segment. This fits in well with the market of regional casinos like the Ohio offerings.

Like most Ohio casinos, Jack’s portfolio is facing increasing competitive pressure, and its revenues are suffering.

In fact, Jack Cleveland Casino’s revenues for December 2016 are down 32 percent from 2013. However, in that four-year span, three racinos have opened nearby, squeezing the market and making exceptional returns more difficult. The casino (and others in the company’s portfolio) are also no longer novelties for Ohioans. The initial furor – whatever it may have been – is gone.

Still, the Cleveland location reported revenue north of $200 million in 2016, so there is still significant cashflow. It remains to be seen how companies like Jack will navigate an increasingly congested market. It is reasonable to assume the consumer is in a good place to benefit from competition.

Ohio slot players and other gamblers, keep your eyes peeled and your ears to the ground. Amazing promotions could happen anytime.

State legal environment

Online Casinos in Ohio

Although Ohio has a long tradition with some great land-based casinos, it has not legalized online casinos. There have been discussions of legalizing online casinos, but there are noconcrete plans in place at this time.

Ohio does have a state lottery, which can indicate an openness to other forms of betting.

But, you can still register with a legal online casino while you're in Ohio. That means you can get the casino's bonus offers or deposit, and then play whenever you're in states whereit's legal (even in a layover at the airport). (Do be aware of the casino bonus's expiry date, though.)

Ohio Land-Based Casinos Map

You can easily see all casino locations by using our Ohio casinos map. To zoom in, just click the + (plus) sign in the lower right corner of the map, or to zoom out, just click the – (minus)sign in the same area.

To move the map of casinos in Ohio, click and hold down either of your mouse buttons. Then use the hand icon to drag the map in whichever direction you desire.

Each of the red icons on the map is a casino location. Just click on any red icon to see the name of the casino at that location. If you want more information on that casino, simply click againon the casino’s name and it will direct you to another page with detailed information on that particular casino, including address, phone number, toll-free phone number, room rates, casinosize, dining information, games offered, availability of discounts for seniors, any special features, and a direct link to that casino’s website.

Land-Based Casinos in Ohio

Types of Casinos in Ohio

There are two types of casinos in Ohio: regular casinos and racetrack casinos.

Regular Casinos

Regular casinos in Ohio are located in four cities: Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo. All of these Ohio casinos are non-smoking, open 24 hours.

(CA) California Gambling

Racetrack Casinos

Besides the four regular casinos, there are also seven Ohio casinos located at racetracks. All racetrack casinos in Ohio are open 24 hours.

Options for Gambling in Ohio

Unfortunately, if you are planning a trip and are looking for regular casinos in Ohio with hotels there are none so you will have to look elsewhere for lodging.

Gambling Age In Ohio Casinos

If you are visiting the area, there are two casinos in Cincinnati, Ohio: Jack Casino Cincinnati and Belterra Park. Or if you are looking for casinos in Dayton, Ohio, you can visit Hollywoodgaming at Dayton Valley.

There are even places to gamble in smaller areas in the state. If you are looking for casinos near Youngstown, Ohio you can head to Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley which is less than 10miles outside of town.

Unless otherwise noted, all regular Ohio casinos offer blackjack, craps, roulette, slots and video poker. Some Ohio casinos also offer mini-baccarat, baccarat, poker, pai gow poker,Mississippi stud, sic-bo, let it ride, three card poker, four card poker, casino war, big-six and bingo.

NOTE: If you happen to win a jackpot of $1,200 or more at any casino in Ohio, they will withhold approximately 5% of your winnings for the Ohio Department of Taxation. The $1,200 threshold alsoapplies to any cash prizes won in casino drawings or tournaments. Additionally, the casino will withhold another approximate 2.5% of your winnings for city taxes in Columbus, Cleveland, andCincinnati. In Toledo, the city tax won’t be withheld until you win $2,000, or more. The $1,200 and $2,000 thresholds would also apply to any cash prizes won in casino drawings or tournaments.

The payback percentages for slot machines at all Ohio casinos are released as a matter of public record. Just click here to see a list of slot machine payback statistics for all Ohio casinos.

Gambling Laws in Ohio

(CO) Colorado Gambling

The minimum gambling age in Ohio is 21. The minimum age for pari-mutuel betting is 18.

If you want to order a drink while playing, be aware that gaming regulations do not allow any casinos in Ohio to provide free alcoholic beverages.

(AR) Arkansas Gambling

Additionally, Ohio casinos are not allowed to serve any alcohol between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Gambling Age In Ohio Casinos Slot Machines

For more information on visiting the casinos in Ohio or general tourism information, call the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism at (800) BUCK-EYE, or visit their web site at www.ohio.org.