Racino reports above average first weeks

AUSTINTOWN

The Ohio Lottery Commission reported that $52.8 million credits were played at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course over its first 14 days of operation.

After credits of $46.8 million won by gamers — an 88.77 percent payout — that equated to a win per day per video lottery terminal of $499.

A good month is considered to be $300 per machine per day in VLT revenue, Penn National Gaming officials have said.

Distribution of net winnings had $3.9 million going to the state racino commission, $1.9 million to the lottery commission and $19,739 to problem gambling services.

Those numbers are based on the first 14 days and the VIP night Sept. 15 that Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course has been open with its 850 VLTs. The facility opened Sept. 17.

Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for Penn National, said his company’s corporate policy says “we don’t comment on the monthly revenue numbers.”

He did talk about crowd numbers and the facility.

“Obviously it’s only been three weeks, [but] we’re still very pleased at the response from people in the community to the facility. ... We’re certainly hopeful we can sustain that momentum.

Read more about the new facility in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.