Casino-tax revenue up slightly in 2Q

COLUMBUS — Second-quarter casino tax revenues for Ohio’s counties and major cities, including Youngstown, were slightly higher this year than in the same quarter of last year, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation.

However, they were substantially below that quarter’s peak in 2013.

The second quarter of 2013 reflected activity in the first full quarter during which all four Ohio casinos were open.

The Cleveland and Toledo casinos opened in May 2012, with the Columbus casino opening in October of that year and the Cincinnati casino opening March 4, 2013.

“The second quarter of 2013 was right after Cincinnati opened,” observed Jessica Franks, communications director for the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which regulates the state’s casinos.

“It was new. People were going to check it out,” she said of casino gambling early in 2013, adding that its novelty may have contributed to the strong second quarter that year.

The drop in second-quarter revenue in 2014 and 2015 may have been due to the gradual opening of Ohio’s seven racinos, which compete with the four casinos, she said.

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