Local gamblers spent more in Ohio than Indiana

For the first time since casino gambling arrived in Greater Cincinnati in 1996, more gambling dollars were spent in Ohio than in Indiana.

Gamblers spent $33.9 million in May at Downtown’s Horseshoe Casino and two new racinos in Anderson Township and Warren County, regulators said Monday. The southwest Ohio spend accounted for 53.9 percent of a total $62.8 million played in the region as a whole, an Enquirer analysis shows.

The three Southeast Indiana riverboats took in the rest, or 46.1 percent of local gambling dollars. They drew 64.3 percent of all gambling dollars in May 2013, before Ohio’s two new racinos opened.

Kentucky has no casino gambling.

The shift means more tax revenue funding for Ohio schools, counties and municipalities and less in Indiana. Since Greater Cincinnati is a $600 million-a-year gambling market, that means $100 million in tax revenue for Ohio.

Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center in Anderson Township reaped $5.7 million in gambling revenue during May, its first month of operation. The former River Downs opened on May 1 after being transformed into a racino – a combination video slot parlor and race track.

The gambling data also shows that competition has intensified between the region’s two biggest casinos: the Horseshoe in downtown Cincinnati generated $17.2 million in May, beating Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg’s $16.1 million take for the month.

Miami Valley Gaming in Turtlecreek Township took in $11 million, making it the region’s No. 3 gambling destination. The racino’s performance has strengthened since a modest debut in December.

Last month, Belterra Park’s sister property in Florence, Indiana, Belterra Casino Resort, drew $8.7 million in gambling revenue.

Rising Star Casino Resort in Rising Sun, Indiana garnered $4.2 million in May, the lowest among the six gambling destinations serving the region.