After finishing its fledging year in gambling, the state of Ohio still has to figure out their earnings. Early last year, a new casino in Cleveland opened on May 14. Three other casinos in the state soon opened doors and managed to bring in $615.7 million after paying the winners. Altogether, the casinos have produced 6,000 jobs for the area and have paid $200 million in taxes.
Despite the growth in taxes, analysts are still dismayed by the tax revenue. Internet gambling and national competition is cutting to the amount voters expected to receive in tax dollars. Before the 2009 vote allowed casinos to enter the area, state officials expected the new developments to bring in a gross income of $1.4 billion. As the new fiscal year rolls around for the state, this number has been changed to just shy of $939 million.
At the Hollywood Columbus, analysts are still waiting for individual slot machines to top $200 a day in earnings. According to Ohio’s politicians, residents have to wait a bit longer for casinos to create a customer base. It can take up to two years for new gambling centers to tweak their design and find enough customers to forecast annual revenue accurately. Anti-casino advocates still decry the new casinos and site the 400 calls to gambling help lines as a sign that casinos are detrimental to the area.
