The state of Ohio in the United States recorded impressive performance in the sports betting and casino sector in May 2025. Sportsbooks collected $88.8 million in taxable revenue, an annual increase of 31.7%. Meanwhile, retail casinos generated $91.6 million, an increase of 8.4% compared to May 2024.
Betting sector reaches record highs this year
Sports betting generated US$741.3 million, with a retention rate of 12%, the best of the year. Of the total revenue collected, US$727.1 million came from online betting, which accounted for practically all of the revenue.
FanDuel and DraftKings dominated the market with 33.9% and 30.4% share, respectively. Bet365 came in third with 9.3%. The strong performance may be linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ early elimination from the NBA playoffs.
Casinos maintain growth and stability
Ohio’s four retail casinos closed May with their second-highest grosses of the year. Hollywood Columbus led the way with $25.8 million, followed by Jack Cleveland ($22.3 million) and Hard Rock Cincinnati ($22.2 million). Hollywood Toledo, despite its smaller take ($21.4 million), had the biggest year-over-year growth, up 11.3 percent.
Of the total, $68.4 million came from slots and $23.3 million from table games.
Stable budget puts brakes on new tax proposals
With the signing of the 2026-2027 fiscal budget on July 1, Governor Mike DeWine ensured that the state’s finances were balanced. This scenario reduced the pressure for changes in the sector, such as raising taxes or legalizing online casinos.
Recent proposals, such as doubling the betting tax from 20% to 40% or creating a 2% rate on the amount wagered, have not moved forward. Similarly, two projects that sought to regulate iGaming, with rates between 28% and 40%, remain stagnant, although they will remain active until 2026.
Despite fiscal stability, online casinos remain an alternative to diversify state revenue.
