Ohio’s casino industry continues to survive, reporting a 3.5% increase in gambling revenue for January 2025 compared to the same time last year. According to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, the state’s four casinos generated a total of $77.8 million in revenue, which was a slight increase from the $75.2 million reported in January 2024.

This revenue growth continues despite legislative challenges in the state, which are currently preventing the legalization of online casinos in Ohio. This issue is in limbo after a bill that proposed regulation and legalization expired at the start of the year.

The state’s casino revenue was generated mainly by slot machines, which contributed $55.1 million, an increase from $52.9 million in 2024. Table games also saw a slight increase from $22.2 million last year to $22.6 million in January 2025.

Hollywood Columbus Casino generated the most revenue of all the brick-and-mortar establishments, with more than $22.1 million. The majority of this income can be attributed to slots ($16.4 million) and table games ($5.6 million), with the casino seeing a 38.3% year-over-year increase.

Other casinos that contributed to gambling revenue in Ohio included Jack Cleveland Casino ($19.6 million), Hollywood Toledo Casino ($18.4 million), and Hard Rock Cincinnati Casino ($17.6 million).

Although the state’s physical casinos appear to be thriving, the online gambling industry remains largely uncertain. There is an ongoing demand for online platforms, yet they remain banned and unregulated in the state, so residents have to seek reputable alternatives. One such option that is popular with Ohioans is a no-KYC casino, where users can gamble without lengthy verification processes and the disclosure of personal information. This type of platform allows players to gamble with cryptocurrency, increasing security and anonymity.

There is a push for online casino legislation, but at the start of the year, there was a big setback as Senate Bill 312 failed to move forward. This bill was introduced by former State Senator Niraj Antani, who departed office on December 31, 2024, with his eyes set on running for next year’s secretary of state. Senate Bill 312 sought to allow the 11 casinos in Ohio to also operate online platforms. Unfortunately, the bill was never heard by the Senate Finance Committee, and it does not have a sponsor for the 2025 legislative session.

Antani was the only Indian American in the State Senate. He championed the idea of legalizing online casinos, not considering it a key issue. He believed that Ohioans should have the option to gamble online if that was their preference.

When he left the Senate, he also left behind an uncertain future for online casino legislation as no one has stepped up to take on the challenge. Without a clear sponsor, the bill will have to be reintroduced from the start, a process that will likely delay online casino legalization by months or years.

What does this delay mean for Ohio? The state will be missing out on an additional–potentially lucrative–revenue stream. Other states that have regulated online gambling have seen the financial benefits of such a move, with increased revenue from casino taxes funding more public projects.

If lawmakers act fast and the bill gets a sponsor, Ohio can experience these benefits for itself. The state has already shown a commitment to regulating gambling when the Ohio Casino Control Commission ordered Bovada to stop offering its offshore gambling operations in the state. It may seem insignificant, but this move demonstrates that Ohio recognizes the potential of state-regulated markets.

The state appears to be at a crossroads. Although brick-and-mortar casinos are seeing revenue growth, which indicates an interest in gambling in Ohio, there is a big gap in the online market. It remains to be seen whether any lawmakers will tackle the challenge of legalization, but until then, Ohioans will have to find alternative gambling options.