Where to Play Poker in Ohio
Ohio is chiefly known for its love of football, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cedar Point, and corn production. Thus, gambling is usually not an activity people associate with the Buckeye State. However, its betting industry is gaining traction, now generating over $3.5 billion in annual revenues, of which $1.1 billion goes into government coffers. That said, Ohio lawmakers are still struggling to follow other US regions (over twenty) and make sports betting legal. That has not occurred on account of fears that regulating this pastime may hurt low-income citizens. So, the state’s wagering money streams primarily come from its race tracks and gaming establishments.
Currently, Ohio has eleven land-based casinos. Six of these are racinos. Meaning, they are horse racing tracks that feature video lottery terminals. Only four full-service brick-and-mortar casinos exist within the Birthplace of Aviation. One each in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo. They got birthed thanks to a November 2009 constitutional amendment, passed with a vote of 53 to 47 to make such establishments legal in Ohio, ones offering advanced slots, different electronic machines, table games, and poker. When it comes to the latter, the state has not passed any online legislation. Yet, its residents are free to enjoy online poker options at offshore sites, the same applying to casino-style entertainment.
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
Construction of the Hard Rock in Cincinnati began in February of 2011, on the site of the former Broadway Commons, at 1000 Broadway Street in Cincinnati. Vici Properties owns this establishment that opened its doors in 2013, which Hard Rock International operates. This pair acquired the venue in 2019 from Jack Entertainment, a joint venture between Caesars Entertainment and Rock Gaming. The locale’s gaming floor stretches over 100,000 square feet, supplying virtually every form of casino gambling action possible. Game of chance enthusiasts can find more than 1.600 slots and one hundred live tables here. Card mavens can enjoy a poker room that features Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha games, with buy-ins that range from $50 to $4,000. Tournaments are continuously running here, as are multiple poker promotions.
Hollywood Casino Columbus
Located on 200 Georgesville Road in Columbus, the Hollywood Casino is a Penn National Gaming venue developed and operated by the famous Wyomissing-based gambling operator. They launched their Hollywood branded spot in Columbus in October 2012, where the Delphi Automotive auto parts plant used to be, which closed in 2007. This casino’s floor is vaster than the Hard Rock’s one, sprawling 160,000 square feet. It is home to over two thousand gaming machines and eight sixty-five table games. The poker room at the Hollywood consists of thirty-four tables, offering Omaha and Texas Hold ‘Em. The working hours are 10 AM to 2 AM. Naturally, the buy-ins here differ depending on the games offered. They start from $30 on the low-end and move up to $2,000. There is no smoking in the Hollywood poker room, and rabbit hunting is not allowed.
Hollywood Casino Toledo
Five months before the opening of Penn National’s Hollywood casino in Columbus, this operator began running a slightly smaller venue in Toledo, at 777 Hollywood Boulevard. Under the same brand. It offers two thousand gambling machines and sixty live tables on 125,000 square feet of space. Poker-wise, Penn National’s Toledo casino has a decently sized room, hosting nineteen tables, open from 11 AM to 1 AM Friday and Saturday, and noon to midnight all other days. ½ No-limit Texas Hold ‘Em cash games are always an option here, with 2/3 and 2/5 Hold ‘Em action mainly available on the weekends. 1/1 and 1/3 Pot Limit Omaha Hi games can also get found here occasionally. Players compliment the cleanliness of the room and its smoke-free atmosphere, but in terms of card quality, rate it as average.
Jack Cleveland Casino
Formerly the Horseshoe Cleveland, Jack Cleveland Casino is a part of the Tower City Center complex, housed in the historic Higbee Building at 100 Public Square. Vici Properties owns this spot, and Jack Entertainment runs it, working with the Marriott at Key Center, the Ritz-Carlton, and the Renaissance to offer rooms to its guests. Due to them having limited dining options, they have also teamed up with several downtown Cleveland restaurants. The Jack Cleveland gaming floor covers 100,000 square feet, offering two thousand slots and close to ninety table games. They also host WSOP events in their thirty-table room that runs Omaha and Texas Hold ‘Em games with buy-ins from $40 to $2,000.
To Wrap Up
Casinos aside, there are around twenty card rooms in Ohio, with the Deep Stack in Hilliard, Gemini in Lima, and Mansfield Gemini in Ontario being the most well-reviewed. However, we would advise that players stick to playing at the four big-city gaming establishments.
About the Author
Shelly Schiff has been working in the gambling industry since 2009, mainly on the digital side of things, employed by OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos.com. However, over her eleven-year career, Shelly has provided content for many other top interactive gaming websites. She knows all there is to know about slots and has in-depth knowledge of the most popular table games. Her golden retriever Garry occupies most of her leisure time. Though, when she can, she loves reading Jim Thompson-like crime novels.