Ohio racinos are seven racetrack facilities that combine live horse racing and simulcast pari-mutuel wagering with electronic Video Lottery Terminals overseen by the Ohio Lottery Commission. You must be 21 to play a VLT and 18 to bet on the races. Live table games like blackjack, poker, craps, and roulette are not offered at any of the seven; those are reserved for Ohio’s four standalone casinos.
The Seven Locations
The Ohio Lottery Commission reports revenue from these seven facilities:1Ohio Lottery. VLT Revenues
- Northfield Park Racino, 10777 Northfield Rd., Northfield (near Cleveland)
- JACK Thistledown Racino, 21501 Emery Rd., Cleveland
- Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs, 6000 S. High St., Columbus
- Hollywood Gaming Dayton, 777 Hollywood Blvd., Dayton
- Miami Valley Gaming, 6000 SR 63, Lebanon
- Belterra Park, 6301 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati
- Hollywood Mahoning Valley, 777 Hollywood Ave., Youngstown
What You Can Play
Video Lottery Terminals
VLTs are the main gaming attraction. They look and feel like casino slot machines, and the play experience is essentially the same: insert money, press a button, see the result. The difference is administrative. Each terminal connects to a central computer run by the Ohio Lottery Commission, and that system determines outcomes rather than a random number generator inside the cabinet.2Ohio Lottery. Operating Standards Video Lottery Terminals Ohio law defines a VLT as “any electronic device approved by the state lottery commission that provides immediate prize determinations for participants on an electronic display.”3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 3770.21 – Video Lottery Terminals
Ohio’s operating standards require VLTs to return at least 85% of theoretical payout, so the machines cannot be set to keep more than 15 cents of every dollar wagered over time.4Ohio Lottery. Operating Standards Video Lottery Terminals Most machines pay somewhat above that floor in practice.
Horse Racing and Simulcast
Every racino sits at a licensed racetrack, so live racing is part of the operation. Depending on the venue you’ll see harness racing or thoroughbred flat racing, each running seasonal meets. Scioto Downs, for example, runs harness racing from May through September. All seven facilities also offer simulcast wagering, so you can bet on races running at tracks around the country in real time.
No Live Table Games
This surprises many first-time visitors. Ohio’s gambling laws authorize only VLTs and pari-mutuel wagering at racetrack facilities.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 3770.21 – Video Lottery Terminals Live blackjack, poker, craps, and roulette exist in Ohio only at the four standalone casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo. Anything that looks like a table game at a racino will be an electronic, video version running through the VLT system, not a physical table with a dealer.
Age Requirements
Ohio splits its gambling age by activity, and both activities live under one roof at a racino:
- You must be 18 to place pari-mutuel bets on live or simulcast horse races.
- You must be 21 to play any VLT on the gaming floor.
Security checks government-issued photo ID at entry to the gaming floor, and without valid ID you’ll be turned away from the VLT area. Because the racing minimum is lower, someone between 18 and 20 can attend races and bet at the pari-mutuel windows without entering the VLT floor.
Sports Betting
Ohio legalized sports betting in January 2023, and several racinos now host retail sportsbooks. Northfield Park Racino, for example, operates a Caesars Sportsbook with staffed windows and self-service kiosks available around the clock. Not every racino has one, and hours can differ from the main gaming floor, so confirm with the specific facility before you go. The minimum age for a sports bet is 21, the same as VLT play.
Taxes on Your Winnings
Federal
For 2026, the IRS requires racinos to report VLT and slot winnings of $2,000 or more from a single play on Form W-2G. That threshold rose from the longstanding $1,200 under a 2025 federal law change and will adjust annually for inflation going forward.5Internal Revenue Service. Internal Revenue Bulletin 2026-19 For pari-mutuel bets, a W-2G is triggered when net winnings on a single wager exceed $600 and are at least 300 times the wager.
Federal withholding is separate from reporting. A 24% federal income tax is withheld on certain winnings of $5,000 or more (after subtracting the wager) from sweepstakes, wagering pools, and pari-mutuel payouts.6Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754 All gambling income is legally reportable on your return regardless of whether it hits a W-2G threshold.
Ohio
Ohio treats gambling winnings as ordinary income. Racinos withhold 4% of qualifying winnings for Ohio state tax, reported on the same W-2G. You reconcile the withholding when you file your Ohio return, which may leave you owing more or getting a credit depending on your overall tax picture.
Self-Exclusion
Ohio runs a voluntary self-exclusion program, Time Out Ohio, covering every casino, racino, and sports gaming facility in the state. You can ban yourself for one year, five years, or a lifetime, and enrollment is at TimeOutOhio.com.7Ohio.gov. Ohio for Responsible Gambling Once you’re on the list, racinos must deny you entry to gaming areas. If you gamble anyway, any winnings are forfeited into Ohio’s Problem Gambling and Other Addiction Services Fund, and you may face trespassing charges. For immediate support, the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-589-9966.