“People are venturing back, even taking the risk with the social distancing and everything,” he says. Jones says that, according to figures he’s seen, Hollywood Casino Columbus brought in $18 million last month. “Keep in mind that because of COVID, they reduced numbers of availability on the machines and some of the poker rooms were closed, and they still set records, so they’re back strong,” Jones says. That demand is reflected in big profits for casinos and racinos around the state. “Since they’ve reopened, our calls to the hotline number and to the agency have been on a steady increase,” says Bruce Jones, who heads the gambling program at Maryhaven.
The treatment center Maryhaven says it lost touch with many clients during the shutdown, as counseling moved to a virtual space and casinos and racinos went dark.īut after reopening in mid-June, business is booming again, and counselors are concerned. And while the spread of COVID-19 is a top concern, health professionals are also worried about how the closure and subsequent re-opening might have affected people who struggle with gambling addictions. Ohio casinos are back in business after the pandemic shut them down for a few months.
