The 7 Best Casinos Near Columbus, Ohio (OH Gambling 2023)

Here are the 7 best casinos near Columbus, Ohio. In other words, here are your best OH gambling options in 2023.

If you’re traveling to Columbus, the capital of Ohio, or anywhere else in the state, you need to know where to find the closest casino. While Ohio doesn’t have a lot of casinos, they do have four nice casinos. And there are also some nice casinos just over one of the state borders. Internet casino cafes used to be a thing there, too.

I’ve lived and gambled in and around Ohio for most of my life. So I’m as close to an expert as you’re going to find on Ohio gambling. If you’re in Ohio, visit the closest casino on my list. But don’t be afraid to jump over to Indiana or West Virginia for casino play, depending on which part of the state you’re visiting.

1 – Hollywood Casino Columbus, OH

You can find the Hollywood Casino Columbus, Ohio at 300 Georgesville Road. As the only full-fledged casino in Columbus, Hollywood Casino Columbus sits in the center of the state. So there are few places in the state over two hours from Hollywood Casino.

Here are some highlights of Hollywood Casino Columbus, Ohio:

• Over 1,900 slots games.
• The only video poker machines in Columbus, OH.
• High limit slots lounge with 78 slot machines.
• Poker room with 34 tables.
• 65 casino gaming tables.

Popular slot machines at Hollywood Casino Columbus, Ohio include:

• Lucky Ox
• The Vault
• Lightning Link
• Dragon Link
• Dollar Storm

While the sportsbook doesn’t officially open until January 1^st, 2023, Hollywood Casino Columbus, OH has already prepared to hit the ground running. They’ve partnered with Barstool Sportsbook, and you can start placing bets as soon as the clock ticks over into the New Year.

Hollywood Casino Columbus, Ohio opened on October 8^th, 2012. The casino has 160,000 square feet of gambling space. Penn Entertainment operates the Columbus Hollywood Casino.

2 – Jack Casino Cleveland, OH

You can find Jack Casino Cleveland, OH at 100 Public Square. Originally name Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, Ohio, when it opened on May 14^th, 2012, the name changed in May 2016 to Jack Casino Cleveland.

Jack Casino Cleveland, OH offers 100,000 square feet of gaming space. Jack Entertainment operates the Jack Casino Cleveland, Ohio.

Here are some highlights of Jack Casino Cleveland, Ohio:

• Over 1,600 slot machine games.
• Poker room with 28 tables.
• Over 115 table games.
• Slot machine denominations from a penny slots to $100.

Popular slot machine games at Jack Casino Cleveland, OH include:

• Lucky Wealth Cat
• Ultra Hot Mega Link
• Lock It Link
• Wonder 4 Tower
• The Price Is Right Showcase Showdown

I like everything about Jack Casino Cleveland, OH except the location. I don’t like driving in Cleveland and I don’t like getting to Jack Cleveland. But if you’re in the North-East part of Ohio, Jack Cleveland will be the best option unless more casinos open in the area.

3 – Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, OH

You can find Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, OH at 1000 Broadway Street. The casino opened on March 4^th, 2013. Vici Properties owns Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, OH, ad Hard Rock International operates it.

Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, Ohio offers 100,000 square feet of gaming floor space. The casino was originally named Horseshoe. In 2016, the casino’s name changed to Jack Cincinnati. And in 2019 the name changed to the current branding.

Here are some highlights of Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, Ohio:

• Over 1,600 slot machine games.
• Poker room with Texas holdem and Omaha cash games and tournaments.
• Over 100 table games including Pai Gow progressive, blackjack, Criss Cross poker, and Mississippi Stud poker.

Popular slot machines at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, OH include:

• Willie Nelson
• Rakin’ Bacon
• Dancing Drums Reels
• Buffalo Link
• Wheel of Fortune Mystery Link

If you’re looking for a casino in Cincinnati, the Hard Rock Cincinnati Casino is your main choice. But if you’re willing to drive a few miles west into Indiana, you have more choices. Check out the section on Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Indiana below.

4 – Hollywood Casino Toledo, OH

You can find the Hollywood Casino Toledo, Ohio at 1968 Miami Street. Hollywood Casino Toledo, OH opened on May 29^th, 2012. The casino has a gaming area of 125,000 square feet.

Here are some highlights of Hollywood Casino Toledo, OH:

For gamblers located in the northwest part of Ohio, Hollywood Casino Toledo is the closest option. But Columbus doesn’t offer a bad choice less than two hours away.

Here are some highlights of Hollywood Casino Toledo, Ohio:

• Over 1,700 slot machine games.
• Denominations from a penny to $100 on slot machines.
• High limit slots room with denominations from $1 to $100.
• Poker room.
• Table games including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and three card poker.

Popular slot machine games available at Hollywood Casino Toledo, OH include:

• Double Diamond Deluxe
• Pink Diamonds
• Dancing Drum
• Tarzan
• Cleopatra

Just like the Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Toledo has partnered with Barstool Sportsbook to offer sports betting action starting January 1^st, 2023.

Penn Entertainment runs the Hollywood Casino Toledo, Ohio.

5 – Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, IN

You can find Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Indiana at 777 Hollywood Boulevard. Located just a few miles across the border from Cincinnati, the casino was named Argosy Casino until 2009 when Penn Entertainment changed the name.

The casino originally opened in 1996, and unlike Hollywood Cincinnati, the Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg operates as a riverboat casino, though the riverboat permanently connects to land.

Here are some highlights of Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, IN:

• 1,380 slots games.
• Video poker.
• Poker room with 13 tables and 16 televisions.
• Over 70 casino table games including craps free craps.
• Sportsbook partnering with Barstool Sports.

Popular slot machine games at Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, IN include:

• Jinse Dao Dragon
• Dancing Foo
• Lunar Festival
• Cherry Riches
• Diamond Jewel

I haven’t visited the Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Indiana for quite a while, but I always enjoyed my trips there and they always had the nicest hotel rooms of all of the casinos I visited.

6 – Wheeling Island Casino and Racetrack Wheeling, WV

You can find Wheeling Island Casino and Racetrack Wheeling at 1 South Stone Street. Wheeling Island Casino and Racetrack Wheeling, WV opened in 1866 as a race track.

If you’re in the east or northeast parts of Ohio, Wheeling sits just across the border toward the top edge of West Virginia. And while Wheeling Island doesn’t have the newer feel of the casinos in Cleveland and Columbus, it still offers a good gambling experience.

Here are some highlights of Wheeling Island Casino and Racetrack Wheeling, West Virginia:

• Greyhound racing.
• Over 1,100 slot machines.
• Poker room.
• Casino table games

Popular slot machine games at Wheeling Island Casino and Racetrack Wheeling, West Virginia include:

• Buffalo Grand
• Wheel of Fortune Cash Link
• Ultimate Fire Link Glacier Gold
• Shamrock
• Dancing Drums Prosperity

Delaware North owns Wheeling Island Casino and Racetrack. Wheeling Island Casino Racetrack is one of the few places left in the United States offering live greyhound racing.

7 – Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack New Cumberland, WV

You can find Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack New Cumberland, WV at 1420 Mountaineer Circle. Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack New Cumberland, WV opened in 1951 as a thoroughbred horse race track and started offering slot machines in 1994.

Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack New Cumberland, West Virginia doesn’t sit too far away from Wheeling Island Casino and Racetrack.

Here are some highlights of Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack New Cumberland, WV:

• 1,000 slot machine games.
• Casino table games including roulette, Let It Ride, and blackjack.
• Caesars branded sportsbook.
• Horse racing.
• 78,000 square feet of gaming space.

I list Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack New Cumberland, WV last on this list because it doesn’t quite live up to the other six casinos in and around Columbus, Ohio. But it still offers a quality gambling experience, especially if you enjoy betting on horses.

Vici Properties owns Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack New Cumberland, WV, and Century Properties runs the operation.

Conclusion

If you’re close to Columbus, Ohio, you have to visit Hollywood Casino Columbus. But if you’re in other parts of the state you have several good gambling options too.

Jack Casino Cleveland dominates the Ohio market to the north and northwest. But the two casinos in West Virginia listed in this post aren’t too far away.

The Cincinnati market includes three good options including Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, and Hollywood Casino Toledo.

Ohio also has a few racetracks that offer casino gaming. But none of them are as good as the casinos on this list. If you’re looking for the best casinos in and around Ohio, stick with the ones I listed above.