Ohio's casinos and racinos broke a record for the ninth time in 10 years.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio’s casinos and racinos brought in $2.31 billion in gambling revenue in 2021, piling onto a yearly record already broken in November. 

Combined the casinos and racinos had $197 million in revenue in December, up from $133 million last year, according to reports Friday from the Ohio Casino Control and Lottery commissions. This is the money kept by the gambling houses, after paying out winnings, but before state taxes and fees.

Breaking a records isn’t unique when it comes to gambling revenue. Ohio’s casinos and racinos have broken the record nine out of the last 10 years. The only year they didn’t was 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut them down and placed curfews on them for parts of the year.

In 2020, a year plagued by shutdowns and curfews, the casinos and racinos brought in $1.44 billion in revenues.

In 2021, they brought in $2.31 billion, shattering the $1.94 billion record set in 2019.

An overnight curfew was issued by Gov. Mike DeWine on Nov.19, 2020, closing each day for several hours what normally are round-the-clock operations. They returned to full operation in mid-Feburary.

The facilities were also closed completely from mid-March through mid-June in 2020.

Casinos came to the state in May 2012 when the JACK Cleveland Casino (known then as Horseshoe Cleveland) opened. Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo added casinos latter. The racinos started opening in June 2012 at race tracks, with Scioto Downs being the first.