Cincinnati's gambling market centers on one major casino and several regional alternatives, including properties just across the river in Kentucky and Indiana. For video poker players, the multi-state competition works in your favor — operators in three states are competing for the same Cincinnati-area player base.
The Main Venues
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
The primary casino in Cincinnati proper, located downtown. Hard Rock's video poker floor includes Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, and Double Bonus variants. The high-limit area at $1+ denominations typically has the best pay tables — look for 9/6 Jacks or Better there.
Hard Rock's Unity rewards program runs promotions tied to local events and offers competitive free play and dining comps for regular players.
Belterra Park (PENN Entertainment)
A racino in Anderson Township, about 20 minutes east of downtown. As a PENN property, your play earns PENN Play points usable at 40+ properties nationwide — valuable if you also visit Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or other PENN casinos.
Belterra Park's video poker tends to be slightly tighter on the main floor than Hard Rock, but the bar-top progressives occasionally reach levels that make them worth playing. The racino environment is more relaxed than the downtown casino.
Cross-River Options: Kentucky and Indiana
Cincinnati players have additional options a short drive away:
- Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, IN (PENN) — About 30 minutes west. Indiana's older gaming market sometimes features slightly better base pay tables on legacy machines.
- Jack Cincinnati (now rebranded) and other Kentucky properties are accessible, though Kentucky's gaming options are more limited than Ohio's.
Ohio Video Poker Context
Ohio legalized casinos in 2009 and opened its first facilities in 2012. The state now has four full casinos and seven racinos (horse racing tracks with video lottery terminals). Key facts for video poker players:
High gaming taxes. Ohio's gaming tax is among the higher rates in the US. This makes casinos less willing to offer full-pay machines on the main floor. High-limit rooms are your best bet for competitive pay tables.
Racinos vs. full casinos. Ohio's racinos technically operate video lottery terminals (VLTs), which function like video poker but may have different internal mechanics than IGT Game King machines. The gameplay feels the same, but some experienced players prefer the traditional casino machines.
No state gambling income tax. Ohio does not separately tax gambling winnings at the state level (gambling income is taxed as regular income through the state income tax). Check current Ohio tax law for your specific situation.
Strategy for Cincinnati Players
Play in the high-limit room when possible. The pay table gap between Hard Rock's main floor and high-limit room can be 1-2%. If your bankroll supports $1 denomination, the better pay tables more than compensate for the higher stakes.
Maintain accounts at multiple properties. With Hard Rock (Unity), Belterra Park (PENN Play), and Hollywood Lawrenceburg (also PENN Play), you can maximize your comp value across the region.
Check both sides of the river. A short drive to Indiana can give you access to different pay tables and different promotions. The flexibility of a multi-state market is Cincinnati's biggest advantage over single-casino cities.