Cincinnati players have one full casino downtown and two racinos within about 35 minutes, plus a third racino an hour north in Dayton. The downtown floor is the only one with table games and poker. The racinos are where the racing is, and one of them is the best-rated racino in Ohio. Here is what each offers and how to choose.
The Ohio rule
Ohio's four commercial casinos, in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo, may offer slot machines, live table games and poker. Its seven racinos may offer only video lottery terminals, lottery-regulated machines that look and play like slots. So Belterra Park and Miami Valley Gaming have no blackjack, craps, roulette or poker, by law rather than by choice. Players must be 21 everywhere.
Side by side
| Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati | Belterra Park | Miami Valley Gaming | |
| Type | Full casino | Racino, VLTs only | Racino, VLTs only |
| Where | Downtown | Anderson Township, 10 minutes east off I-275 | Lebanon, I-75 exit 29, midway to Dayton |
| Floor | About 100,000 sq ft | 1,200+ VLTs | 1,900+ VLTs |
| Tables | 100 live tables | None | None |
| Poker | Dedicated room, count not published | None | None |
| Racing | None | Thoroughbred, seasonal, plus simulcast | Harness, indoor grandstand, year-round |
| Sportsbook | 150+ screens, 6 windows, 30 kiosks, lounge | None noted | None noted |
| Parking | Downtown | Free | Free |
| Google rating | 4.0, 13,000+ reviews | 4.1, 5,700+ reviews, best racino in Ohio | 4.0, 10,000+ reviews |
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati: the only tables
Hard Rock is the city's downtown casino and the largest of Ohio's four commercial properties, with roughly 100,000 square feet holding more than 1,600 slot machines and 100 live table games, from blackjack and craps through to three-card poker. There is a dedicated poker room with an adjacent smoking patio, though the venue does not publish a live table count, so check the schedule before travelling to play. The sportsbook is the most built-out part of the property: more than 150 screens, six betting windows, 30 self-service kiosks and a sports lounge designed to be occupied for a full slate of games. Dining runs from the Hard Rock Cafe through Brick'd Pizza, YOUYU and Constant Grind to Council Oak Steaks & Seafood. The loyalty programme, Unity by Hard Rock, carries across more than 200 Hard Rock locations worldwide. There is no hotel. The floor is open 24 hours and fills after downtown events rather than on a fixed schedule.
Belterra Park: a century of racing
Belterra Park sits in Anderson Township, about ten minutes east of downtown off I-275. The track opened in 1925 as the Coney Island Race Track, became River Downs, and took the Belterra name after Boyd Gaming acquired the property in 2018. A century of continuous racing on one site is its real distinction. The floor holds more than 1,200 VLTs, live thoroughbred racing runs a seasonal meet alongside year-round simulcast, and the riverside grandstand views are among the better ones in regional racing. Four restaurants, no hotel, free parking, and a 4.1 rating that makes it the best-rated racino in the state.
Miami Valley Gaming: between two cities
Miami Valley Gaming opened in 2013 at Lebanon, replacing the old Lebanon Raceway, and sits almost exactly midway between Cincinnati and Dayton off I-75. It holds more than 1,900 VLTs and a 5/8-mile harness track with an indoor grandstand, which makes the racing a year-round proposition. The food is unusually broad for a racino, with six rooms including Cin City Sea & Steak and the Acres Seasonal Buffet. A $100 million expansion has been announced, adding a hotel, a parking garage and a larger floor, so check construction status before planning a stay. Further north, Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, a $250 million development opened on 28 August 2014, is the other racino within reach, with 1,000 VLTs and an all-weather harness track.
Which one
For table games, poker or a sportsbook seat, Hard Rock is the only choice in Cincinnati and its sportsbook lounge is better than any other in the city for watching a full Sunday. For a machines-and-racing afternoon with free parking, we rate Belterra Park the best choice: it is closest, best rated, and the riverside setting is worth the trip on a race day. Miami Valley Gaming earns its visit on the food and the indoor grandstand, especially in winter.
Playing from home instead
Ohio has no state-regulated online casinos. Sweepstakes casinos operate on a no-purchase-necessary promotional model. Our best sweepstakes casinos in Ohio guide ranks them from reviewer tests, and Ohio sweeps payout times covers how long redemptions take.
Frequently asked questions
How many casinos are in Cincinnati?
One full casino, Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, plus two racinos, Belterra Park and Miami Valley Gaming, within about 35 minutes.
Which Cincinnati casino has poker?
Only Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati. Ohio racinos may offer video lottery terminals only.
Is Belterra Park the old River Downs?
Yes. The track opened in 1925 as Coney Island Race Track, became River Downs, and was renamed Belterra Park after Boyd Gaming acquired it in 2018.
Does Hard Rock Cincinnati have a hotel?
No. It is a downtown floor without an attached hotel.
How old do you have to be to gamble in Cincinnati?
21, at every Ohio casino and racino.
