A Local’s Guide to Hollywood Casino Columbus: What to Know Before You Go

I’ve learned two things the hard way at Hollywood Casino Columbus. First, the building never really sleeps. Second, if you treat it like any old night out, you’ll miss the stuff that actually makes it work better: the parking setup, the bag check, the sportsbook hours for brunch, even which places let you order ahead from your phone. Here’s the play-by-play so you walk in ready.

What are the hours and ID rules at Hollywood Casino Columbus?

The casino runs around the clock. The gaming floor at 200 Georgesville Road is open 24/7, so if you want to play a penny slot at 3 a.m., you can. Poker runs on its own clock: the 34-table poker room is open Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m.–4 a.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 a.m. If you like to plan your seat, download the Bravo Poker Live app to check live lists and running games before you leave the house.

Bring a current, government-issued photo ID. You must be 21+ to enter the gaming floor and to rent a hotel room, and the on-site Event Center posts 21+ to enter for ticketed shows. Security does check IDs and they do enforce a bag policy: it’s one bag per guest, and it can’t exceed 17" x 12" x 9". There’s also a basic dress code that excludes anything offensive or excessively revealing. It’s not fussy, just don’t show up in something you’d argue about at the door.

If you’re driving a semi or box truck, there’s a small program just for you. The property sells semi parking for $25 per 24 hours, and if you bring your receipt to the Player Services desk they’ll swap it for $10 in dining credits and $15 in PENN Slot Play. It’s a niche perk, but if you’re working on the West Side, it beats hunting for an overnight lot.

Slots, tables, poker, sportsbook: how the floor actually plays

Hollywood Columbus leans big. There are 1,700+ slots on the floor, ranging from penny machines up through high-limit games with $100 denominations. The high-limit room holds 100+ machines if you’re chasing progressives or just want some elbow room. Table games sit in clusters: think 65 live tables with the usual suspects like blackjack, roulette, and craps plus mini baccarat, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, and Crazy 4 Poker. If you’re still learning or just want a lower minimum, there’s a “stadium” setup where a live dealer streams to big screens and you bet from your pod.

The poker room is Columbus’ largest permanent setup at 34 tables, with both Limit and No-Limit Hold’em plus Omaha variants. It’s dealt by pros, uses automatic shufflers, and ties directly into Bravo for waitlists. One rule to note if you use markers at other casinos: casino credit is not available for the poker room here. Markers are for slots and table games only.

If you’re coming for the game, the retail sportsbook sits in the middle of the action at roughly 12,000 square feet. It’s branded with ESPN BET and set up for actual watching, not just betting-and-bolting: two massive TV walls, a full bar, and both staffed betting windows and 30+ self-serve kiosks. The dining side of the sportsbook runs a weekend brunch 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, which makes it a handy Ohio State or NFL base if you want a guaranteed seat and a plate in front of you.

Where to eat without leaving the building

If you haven’t been since the hotel opened, the food lineup has shifted and expanded. The new hotel’s lobby holds The Hill Eatery & Lounge, which does breakfast in the morning and a Midwest-comfort dinner-and-cocktails lineup at night. It’s the quietest sit-down option on property if you want a reset between sessions.

On the floor, the casino leans into recognizable names, but there are some Columbus signatures mixed in. Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace serves the dressed-up hot dogs you know from downtown, and Mikey’s Late Night Slice is exactly what it sounds like: grab-a-slice pizza without leaving the gaming floor. Wahlburgers and Zen Noodle round out burgers and bowls. If you’re parked at the sportsbook, the restaurant there covers wings-and-burgers and flips to that weekend brunch 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

The practical trick I wish I’d known earlier: you can Order. Pay. Pickup from your phone for Dirty Frank’s, Wahlburgers, Zen Noodle, and The Sportsbook. It shaves off the “wander and wait” time when the floor is busy. If you’re playing for comps, there’s also a PENN Play conversion worth using: $1 in PENN Cash buys $2 in dining credit at on-property outlets, which stretches a few hours of play into an actual meal fast.

Is smoking allowed, and where do you park?

Ohio’s indoor smoking ban applies here. The casino floor, bars, and poker room are smoke‑free indoors and security is consistent about it. Smokers aren’t out of luck though. There’s a large outdoor smoking patio that’s attached to the gaming footprint and set up with a bar and rows of slots. It’s enclosed from the wind with heaters and fans running year-round, and it’s the one place you can legally light up while you play.

Parking is straightforward. Self‑parking in the attached garage and surface lots has been free for day guests at the casino. If you prefer being let out at the door or you’re staying on-site, valet service is available for $25. Rideshare pickup and drop-off are easy at the hotel side if you want to skip the garage during prime hours.

Staying overnight: the on-site hotel opened in 2026

If you want to keep things in one place, the tower hotel next to the casino opened June 12, 2026. It has 203 rooms total, including 20 suites, and an outdoor terrace plus a fitness center. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to eat at The Hill Eatery & Lounge, but the breakfast menu there made it my pre-poker default on early tournament days. You must be 21+ to rent a room, and the check-in desk can also point you to the valet stand if you’re using the $25 service.

Small but useful perk if you’re a rewards person: the casino’s loyalty program is PENN Play. It shows up everywhere on property, from the slot club to your dining bill. In addition to the $1 PENN Cash = $2 dining credit conversion on the casino’s dining page, PENN Play also lets you use earned PENN Cash for Ticketmaster tickets through a linked account. If you chase shows or road games, that’s a real, usable redemption in Columbus instead of a trinket catalog.

First-timer logistics that actually make the visit smoother

Security, bags, and the door

Everything starts at the magnetometers. Pack light and keep to one bag under 17" x 12" x 9" and you’ll cruise through. Anything larger, plus duffels and coolers, gets turned around at the door. Dress like you’re going to a bar that uses discretion, not a black-tie gala.

Money, markers, and cash access

ATMs are on the floor, but if you play bigger, the property offers 24/7 casino credit with markers on-file. There are a couple of rules to keep in mind: markers are only for casino table games and slots, and cannot be used in the poker room. If you win and you’re ahead, the credit desk can ask you to settle part of your marker before you cash out. If you’re all slots and light table action, your PENN Play earnings go the other way: they’re best spent on dining while you’re there.

Smoking patio reality

If you smoke, the patio is the only place to do it legally while playing. It’s built to be usable in winter with heaters and in summer with fans, and yes, there’s a bar. If you don’t smoke, consider it a pressure valve when the main floor is packed; the machine mix isn’t identical to the main room, but it’s often calmer.

Sportsbook timing

For college football Saturdays and NFL Sundays, the sportsbook’s 10 a.m.–2 p.m. brunch is a good anchor. You can order ahead from your phone, grab your food at the pickup counter, and settle into a booth before the rush. Betting windows and kiosks are on the same footprint, so you’re never far from placing a bet between drives.

Quick takeaways

• The casino floor is 24/7; the poker room runs 10 a.m.–4 a.m. Sun–Thu and 10 a.m.–6 a.m. Fri–Sat.
• Bring a valid ID. It’s 21+ for the gaming floor, the hotel, and most ticketed shows in the Event Center.
• Bag limit is one per guest, under 17" x 12" x 9". There’s a basic dress code.
• Self‑parking in the garage and lots is free; valet is $25. Semi drivers can swap their $25/24 hr parking receipt for $10 dining + $15 slot play at Player Services.
• On the floor you’ll find 1,700+ slots from $0.01 to $100, about 65 table games, and a 34‑table poker room.
• The ESPN BET sportsbook is roughly 12,000 sq ft with 30+ kiosks, staffed windows, and weekend brunch 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Use Order. Pay. Pickup on your phone for Dirty Frank’s, Wahlburgers, Zen Noodle, and the Sportsbook to avoid lines.
• PENN Play makes dining a better deal: $1 PENN Cash = $2 in dining credit at the on-property outlets.
• All indoor areas are smoke‑free. There’s a dedicated outdoor smoking patio with slots and a bar.

Reader Q&A

Are drinks free while I play like in Las Vegas?

No. Alcoholic drinks are paid in Ohio casinos. You will find complimentary non-alcoholic beverages on property, and the sportsbook runs a full bar if you want to sit and watch a game. If you’re earning PENN Play, use the $1 PENN Cash = $2 dining credit conversion to offset food and drink.

Is there really free parking, and where is valet?

Day guests can self‑park at no cost in the attached garage or in the surface lots. If you’d like curb service, valet is available at the hotel side for $25. Semi parking is a separate program at $25 per 24 hours with $10 dining and $15 slot play back when you show the receipt at Player Services.

Can I smoke on the casino floor?

No. Ohio’s indoor ban applies across the gaming floor, bars, and poker room. There is an outdoor smoking patio connected to the casino with slot machines and a bar if you want to play and smoke in the same stop.

When is the poker room busy, and how do I get a seat?

The room is open 10 a.m.–4 a.m. Sunday–Thursday, and 10 a.m.–6 a.m. Friday–Saturday. Use the Bravo Poker Live app before you leave to see active games and add yourself to the waitlist, then check in at the podium when you arrive.

If you’re torn between making it a long evening or an overnight, the on-site hotel simplifies things and breakfast at The Hill gets you back on the floor without a detour. If you’re coming for a game, reserve a sportsbook table by showing up early for the 10 a.m.–2 p.m. weekend brunch and treat the TV wall like your living room.

Published: September 9, 2026 · Reviewed by the Whats Up Columbus editorial team