Hollywood Casino Columbus: What to Know Before You Go

You can get from an Arena District dinner to a live blackjack table in about 15 minutes if you point the car west and hop on I‑270. The city’s full‑service casino sits at 200 Georgesville Road on the West Side, and it truly never closes. The gaming floor runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which makes it the easiest late‑night plan in town when the night doesn’t feel done yet.

If you like specifics, this place delivers: 1,700 slots spread from pennies to $100 denominations, 65 live table games, a 34‑table poker room, and a 12,000 sq ft sportsbook with 30‑plus kiosks and four betting windows. Add an on‑site hotel that opened in June 2026 and a handful of local and national dining names, and you can comfortably make a whole night of it without leaving the property.

Where it is, when it’s open, and how to get through the door

The address is 200 Georgesville Road, Columbus, OH 43228. From downtown, take I‑70 west to I‑270 north, exit at West Broad Street, and you’re two quick turns from the porte‑cochère. Rideshares have no trouble finding the drop‑off, and there’s a large attached garage as well as surface lots.

The casino operates 24/7. You must be 21+ with a valid government‑issued ID to gamble or enter the gaming areas. Security is present at all entrances and does enforce two policies visitors sometimes miss:

• Bag limit: One bag per guest, no larger than 17 by 12 by 9 inches. Larger items like coolers and duffels are not allowed inside.
• Dress code: No clothing that is vulgar, transparent, or excessively low/baggy to the point of exposing undergarments. Security or management can refuse entry if they deem attire disruptive.

Truck drivers get a unique perk here: semi parking is $25 per 24 hours, and if you present the receipt at Player Services you receive a $10 dining credit plus $15 in PENN Slot Play. You need a PENN Play account to redeem, and the credit is not valid at The Lounge at Final Cut.

What you’ll actually find on the floor

Slots and stadium gaming

The slot lineup sits at roughly 1,700 machines, from classic reels to the newest branded cabinets. Denominations run from penny to $100. If you’re easing into table games, look for the stadium area where electronic terminals let you play along with a live dealer feed at lower minimums.

Table games

There are 65 tables and the mix includes blackjack, roulette, craps, mini baccarat, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, Crazy 4 Poker, and a few poker‑derivative carnival games. Minimums float with demand. On OSU football Saturdays or late evenings, expect higher thresholds on the main pit and better value at stadium terminals.

Poker room

The casino runs a 34‑table live poker room, the largest dedicated room in Columbus. You’ll see both No‑Limit and Limit Hold’em on the board and Omaha variants when interest justifies it. A few house rules that matter in practice: no smoking or vaping in the room at all, and no actively using a phone while you hold cards. Seats and lists are managed through the Bravo app, so you can hop on a list before you leave the house.

Sportsbook

The sportsbook is a full room, not a window in a corner. It spans 12,000 square feet with a wall of screens, a bar, and seating for game‑watching. Wagers can be placed at 30+ self‑service kiosks or at 4 staffed windows. If you like to mix food with football, the room runs a weekend brunch service from 10 am to 2 pm and seasonal kitchen specials that feel designed for groups. This summer, for instance, Tuesdays in July and August featured all‑you‑can‑eat crab legs for $67.99 from 4 pm to 10 pm.

Eating and drinking without leaving the building

The casino has leaned into a mix of national brands and Columbus favorites, plus a new hotel restaurant for breakfast and a proper nightcap. A few options that are actually worth planning around:

The Hill Eatery & Lounge sits in the hotel lobby, serving breakfast to get you going and a dinner menu that skews Midwestern comfort with a bar program built for lingering. If you’re overnighting, it’s the easiest place to start the day before you hit the floor.

Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace is the local win for a fast, cheap bite. The very‑real weekday deal is Dirty Thursday: a dog, fries, and a 16 oz beer for $10, with a $2 upgrade to swap the beer for a cocktail. It’s hard to beat if you just want something fast so you can get back to a seat.

The Lounge at Final Cut is the upscale option for a pre‑ or mid‑evening reservation. The mid‑week hook right now is a $49.99 Surf & Turf special on Wednesdays. If you’re traveling with someone who doesn’t care about the tables, this is the move that can turn a casino night into a legitimate dinner date.

Wahlburgers and Zen Noodle fill the dependable quick‑service slots, and there’s also Mikey’s Late Night Slice on property for by‑the‑slice pizza when the rest of town is closed. The sportsbook itself runs its own food program, including weekend brunch 10 am–2 pm and those summertime crab nights mentioned above.

If you prefer to skip lines, order‑ahead is supported at Dirty Frank’s, Wahlburgers, Zen Noodle, and the Sportsbook through the PENN Play app. It sounds minor, but on a Friday at 7 pm it can be the difference between catching a kickoff or watching it from the hallway.

Money matters: players club, credit, parking, and policies

PENN Play is the rewards program, and it connects across dozens of casinos under the same parent company. New members who also register the app have been offered a dining credit locally; check the on‑site signage or the app during sign‑up so you don’t leave value on the table. PENN Play gift cards work at restaurants, bars, and the hotel here, but not for gaming or alcohol purchases.

If you’re a frequent player used to markers, the property offers 24/7 casino credit. For larger markers of $2,500 and up, the standard repayment window listed is 30 days. Credit is not usable in the poker room and your play must be rated on your PENN Play card. First‑timers will need to apply and be approved before any markers are issued.

On parking: the big garage and the adjacent lots are easy to navigate and usually have space even on concert nights in the H Lounge. If you’re staying at the hotel, valet is available for $25, and Owner’s Club (top‑tier) PENN Play members receive complimentary valet. Hotel rooms are non‑smoking, and there’s a $250 cleaning fee if you light up in a guest room. The poker room is also entirely non‑smoking. Plan your smoke breaks accordingly.

A few quick quality‑of‑life notes that actually matter once you’re on site: the property has lottery ticket kiosks on the floor if you want to grab a scratch‑off between sessions; bag checks are quick but real and that 17×12×9 limit is enforced; and if you are driving a tractor‑trailer, the $25 per 24 hours semi parking program returns a $10 dining credit and $15 in slot play per day when you bring the receipt to Player Services, with the standard exclusions.

Hollywood vs. Scioto Downs: which one fits your night

Columbus has two gambling destinations, but they are not twins. Here’s the short version you can actually use when the group chat is split. One critical difference is that Ohio��s racinos are limited to video lottery terminals, so if you want table games or poker you need a casino licensee.

For most mixed groups, Hollywood is the more flexible choice because the non‑gamblers can actually eat well and watch a game while the table‑players do their thing. If you only want a slot crawl and you live closer to Groveport or Obetz, Scioto Downs can make sense; just know you will not find blackjack or craps there.

Key things to know before you go

• Bring valid ID and keep your bag small. One bag per guest, max 17×12×9 inches, and security will check it.
• Plan your budget and minimums. Table minimums rise on busy nights; stadium gaming inside the casino runs lower limits if you want to learn without pressure.
• Join PENN Play as you arrive. Sign‑up perks here often include a dining credit, and gift cards are accepted at restaurants, bars, and the hotel.
• Time dinner smart. The Lounge at Final Cut’s $49.99 Wednesday Surf & Turf and Dirty Frank’s $10 Dirty Thursday are real value plays. The sportsbook runs 10 am–2 pm weekend brunch.
• Overnighting? The hotel opened in June 2026 with 203 rooms, a fitness center, and The Hill Eatery & Lounge. Valet is $25, complimentary for Owner’s Club tier.
• Semi drivers can park for $25 per 24 hours and get back a $10 dining credit plus $15 slot play daily at Player Services, once per day, with a PENN Play account.

Reader Q&A

Is Hollywood Casino actually open all night?

Yes. The gaming floor operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Table game minimums tend to be higher late on weekend nights, but the stadium gaming terminals usually keep lower limits if you prefer that route.

Can I smoke in the poker room or my hotel room?

No. The poker room is non‑smoking, including e‑cigarettes, and hotel rooms are non‑smoking with a $250 cleaning fee if you break the rule. Plan to step outside for smoke breaks.

What’s the cheapest solid food option on property?

Dirty Frank’s wins that one. On Thursdays, the “Dirty Thursday” combo is a dog, fries, and a 16 oz beer for $10, or add $2 for a cocktail instead. For weekends, the sportsbook’s 10 am–2 pm brunch is built for game days and groups.

Does Scioto Downs have blackjack or craps?

No. Scioto Downs is a racino with 2,100+ VLTs and a Caesars Sportsbook lounge, but no live or electronic table games and no poker room. If you want blackjack, roulette, craps, or live poker, go to Hollywood Casino Columbus.

Here’s the quick way to decide: if your night needs live tables, poker, or a big sportsbook with food service, go to Georgesville Road. If you only want to spin reels on the south side, Scioto Downs does the job. Either way, set your limits, plan your meals, and you’ll have a smoother night.

Published: August 28, 2026