JACK Entertainment

What JACK Entertainment does

JACK Entertainment LLC is a privately held regional gaming and hospitality operator headquartered at 100 Public Square in Cleveland, Ohio. The company operates two integrated gaming properties in Northeast Ohio: JACK Cleveland Casino, Ohio's first full-service casino (opened 2012 in the historic Higbee Building in downtown Cleveland), and JACK Thistledown Racino in North Randall, featuring video lottery terminals, live and simulcast thoroughbred racing. Both properties include betJACK sportsbooks, with the Cleveland location offering a 6,000-square-foot sportsbook that uniquely contains a table games pit, and the Thistledown property featuring the 12,000-square-foot Revel Oak outdoor gaming patio with full climate control.

The business operates across five core revenue streams: casino gaming (slots, VLTs, table games, poker), sports betting via the betJACK platform (retail and mobile), pari-mutuel horse racing wagering, food and beverage (Seven Chefs Buffet, OneKitchen food hall, casual dining), and a free-to-play online gaming platform (playJACK). Customer engagement is anchored by the proprietary clubJACK tiered loyalty program with five membership levels (J, A, C, K, Infinity), supported by the award-winning GT Connect / Virtual Players Card mobile player tracking technology (recognized as a Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Technology Product in 2018). Operations are licensed and regulated by the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Ohio Lottery Commission, and the company monetizes through transaction-based revenue including house edge on gaming, racing takeouts, and food/beverage sales.

In 2019, JACK Entertainment completed a sale-leaseback transaction with Vici Properties covering the real estate of both gaming properties, transitioning to an asset-light operating model with a long-term headquarters lease signed with K&D Group in 2021. The company is led by CEO Matthew Cullen (also a Principal at affiliated Rock Ventures) and is supported by a Table Games Academy (paid dealer training with guaranteed job placement) feeding its workforce pipeline. Distribution combines walk-in retail at two physical properties, mobile sportsbook and online gaming platforms, bus group tour channels for 30+ passenger groups, and a broad social media presence across Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The company is an Ohio LLC with no disclosed external institutional funding and has been recognized as a Plain Dealer Top Workplace for six consecutive years (2018-2023).

Name

JACK Entertainment

Legal name

JACK Entertainment LLC

Website

https://jackentertainment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

JACK Entertainment LLC is a privately held Cleveland-based regional gaming operator running JACK Cleveland Casino, JACK Thistledown Racino, betJACK sportsbook, and playJACK online gaming, serving adult consumers in Northeast Ohio with casino gaming, sports betting, horse racing, and dining.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casino and Racino Gaming

NAICS

Casinos (except Casino Hotels) (713210), Gambling Industries (7132)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Standalone Casino Properties (Urban/Suburban) (MPAEAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Casino Food, Beverage & Nightlife Operations (MPAEAAAI)

Keywords

• Casino gaming operations
• Racino entertainment
• Sports betting platform
• Horse racing wagering
• Player loyalty program

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Casino Gaming Operations: Revenue from slot machines, video lottery terminals (VLTs), table games, and poker at JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino. Core gaming revenue includes house edge from slots, table game drops, and poker rake.
2. Sports Betting (betJACK): Revenue from sports wagering at physical sportsbooks and via mobile app. Includes straight bets, parlays, futures, and prop bets. Sportsbook features 6,000 square feet of dedicated space at Cleveland location.
3. Horse Racing Wagering: Revenue from live thoroughbred racing at Thistledown and simulcast wagering on races from other tracks. Includes pari-mutuel wagering with house takeout.
4. Food and Beverage: Revenue from dining and beverage operations including Seven Chefs Buffet, casual dining spots at both properties, and food hall concepts like OneKitchen at Thistledown.
5. Loyalty Program Revenue: Revenue generation through clubJACK loyalty program where members earn tier credits and rewards. Rewards redemption includes bonus play conversion and comp vouchers for food and retail.
6. Online Gaming (playJACK): Free-to-play and potentially real-money online gaming through playJACK platform. Revenue from in-app purchases of additional credits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

JACK Entertainment is a regional gaming and hospitality operator that runs two Northeast Ohio gaming properties — JACK Cleveland Casino (slots, table games, poker, sportsbook, dining) and JACK Thistledown Racino (video lottery terminals, live and simulcast thoroughbred horse racing, sportsbook, dining) — and extends the experience to digital through the betJACK Ohio sportsbook app and the playJACK free-to-play online casino. The clubJACK multi-tier loyalty program ties the casino, racino, and online channels together, while dining concepts (Seven Chefs Buffet, OneKitchen food hall) and the Revel Oak outdoor gaming patio round out the on-property entertainment offering.

Product overview

JACK Entertainment operates Ohio's first full-service casino and a premier racino entertainment destination, both featuring integrated gaming, dining, and hospitality services. The company offers a unified portfolio consisting of JACK Cleveland Casino (table games, slots, poker, sportsbook), JACK Thistledown Racino (VLTs, horse racing, sportsbook, outdoor gaming at Revel Oak), and online platforms including betJACK (sports betting) and playJACK (free-to-play gaming). The clubJACK loyalty program ties all properties together with tiered rewards. The company also provides dealer training through its Table Games Academy and operates multiple dining venues including the OneKitchen food hall and Seven Chefs Buffet.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JACK Cleveland Casino: Full-service casino located in downtown Cleveland's historic Higbee Building, offering table games, slots, poker, and sports betting.
• JACK Thistledown Racino
• betJACK
• playJACK
• clubJACK
• Seven Chefs Buffet
• Revel Oak
• OneKitchen

Products and services

• JACK Cleveland Casino Ohio's first full-service casino, located in the historic Higbee Building in downtown Cleveland, offering slots, table games, poker, sportsbook, dining, and entertainment to adult guests 21+.
• JACK Thistledown Racino Racino entertainment destination in North Randall, Ohio, featuring video lottery terminals (VLTs), live and simulcast thoroughbred horse racing, sportsbook, outdoor gaming patio (Revel Oak), and dining for guests 21+ (18+ for pari-mutuel wagering).
• betJACK Sportsbook Ohio-licensed sports betting platform available via retail sportsbook at both JACK properties and through the betJACK mobile app; offers straight bets, parlays, futures, props, and live in-game wagering with GeoComply geolocation verification.
• playJACK Online Gaming Free-to-play online gaming platform letting users play casino-style games without wagering real money, with optional in-app purchases of additional credits and clubJACK rewards earned on play-for-fun purchases.
• clubJACK Loyalty Program Multi-tier player loyalty program (J, A, C, K, Infinity) tracking play across slots, VLTs, table games, poker, sports betting, and racing; members earn tier credits and redeem bonus play, comp vouchers, complimentary parking, dining discounts, and exclusive promotions.
• Table Games Academy (Dealer School) Paid dealer training program at JACK Cleveland Casino offering free casino industry training led by experienced, licensed instructors, with a guaranteed job offer upon successful completion.
• OneKitchen Food Hall Multi-vendor food hall and The Bakery dining concept unveiled at JACK Thistledown Racino, offering diverse menus to casino and racino guests.
• Seven Chefs Buffet Casino buffet restaurant at JACK Cleveland Casino offering member pricing for clubJACK members.
• Revel Oak Outdoor Gaming Patio State-of-the-art outdoor gaming patio with 12,000 square feet of elevated gaming space, climate-controlled (air conditioning, radiated heat, in-floor heat, exhaust fans) for year-round use, with a smoking-permitted section at Thistledown Racino.

Quantifiable outcome

• $17.5 million+ donated to local organizations through sponsorships and in-kind donations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Greater Cleveland Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to supply community with kitchen essentials. JACK Entertainment donated pots, pans, utensils, and kitchenware to be distributed through the Food Bank to support community members in need.
• K&D GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Long-term lease agreement for downtown Cleveland headquarters. JACK Entertainment deepens Cleveland roots by signing long-term lease with K&D Group for downtown headquarters location.
• DigitalCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership with local nonprofit DigitalC to bridge the digital divide for Cleveland students. Supports JACK's mission to provide access to vital resources including education and technology.
• May Company GaragecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Acquisition of May Company Garage adjacent to JACK Cleveland Casino. Multi-million dollar construction project for structural and aesthetic improvements to downtown Cleveland garage.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• DraftKings: National online sports betting and iGaming operator. Comparable only as a betJACK competitor in Ohio online sports betting; not a physical-casino peer but the most direct head-to-head competitor for JACK's digital growth thesis.

Direct peers

• Churchill Downs Incorporated: Owner and operator of regional casinos, racetracks, and HRM (historical racing) venues across multiple states. Closely comparable to JACK Thistledown Racino's horse-racing-anchored gaming model and disciplined regional expansion playbook.
• Caesars Entertainment: Operates Horseshoe Casino Cleveland directly in JACK's home market, plus a national Caesars Sportsbook (online + retail). Comparable as a regional casino operator with an integrated sports betting product competing head-to-head in Northeast Ohio.
• Red Rock Resorts: Las Vegas Locals-focused casino operator. Comparable as a multi-property regional gaming company with strong loyalty program economics, although operating in a different geography.
• Boyd Gaming: Multi-property regional casino operator with a FanDuel partnership for online sports betting. Closely comparable business model (regional casinos + loyalty program + online partnership) although at larger scale and without presence in Ohio.
• Penn Entertainment: Regional casino operator with multiple Ohio properties (Hollywood Casino Toledo, Hollywood Casino Columbus, Hollywood Casino at Mahoning Valley) and a national sportsbook (ESPN BET). Comparable as a multi-property, land-based-forward regional gaming operator with adjacent online sports betting ambitions in the same Ohio regulatory regime.
• Bally's Corporation: Regional casino operator expanding both physical properties and a Bally Bet online sportsbook. Comparable as a multi-property regional operator pursuing parallel physical/online growth, similar in scale and strategic intent to JACK.
• Hard Rock International: Operates Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati — directly competitive in Ohio — plus a Hard Rock Bet online sportsbook. Comparable as a brand-led regional casino plus online operator with Ohio presence.
• Monarch Casino & Resort: Operates two regional casino properties (Atlantis Reno, Black Hawk). Comparable as a small-cap, two-property regional operator with focus on gaming and F&B, similar in scale and asset-light mindset to JACK.

Broad incumbents

• MGM Resorts International: Operates MGM Northfield Park in Ohio and co-owns BetMGM (online sportsbook/iGaming). Comparable as a larger, diversified gaming and online operator competing in the same Ohio markets, although at materially greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@JACKEntertainment216
• Facebookfacebook.com/JackCleCasino
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jack-entertainment
• TikToktiktok.com/@jack_ent216

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about JACK Entertainment