Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course is a machine-focused racino in Austintown, west of Youngstown, Ohio, near Interstate 80. Its main draw is the combination of over 1,000 video lottery terminals, Thoroughbred racing, a retail sportsbook, and casual dining. I see it as a better choice for a local outing or highway detour than a casino vacation: there are no live table games or attached hotel, and racing and restaurant schedules require some planning.
Hollywood Mahoning Valley: Quick facts
| Location | 655 North Canfield Niles Road, Youngstown, OH 44515, in Austintown |
|---|---|
| Property type | Thoroughbred racino operated by PENN Entertainment |
| Gaming hours | Listed as open 24 hours daily; individual venues and services have separate hours |
| Machine selection | Over 1,000 VLTs, according to the property’s published estimate |
| Minimum machine-gambling age | 21 |
| Horse-wagering age | 18 |
| Live table games | No |
| Poker room | No |
| Retail sportsbook | Yes; wagering kiosks advertised as available 24/7 |
| Racing | Seasonal live Thoroughbred racing and year-round simulcast wagering |
| On-site hotel | No |
| Admission | Free; simulcast seating charges may apply on busy race days |
| Rewards | PENN Play |
| Phone | 330-505-8700 |
| Official website | Hollywood Gaming visitor information |
| Information date | October 15, 2026 |
What kind of visit is it best for?
This is a regional gambling stop, not a resort that happens to have a racetrack. Machines are the everyday attraction, while the horses and sportsbook offer alternatives to another spin.
| Your plan | How Mahoning Valley fits | What to plan around |
|---|---|---|
| A few hours on the machines | The most straightforward fit | Your bankroll and food-service hours |
| An afternoon at the races | A distinctive reason to visit | The live calendar, first post, weather, and seating |
| Watching and betting on a game | The sportsbook and restaurant make this practical | Staffed betting hours differ from restaurant hours |
| An overnight casino getaway | Possible, but not self-contained | A separate hotel and transportation |
| Blackjack or craps with friends | Not a fit | Choose a casino with live tables |
I would pick the activity first and the arrival time second. Showing up whenever you please works better for the machines than for racing or dinner. Our guide to Ohio casinos can help if your group needs a different game mix.
Slots, VLTs, and video poker
The property advertises over 1,000 video lottery terminals, or VLTs. That is an operator estimate, not an exact inventory. These are the familiar slot-style machines with reels, bonus features, and varying wagers.
A larger patio gaming area is planned. An April 21, 2026, WKBN report carried by AOL described an expansion adding about 3,000 square feet and more than 100 VLTs, with completion expected by the end of 2026. Treat those as planned additions, not machines guaranteed to be available for your visit.
My advice is to choose the place for its overall selection, not one particular title. Games move and change. Check the total wager before pressing the button, too: a penny denomination does not mean the selected bet is a penny.
If video poker is your main game, ask about the current selection and pay tables before making a special trip. A large VLT count does not establish whether your preferred game is available.
Guest reports about winning or losing do not establish payout rates. Nor does a machine become due because someone has spent an unhappy afternoon feeding it.
Table games and poker room
Hollywood Mahoning Valley has no live dealer blackjack, craps, roulette, or traditional table-game pit. It also has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room.
For a mixed group, the absence of live tables is the more consequential limitation. A slots player may be perfectly content here, while a dedicated craps player has no equivalent alternative.
Sportsbook: Counter hours versus 24/7 kiosks
Hollywood Mahoning Valley has an on-property retail sportsbook. The official sportsbook page lists these staffed hours, subject to change:
- Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wagering kiosks are advertised as available 24 hours daily. That does not mean every counter service is available overnight. If you expect to redeem a ticket after staffed hours, ask about the arrangements before placing the bet.
The accompanying restaurant makes this a sensible option for visitors who want a meal and a game rather than an evening devoted entirely to machines.
Horse racing and simulcast wagering
Mahoning Valley hosts live Thoroughbred racing, not harness racing. The official racing page identifies October through April as the live-racing window. Year-round simulcast wagering covers both Thoroughbred and harness races from other tracks.
The property’s FAQ lists live racing on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, but check the calendar for your actual date. Summer visitors should plan around simulcasts rather than expect a live race card.
Mutuel tellers and self-service wagering machines are available. Children may watch the races with an adult, and horse wagering is permitted from age 18. Neither rule gives younger visitors access to every casino or dining area.
For clubhouse dining overlooking the racing, the property lists reservations at 330-505-8847. Simulcast seats normally have no charge, although busy race days can bring reservations or seating charges. Free admission and a guaranteed free seat are not the same thing.
Hotel: Book separately and plan the ride
There is no on-site hotel. Nearby Austintown hotels make an overnight trip possible, but this is not a walk-from-your-room-to-the-slots arrangement.
The property says eligible PENN Play members may receive discounts at select nearby hotels. Compare the final price, cancellation policy, breakfast, and transportation needs rather than assuming a member offer is automatically the best deal.
I would be careful about treating nearby as walkable. Interstate-area roads, weather, and the hotel’s position can make a short drive an unpleasant walk. Arrange transportation before drinking, and check the hotel’s own amenities rather than assuming a casino stay includes a pool or spa.
Restaurants and bars
The official dining directory emphasizes casual meals and quick food rather than destination dining.
- The Sportsbook: The sit-down choice for wings, burgers, salads, steak, and salmon, plus beer and cocktails.
- Take 2 Grill: Grab-and-go sandwiches and burgers. Published food hours end at 7 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday and 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
- Zombie Dogz & Piez: Gourmet pizzas, specialty hot dogs, and milkshakes, with the same published closing pattern as Take 2 Grill.
- Trackside: Race-day concessions including hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, and pretzels. Its venue page specifies select live racing days, not daily service.
- H Lounge: A bar option with published hours extending later than the quick-service food outlets.
The practical catch: a 24-hour gambling floor does not come with a 24-hour restaurant lineup. Early-week visitors should be especially mindful of the earlier quick-service closing times.
Temporary dining specials: A price comparison
The property’s dining-specials page advertises an $8.88 chicken Caesar salad at Take 2 Grill during the weekday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. window and a $16.00 ham-and-pineapple pizza-of-the-month at The Sportsbook. The advertised difference is $7.12 before any unlisted tax or tip.
The salad is the lower food outlay, not necessarily the better value: these are different dishes, with no equivalent portion comparison established. Both offers are limited-time and while supplies last. Confirm availability before building your budget around them.
Entertainment and practical visit information
The property promotes free live entertainment, but check the event calendar if a performance matters to your plans. Racing remains its most distinctive alternative to the machines. For non-gamblers, I would choose a specific race card, meal, or event rather than count on finding a whole evening of diversions after arrival.
Directions and parking
The Youngstown mailing address can be misleading: the property is in Austintown, west of downtown. Official directions use I-80 Exit 223, OH-46 South, and Hollywood Drive. For racing, follow the signs to the designated racing parking area.
Allow time to reach your activity from the parking area. If an accessible route or particular seating accommodation is essential, call ahead about those arrangements.
Age requirements, admission, and Wi-Fi
Machine gambling is for ages 21 and older; horse wagering starts at 18. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Entry is free. Budget separately for gambling, food, drinks, transportation, any paid race-day seating, and lodging. Bring your planned bankroll rather than relying on repeated cash withdrawals.
One easily overlooked detail: the official FAQ says there is no public Wi-Fi in the gaming facility. Have reservation details and other essentials available without depending on a complimentary connection.
PENN Play: What your play earns
The property’s FAQ explains the distinctions between tier credit, spendable rewards, and promotional play. PENN Play membership is free, with valid identification required at Player Services.
At the published VLT earning rate of one Tier Point per $5.00 in coin-in, an illustrative $100.00 in total wagers earns 20 Tier Points, while $500.00 earns 100. Coin-in means the total amount wagered, including replayed winnings. It is not your starting bankroll, your expected loss, or a recommendation to wager that much.
Tier Points determine status, but they are not cash back and cannot be exchanged for comps or PENN Bonus Play. Horse wagers do not earn those Tier Points, although the racing FAQ says they earn comp dollars usable for food or racing programs.
Your PENN Play card works at participating destinations, but Mahoning Valley PENN Bonus Play stays at Mahoning Valley. The card travels; that particular offer does not.
The comparison below brings together published visit rules, service distinctions, and illustrative rewards calculations. The examples explain earning, not expected gambling losses or cash rewards.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Hollywood Gaming admission: Entry charge | Entry is free; this does not establish that every seat or activity is free. |
| Simulcast seating: Normal seating versus busy race days | Seating normally has no charge, but busy race days can bring reservations or seating charges; no amount is published here. |
| Horse racing spectators: Children’s access | Children may watch racing when accompanied by an adult; this is not permission to enter every gaming area. |
| Horse wagering: Minimum betting age | The published minimum age for horse betting is 18. |
| Sportsbook: Staffed service versus kiosk availability | Staffed sportsbook hours vary by day, while wagering kiosks are advertised as available around the clock. The passage does not establish after-hours ticket redemption arrangements. |
| PENN Play VLT rewards: Tier earning rate | The property publishes one Tier Point per $5.00 in VLT coin-in. |
| PENN Play Tier Points: Tier status versus spendable rewards | Tier Points determine status but have no monetary value and cannot be exchanged for comps or PENN Bonus Play. |
| Horse wagering rewards: Horse wagers versus VLT tier earning | Horse wagers earn comp dollars for food or racing programs, but do not accumulate PENN Play Tier Points. |
| PENN Play portability: Card portability versus promotional-play portability | The membership card works at participating destinations, but Mahoning Valley PENN Bonus Play cannot be transferred to another property. |
| PENN Play membership: Enrollment cost and identification | Membership is free, with valid identification required at Player Services. |
| PENN Play qualification period: Earning reset versus status validity | The earning period runs from May through April; earned status lasts through the following period, but Tier Points do not carry over. |
| Racing wagers: Advance wagering versus on-site race-day betting | Advance wagering is not generally offered for Mahoning Valley racing; occasional simulcast exceptions are listed on the simulcast calendars. |
| Winning horse-racing tickets: Expiration and readability | The racing FAQ says winning Ohio tickets do not expire and can be redeemed while readable; this should not be generalized to sportsbook tickets. |
| Take 2 Grill: Early-week versus later-week food hours | Published food service closes earlier Sunday through Tuesday than Wednesday through Saturday; coffee service starts earlier than the grill. |
| Trackside concessions: Race-day availability | Trackside is available on select live racing days, rather than on a guaranteed daily schedule. |
| Take 2 Grill dining special: Published lunch price and restrictions | A chicken Caesar salad is advertised at $8.88 Monday through Friday during the lunch window, while supplies last; confirm the offer before visiting. |
| The Sportsbook dining special: Published pizza price and restrictions | A ham-and-pineapple pizza-of-the-month special is advertised at $16.00 while supplies last; it is not a permanent menu-price guarantee. |
| Gaming-facility connectivity: Public Wi-Fi availability | The official FAQ says there is no public Wi-Fi in the gaming facility; visitors should not rely on complimentary connectivity. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Tier Points from an illustrative $100.00 in VLT coin-in | 20 Tier Points | Use total wagers, not cash brought to the casino, when estimating tier credit. Tier Points are not cash back. |
| Tier Points from an illustrative $500.00 in VLT coin-in | 100 Tier Points | Compare this with the smaller coin-in example to understand earning, not to justify extra gambling. The published rate does not establish a cash reward or expected gambling loss. |
| Advertised pizza-versus-salad special price difference | $7.12 | The salad special is the lower advertised food outlay, but these are different dishes, not equivalent portions. Confirm availability and the weekday lunch window before budgeting around either limited-time offer. |
Research references: hollywoodmahoningvalley.com 1, hollywoodmahoningvalley.com 2, hollywoodmahoningvalley.com 3, hollywoodmahoningvalley.com 4, hollywoodmahoningvalley.com 5.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-15. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
My rule is to collect rewards on play you already intended to make. A tier target is not a good reason to enlarge your bankroll.
Guest praise and common complaints
Guest-review summaries on Wanderlog highlight cleanliness, a spacious-feeling gaming floor, machine variety, and appreciation for a non-smoking atmosphere. These are subjective comfort signals, not a complete smoking-policy statement.
Service is the meaningful disagreement. Some visitors describe friendly, helpful employees, while others report difficulty finding assistance on the floor. Complaints also include bill-changing or ticket-exchange kiosk problems and waits during busier periods.
I would read that as a reason to leave breathing room in your schedule, not proof that service will be poor. Cash out before the last possible minute if you have a dinner reservation or ride to catch. These summary-level impressions are not a representative survey or a promise about your visit.
Do not leave machine cash-out vouchers forgotten in a drawer, either. The Ohio Lottery’s Mahoning Valley report classifies vouchers more than 180 days old as unclaimed, with those funds owed to the commission. Do not assume the non-expiring horse-racing ticket rule also applies to VLT vouchers.
Who this casino is best for
Hollywood Mahoning Valley suits local players and I-80 travelers who want machines, a meal, and perhaps racing or sports betting without planning a resort trip. Guest-review summaries favor cleanliness, game variety, and the non-smoking atmosphere, while service reports are mixed and cash-kiosk waits draw complaints. I would choose it for a focused outing; visitors seeking an attached hotel, live table games, or plentiful non-gambling diversions should choose a fuller-service property, especially with a mixed-interest group.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley open 24 hours?
The gaming floor is listed as open 24 hours daily, and the property advertises 24/7 sportsbook wagering kiosks. Staffed sportsbook service, dining, and racing have separate schedules.
Does Hollywood Mahoning Valley have a sportsbook?
Yes. It has an on-property retail sportsbook with staffed betting hours and wagering kiosks advertised as available around the clock.
Does it have blackjack, craps, or live poker?
No. There are no live casino table games or dedicated poker room.
Does it have a hotel?
No. Book a separate hotel in Austintown or the surrounding Youngstown area, and plan transportation between the two.
Can children watch the races?
Yes, accompanied by an adult, according to the racing FAQ. That does not permit access to every gambling or dining area. Horse wagering requires age 18, while machine gambling requires age 21.
Is admission free?
Yes. Simulcast seating is normally free, too, but the property may reserve or charge for seats on busy race days.
Is there free Wi-Fi?
No. The property’s FAQ says there is no public Wi-Fi in the gaming facility.
Before you go
Restaurant hours, racing dates, staffed betting hours, and promotional prices can change. Check your intended date before traveling, particularly for a race-day meal or late-night visit.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room.