KC gambling revenue slips by $3 million

Wednesday, July 28, 1999 | 11:20 a.m.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- As the temperature rose in June, Kansas City's riverboat gamblers cooled off.

Casino revenues slipped by nearly $3 million, to $39.3 million, after record-setting months of $42 million-plus in March, April and May, according to the latest reports by the Missouri Gaming Commission.

But for the fiscal year overall, the Kansas City casino market expanded by about 8.5 percent from the 1998 fiscal year, to $475 million from $438 million.

It was the same story statewide, only more so, with annual growth of 11.9 percent to $898 million from $803 million a year ago. Kansas City's four casino operations represented almost 53 percent of the statewide total, a slight drop from 55 percent a year ago.

Steve Taylor, executive director of the statewide anti-gambling lobby Casino Watch, laments the growth.

"Americans are now spending more annually on gambling than they do on groceries," he told the Kansas City Star, quoting a congressional study on the effects of gambling.

"Our concern is that along with the increase in revenue is an increase in compulsive gambling."

As usual, Harrah's North Kansas City Casino & Hotel led the local marketplace, posting a $14.1 million month. Harrah's also wrapped up Missouri's 1999 fiscal year as the statewide overall market leader, with a record $169 million year.

Station Casino Kansas City last September surpassed Harrah's as Kansas City's market leader, but after one month slipped back to second place.