Casino revenue up in March

Monday, April 30, 2001 | 10:54 a.m.

JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi casino revenue rose slightly in March with the 30 state-regulated casinos bringing in $243.2 million.

That compares to $247.9 million in the same month last year, and $227.9 in February, according to new figures from the state Tax Commission.

The 12 casinos on the coast reported revenue of $97.4 million in March compared to $94.9 million in February and $104.2 million in March 2000.

In Tunica and the river counties, casinos took in $145.7 million last month and $132.9 million in February. In March 2000, they took in $143.7 million.

So far this year, gross casino revenue totals $698.7 million, including $290.3 million from the coast casinos and $408.3 million from gaming houses along the Mississippi River.

Tax Commission figures also showed total tax collections through nine months of the fiscal year have totaled $238 million, with local governments receiving $78.9 million and the state $120.2 million. The remainder goes into a casino road and bond fund.