Missouri report finds casino revenue, problem gamblers up

Kelly Wiese

Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004 | 9:15 a.m.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The 2004 report on gambling in Missouri found that more problem gamblers are banning themselves from casinos, while casino revenue statewide increased about 8 percent over the last fiscal year.

About 115 people are adding their names every month to the casino-exclusion list, according to report, which is prepared by the state Gaming Commission. There were nearly 7,500 on the list as of Monday, up from 5,800 people in August 2003.

People who voluntarily place their names on the exclusion list are banned for life from Missouri casinos and aren't supposed to receive marketing materials from casinos.

The antigambling group Casino Watch said the report shows that problem gambling is a growing concern in Missouri. Mark Andrews, the group's chairman, said he was also disturbed by the growth in slot machines, which number more than 17,500 across the state.

He said that about 87 percent of Missouri casinos' revenue comes from slots rather than table games. Slots are the most addictive form of gambling, he said, arguing the state should consider limiting the number of machines it allows.

"Many researchers are saying slot machines are the crack cocaine of gambling," he said.

The Gaming Commission has not studied the issue of limiting slot machines, spokesman Harold Bailey said.

The report also showed that most Missouri casinos did well in fiscal 2004, which ended June 30, with revenue rising an average of 8 percent, to $1.4 billion, in the past year.

In that time, the number of people who visited casinos rose 5 percent, and the amount casinos made on an average visit rose about 3 percent, to $56.37.

State and local gambling tax revenue was $281 million in fiscal 2004, up from $261 million a year earlier.

The commission said it distributed about $46 million it received from admission fees to various funds, including early childhood and veterans programs.

The St. Louis market casinos were strongest, posting a 10 percent revenue increase, the report found. Kansas City casinos also did well, with a 6 percent increase, while smaller casinos rose an average of 3 percent, thanks to strong revenue from the Isle of Capri casino in Boonville. Casinos in Caruthersville and St. Joseph saw revenue drop along with attendance from the previous year, the report said.