Missouri Casinos Slip 2% To $1.77bn In 2012

The Missouri Gaming Association has now released its annual report on the “State of the Industry,” revealing a 2% fall in casino gross revenue to $1.77 billion from $1.80 billion the year before. Furthermore, with 50 million admissions during 2012 the state’s casinos saw 4 million less visitors pass through their doors compared to the 54 million reported in 2011.
The casino industry employs more than 9,600 people at 12 riverboat casinos throughout Missouri, shelling out around $336 million in wages in 2012. Missouri casinos also have to pay one of the highest tax rates in the country, at 27% plus other business taxes. On the positive side, though, the state of Missouri collected $386 million in gaming tax revenue from the casino industry in 2011.
Those taxes go towards a range of areas, including education, local public safety programs, veterans’ programs and compulsive gambling treatment. In addition, a certain percentage is earmarked for the communities that host casinos, and from the $386 million in gaming taxes collected last year, $85 million went towards these communities.
Gambling was legalized in Missouri back in 1993, and since then these host communities have received a total of $1.2 billion in gaming tax revenues, in the following amounts:
Kansas City — $285,352,169
St. Charles — $212,025,481
City of Maryland Heights — $220,905,748
North Kansas City — $176,254,557
City of Maryland Heights — $220,905,748
City of Riverside — $124,137,458
St. Louis City — $116,034,421
City of Boonville — $43,478,096
City of St. Joseph/Buchanan County — $28,968,675
City of Caruthersville — $23,907,732
St. Louis County — $24,395,051
City of LaGrange — $19,845,668