Posted on Thu, May. 15, 2008
Resize text
States see casinos' benefit
Tax revenue has doubled nationally in 10 years
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com
MOST-READ STORIES
- Bertha in open water at 18 mph
- The talk of rodeo was a brotula
- Man accused of forcing sex
- Crack not on menu, but police find some
- July 17 big day for Biloxi casinos
- Sharks wow crowds at rodeo weigh-ins
- Cochran recounts McCain dustup with the Sandinistas
- AROUND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI
- Sound Off
- Man accused of selling drugs from his business
BILOXI --
Casinos have been a good bet for states over the last 10 years, when revenue for commercial casinos soared 73 percent.The 10th annual survey released Wednesday by the American Gaming Association showed casino gross gaming revenue rose from $19.7 billion in 1998 to $34.1 billion in 2007.
Over the same 10-year period, Mississippi's casino revenue rose 46 percent and the Coast's revenue was up 72 percent. Mississippi's $2.89 billion in revenue for 2007 was 8.5 percent of the national total.
"In looking at the last decade, it is evident that we are not only an economic force on a national level, but that we are major players in the local communities where we provide steady jobs and economic development," said Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., president of the AGA.
Higher revenues for the casinos meant more taxes paid to state and local governments. Tax revenue more than doubled nationally, from $2.5 billion in 1998 to $5.7 billion in 2007. Mississippi's commercial casinos contributed more than $332 million in taxes in 2007 compared with about $234 million in 1997.
The report also showed commercial casino employment is up more than 10 percent in 10 years, with wages, tips and benefits increasing more than 25 percent to $13.8 billion in 2007.
It may have been a slow year for casinos in some states, but Iowa's casino revenue was up 16.2 percent and Mississippi remained strong with a 12.5 percent increase in casino revenue over 2006. Biloxi was the seventh largest casino market in 2007, with revenue of a little more than $1 billion, behind sixth-place Tunica/Lula. Mississippi had 36.96 million casino visitors in 2007.
Other figures in the AGA report showed:
• One-quarter of the adults in the United States visited a casino in 2007.
• 54.5 million visitors made 376 million trips, for an average of 6.9 trips per visitor.
• 72 percent of casino visitors ate at a fine-dining restaurant.
• 48 percent saw a show or a concert.
• 42 percent shopped.
• 42 percent visited a casino bar or nightclub.
• 84 percent of American adults view casino gambling as acceptable for themselves or others.
• The top five favorite casino games in order are slot machines, blackjack, poker, craps and roulette.
• Consumers spent far less on commercial casinos than they did on home remodeling, fast food, cable TV and soft drinks, but more than they did on movie tickets, candy or computer software in 2007.
