The statewide casino industry also provided more than 9,600 local jobs with a payroll of $336 million. Casinos contributed $1.7 million in cash and in-kind donations, plus thousands of volunteer hours to local charitable organizations in 2012.

A total of $85 million of the gaming tax revenue went to the “home dock” communities that host casinos. Those communities have received a total of $1.2 billion in gaming tax revenue since gaming began in Missouri in 1994. Local communities allocate these funds to a variety of projects ranging from roads, bridges and parks to police and fire protection.

Gaming tax revenue paid to host communities since 1994 include:

City of Boonville — $43,478,096.
City of Caruthersville — $23,907,732.
Kansas City — $285,352,169.
North Kansas City — $176,254,557.
City of LaGrange — $19,845,668.
City of Maryland Heights — $220,905,748.
City of Riverside — $124,137,458.
St. Charles — $212,025,481.
St. Louis City — $116,034,421.
St. Louis County — $24,395,051.
City of St. Joseph/Buchanan County — $28,968,675

The St. Louis metropolitan region is the sixth largest casino market in the U.S. while Kansas City, Mo., is the 11th largest. Missouri ranks seventh in total state gaming tax revenue among casino markets nationwide, and seventh in consumer spending on commercial casino gaming.

Missouri casinos operate in one of the highest-taxed casino jurisdictions in the country, paying an effective tax rate of 27 percent off the top, in addition to other business taxes.

The Missouri Gaming Association (MGA) is the statewide trade association of the Missouri casino entertainment industry and its related professionals. Formed in 1993, the Missouri Gaming Association provides research and information to increase awareness of the economic benefits of Missouri’s casinos. For more information, visit www.missouricasinos.org.

emissourian.com March 2013