Casino gambling revenue in Missouri took a dip in April from the previous month, but what amounted to a 5.5% decrease in adjusted gross revenue among the state’s 13 casinos should be viewed in the context that March 2023 AGR had been at least a six-year highwater mark, according to state records.
The April 2023 total Adjusted Gross Revenue was about $167.1 million, which was 5.5% below March’s AGR of $176.8 million .
Missouri reports gaming financial figures according to three market clusters within the state: The St. Louis Market; the Kansas City Market, and “Out Market”, which are casinos scattered throughout the state.
Now, can the state finally get Missouri sports betting passed? That is the question after commercial casino numbers continue to show potential in the Show Me State.
St. Louis Leads The Way
In April, the St. Louis Market generated the most money. The four casinos there accounted for $83.7 million in AGR, about half of the state’s total.
The Kansas City Market followed, with the four casinos there accounting for $57.9 million in AGR. And the five casinos that make up “Out Market” had a total of about $25.6 million in AGR.
The state’s top individual casino revenue producer was Ameristar St. Charles with $26.6 million in AGR, followed by River City Casino in St. Louis ($22.1 million) and Hollywood Casino St. Louis ($21.2 million). All are in the St. Louis Market.
Tax money to the state for the month was $31.58 million, which was about a 5.5% decrease from March ($33.42 million). Check tabs on the March Missouri casino revenue report here.
Time Will Tell...
The Missouri April casino revenues come at a moment when sports gambling in the state failed to be legalized once again. Political in-fighting in the state senate scuttled a Missouri sports gambling initiative that had passed in the Missouri state House of Representatives.
In large part, the battle came down to a fight of whether slot machines in bars, restaurants and fraternal organizations would be allowed, along with the passage of sports gambling. Casino operators have balked at allowing widespread legalized slots, and slots advocates, state Sen. Denny Hoskins in particular, have dug in their heels on sports gambling unless the slots were approved.
In the end, neither Missouri sports gambling nor broader legalization of slots got approved, the state legislature adjourned on Friday, and sports gambling will have to wait at least another year.
Reports have some Missouri pro sports teams looking to petition for a referendum on sports gambling and bypassing the legislature. Missouri is mostly surrounded by states that have already legalized sport gambling including, recently, Kansas and Kentucky.
