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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, May 9, 2008 2:02 PM CDT
Illinois casino revenues down again; smoking ban blamed

By Mike Riopell, JG/T-C Springfield Bureau

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois casino officials continue to blame the state’s indoor smoking ban as riverboat gambling revenues have fallen for the fourth straight month, a report shows.

Each of the state’s nine riverboat gambling sites took in less money in April than they did in the same month last year, for an average loss of about 19 percent, according to the Illinois Gaming Board’s monthly report. Each casino also saw its revenues and attendance drop from March to April.

Even as the country’s economy struggles and people may be more likely to cut some of the extras out of their personal budgets, Illinois casino officials say the smoking ban is what’s hurting the state’s boats.

“We still believe it’s the smoking ban,” said Illinois Casino and Gaming Association director Tom Swoik.

Illinois’ falling casino revenues have prompted several attempts to exempt riverboats from the state’s smoking ban, which went into effect Jan. 1. That effort has failed so far this year.

State Sen. John Jones, R-Mount Vernon, said the ban could hurt, but the economy plays a role, too.

“You can’t attribute the whole 19 percent to smoking,” Jones said. “It’s because of the economy and the high price of gasoline.“

Revenue drops between April and the same month last year range from a nearly 27 percent drop in Alton to a 5 percent decrease in East St. Louis. Casino Rock Island posted a loss in the same period of 17 percent. Metropolis showed a 25.5 percent loss. The Empress Casino in Joliet lost about 26.5 percent in revenue over last April and Harrah’s Casino in Joliet lost almost 18 percent.

Illinois’ numbers do appear to be sharper declines than neighboring boats in Iowa and Indiana.

Reports in Indiana show the state’s take in gambling taxes has decreased slightly between Aprils in 2007 and 2008. Attendance took a slight hit.

Iowa, though, showed gains in the same period. Reports show revenue in that state was up, but the numbers could be skewed because a new casino opened since April of last year.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or 789-0865

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The Flame wrote on May 9, 2008 2:24 PM:

" Hey this is a great idea. Blame everything on the smoking ban! Gambling revenues are down but it is not due to gasoline being almost $4.00 a gallon. It is not due to the fact people are needing the money for sky high electric rates. It is not due to a dead economy. It is due to the smoking ban. I'll bet they link the smoking ban to global warming next.

Give me a break. Unless a person has a gambling adiction they will probably want to eat and keep a roof over their heads before they spend money gambling. "

Tom Andres wrote on May 9, 2008 4:10 PM:

" Uh, excuse me, Flame, have you ever been on one of those boats to rub elbows with the "regulars"? Just a guess, but I'd say the smoking ban is definitely the cause of the slow down. Not having money never seemed like a reason to stay at home for about 80% of the poor souls who frequent the gambling boats. Visit one sometime; you'll see what I'm talking about. "

HisChild wrote on May 9, 2008 4:30 PM:

" :-) AMEN FLAME!
We couldn't have said it better! :-) "

Harry Potter wrote on May 10, 2008 10:07 AM:

" Poor Souls? There goes Tom, looking down his nose on his fellow man again. Is there anyone you don't look down on Tom? And hey, I think I saw you coming out of one of Mattoon's Mexican restaurants the other day. I'll bet you keep your dislike of our Hispanic neighbors on the quite side while eating there, don't you? If I happen to run into you eating at one of those places, I'll be sure to point you out to their staff. LOL "

just wondering wrote on May 10, 2008 4:43 PM:

" I have been to two of the boats on the Missouri side since the ban went into effect. They both said they have had an increase in business with several customers telling them they had switched from the Illinois side because of the ban. "