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Tuesday, October 20, 2009 9:57 PM CDT
Neighboring states' casinos get the better of Illinois



SPRINGFIELD — When neighboring states compete with Illinois for gamblers’ bets, those neighbors usually win, a new report shows.

Illinois casinos compete with Indiana in the Chicago area, Missouri in the St. Louis area and Iowa in the Quad Cities. In each instance, Illinois has a lower market share of the bets being placed in the regions, a study from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows.

During the last fiscal year in the Quad Cities, Jumer’s Casino in Rock Island got about 26 percent of the market share. Iowa’s two Quad Cities boats got the rest.

But that’s a boost from the 18 percent Jumer’s got the year before, prior to a major renovation. Renovations and improved casinos help, said Illinois Casino Gaming Association spokesman Tom Swoik.

Still, the report says, with the population in the area split fairly evenly between Illinois and Iowa, the numbers mean Illinois gamblers are crossing the Mississippi River to place their bets.

“This would suggest that Illinois, despite the large increase in FY 2009, is still losing casino patrons to Iowa,” the report says.

The situation in the St. Louis area is similar. Illinois got 23 percent of the gambling share last year, down from 29 percent the year before. The drop could be because of the opening of the new Lumiere Place Casino in St. Louis.

In Chicago, the competition is closer. Illinois gets 48 percent of the market competing against Indiana, but had a majority just over a year ago.

Casino gaming revenue across the state has dropped in the last two years after the state instituted a smoking ban. Missouri and Indiana don’t have smoking bans, and Iowa has an exemption for casino gaming floors.

“The smoking issue is still relevant,” said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, an East Moline Democrat. “At the end of the day, most of your gamblers are smokers and drinkers.”

For a full copy of the report, “Wagering in Illinois,” go to http://www.ilga.gov/commission/cgfa2006/Upload/2009wagering_in_il.pdf

Contact Mike Riopell at mike.riopell@lee.net or (217) 789-0865.


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