Vicksburg casino operators with wary eyes on the weather and the Mississippi River can spy a bright spot –revenue reports from March.

Figures released by the City of Vicksburg in advance of statewide numbers for the same period show $642,928 in gross revenue taxes added to the city treasury and another $302,519 to Warren County.

March’s total tax distributions are also ahead of March 2007 by more than $13,000. For the fiscal year, collections from the four local casinos are behind last year by $110,843.

Revenue taxes reported to the state and distributed to cities and counties indicate the industry’s performance in Mississippi. Though collections follow a customary pattern from February to March, the spikes keep local market trends steady in the final months before a fifth casino, Riverwalk, is completed and local gaming dynamics change.

Business at Vicksburg’s four casinos has continued through rising river stages and Friday, although some operators — Horizon on the Yazoo Diversion Canal and DiamondJacks on the Mississippi River below Clark Street — have dealt with encroaching water as the river nears a predicted crest about 6 feet above flood stage.

Vicksburg’s four casinos pay a 3.2 percent revenue tax to the state Tax Commission that is divided with 10 percent to schools, 25 percent to Warren County and 65 percent to the city. A second revenue tax is an .8 percent share of the state’s 8 percent revenue tax. It is split based on population proportions between Vicksburg and Warren County.

Statewide totals for March are expected on or about April 20. Collections in February totaled $26.1 million, down from $27.7 million in January.

As for gross revenues, or the net amount of money won from gamblers, Mississippi River casinos took in $143 million in February, up more than $5 million from a year prior. Eleven casinos on the Gulf Coast also had a jump in February gross, collecting about $760,000 more than a year ago.

Four casinos have operated since 1993. Ameristar, the city’s largest, plans to finish a $98 million expansion project by this summer. DiamondJacks, formerly Isle of Capri, has $18.5 million in renovations to its Washington Street facility under way despite a federal suit between the casino and its financial backers. Horizon, formerly Harrah’s, is in the process of an announced sale to Nevada Gold & Casinos Inc.

Besides Riverwalk, another casino, one planned by Lakes Entertainment, remains alive. Its site off U.S. 61 South depends on state approval of its finances by February 2009 and ongoing attempts to obtain railroad rights of way to expand its scope.

Casino tax revenueMarch 2008City$642,928County$302,519Schools$82,213Fiscal year to dateCity$3,512,401County$1,501,937Schools$407,947March 2007City$633,808County$298,244Schools$81,048Last fiscal year to dateCity$3,593,566County$1,531,615Schools$416,034