Statewide, Mississippi casinos closed 2008 with a 5.9 percent decrease in revenue from gambling to $2.72 billion.

Regulators and industry watchers had expected a downturn with the sluggish economy, people being more careful with spending and with Las Vegas operations reporting double-digit decrease.

Overall, according to the American Gaming Association, casinos had reported earnings down 3.6 percent in the first 11 months of 2008 compared with 2007.

Gambling revenue is not the same as earnings or profit. It is the net income from slot machines and table games and is the revenue from which casino companies pay overhead costs.

Mississippi Tax Commission figures released Wednesday show coastal casinos took in $1.26 billion in 2008 compared with $1.3 billion in 2007. Along the Mississippi River, casinos reported revenue of $1.46 billion compared with $1.59 billion a year ago. Casinos in Vicksburg historically have accounted for about $200 million of that total. The largest river market is Tunica, and one- or two-casino developments are in Natchez, Lula and Greenville.

Gaming tax revenue for December from Vicksburg’s five casinos have not yet been made available, but the 3.2 percent revenue tax split between the city, county and school district was up by nearly $100,000 in November compared with 2007. However, the October totals were down by slightly more than $100,000 from 2007, leaving casino revenue tax collection through the first two months of fiscal year 2009 down by about $3,000.

Gaming tax revenues in Vicksburg were off by about 3.8 percent in fiscal year 2008, which ended Sept. 30, compared to fiscal year 2007.

Coastal casinos took in $95.6 million in December while river casinos had revenue of $109.1 million. Both figures were down from December 2007 when there were 29 state-regulated casinos. Mississippi’s 30th casino — the Riverwalk in Vicksburg — opened in late October and its earnings were reflected in November and December reports.

Even with the decline, gaming revenue for 2008 was higher than any year from 1993, when the first casino opened, to 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the state’s largest gaming area, the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Gaming tax collections are tracked on the state’s fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. Casino tax collections totaled $26.5 million in December and $155.3 million since July 1.

The amount reflects an 8 percent levy on gambling revenue collected weekly by the state. Casinos also pay property taxes and collect the state’s general sales tax on hotel, restaurant and other non-gaming operations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.