State casino earnings down slightly in year

Published 12:30 am Saturday, February 19, 2011

Mississippi’s state-licensed casinos won $189.8 million from players in January, down $3 million from January 2010.

The figures were reported Friday by the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

“Win” represents the gross figure, with no operating costs or other expenses deducted. It is casino revenue only and doesn’t include hotel, restaurant or bar revenues generated by the resorts.

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The 11 coastal Mississippi casinos won $97.8 million in January, up from $90.4 million in January 2010.

For the 19 casinos on the Mississippi River that stretch from Natchez to Tunica and include five in Vicksburg, revenue was $92 million in January, down about $10.3 million from a year ago.

Revenue-based taxes paid by Vicksburg casinos were down compared to last month and last year.

The city was paid $ $524,258 in January, down from $404,244 in December and $731,137 in January 2010. Total amounts paid to the city, Warren County and the school district are down more than $318,000 for the fiscal year, to $2.9 million from $3.2 million at this point in fiscal 2010.

Vicksburg’s five casinos pay a 3.2 percent revenue tax to the State of Mississippi that is divided — with 10 percent going to schools, 25 percent to Warren County and 65 percent to the city. A second revenue tax is a 0.8 percent share of the state’s 8.8 percent revenue tax. It is split based on population proportions between Vicksburg and Warren County. Each casino is also required to pay to the city $150 annually for each gaming device.