Kansas City, Missouri (AP) - While both Las Vegas and Atlantic City are reporting double-digit declines in casino revenues, Missouri's gambling income is growing. The state's casino industry continues to shrug off the nation's recession, posting both higher revenues and more patrons in February than during the same month a year ago, according to the Missouri Gaming Commission.

High stakes: The gambling industry says a smoking ban in Illinois cost that state's casinos USD 415 million - or nearly 21 percent - in 2008, and the state USD 177 million in taxes. Colorado is the only other state that fully bans smoking in casinos, and its gambling revenues dropped significantly in the same year. Momentum growing: Two smoking ban measures have been introduced in the Missouri Legislature, neither of which exempts casinos.

Pinnacle Entertainment announced that it was informed by the Missouri Gaming commission that the provisions of Proposition A are effective immediately. The table games area at the firm’s Lumiere Place entertainment complex is operating under the new provisions, which removed certain betting restrictions for Missouri’s casinos. It believes that its slots area was prepared to operate under the new provisions.

Missourians by a decisive margin Tuesday repealed the state’s USD 500 loss limit on riverboat gamblers. “Losing was not an option,” said Troy Stremming, an Ameristar executive and leader of the Yes on A committee, which raised and spent more than USD 15 million to pass Proposition A. With votes from 96 percent of the state’s precincts counted, the issue was winning 56 percent to 44 percent.

If Proposition A fails at the polls next week, Kansas City gamblers can only hope Missouri casino regulators are paying attention to a controversy brewing in northwest Iowa. Lyon County voters recently approved plans for a USD 90 million casino near the rural community of Larchwood, a stone’s throw from the South Dakota border. The project is not a done deal, however, and a handful of commercial and tribal casino operators in the region are starting to worry that this new competitor...

Kansas City, Missouri (AP) -- Missouri voters approved gambling in 1992, but it wasn't until 1994 that the first casino boats opened. Even then it wasn't smooth sailing. In February 1994, the state Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature didn't have the authority to approve games of chance on Missouri's rivers. In April of that year, voters rejected a measure that would have given that authority to lawmakers.

Missouri voters will decide in November whether to boost casino taxes and repeal the state’s unique USD 500 gambling loss limit. The moves could raise more than USD 100 million in new taxes for schools statewide. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan announced that the casino measure was one of two initiatives that garnered enough petition signatures to appear on the November ballot.

The Missouri Gaming Commission has set a special meeting Monday to consider a “moratorium” on future casino licenses. If approved the measure would appear to dash, at least in the short term, any hopes for a new casino in Sugar Creek that the commission has been considering for more than a year. “There has been a change and its all going to be discussed Monday,” said commission spokeswoman LeAnn McCarthy, who declined further comment.

Harrah’s Entertainment announced it received approval from the Missouri Gaming Commission for the proposed acquisition of Harrah’s by affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P. and TPG Capital. The transaction remains subject to approval by other jurisdictions in which Harrah’s subsidiaries operate and other conditions to closing set forth in the agreement and plan of merger entered into on December 19, 2006.

The Missouri Gaming Commission Wednesday handed out fines totaling USD 150,000 to five casinos for rules infractions. The infractions ranged from underpaying an advertised slot jackpot to serving alcohol to minors. State casino regulators also settled three pending cases for a combined USD 13,500. Casinos have 30 days to accept the fine or notify the commission it will challenge the disciplinary action at a public hearing.

Kansas City, Missouri -- March was a tough month at the tables for Missouri's gamblers as the state's casinos took in record revenues. The 11 casinos operating in Kansas City, St. Louis and other locations reported USD 148.6 million in revenues for the month, up significantly from the previous record of USD 143.17 million generated during the same period a year ago.