Atlantic City, New Jersey (AP) — The leaves are falling, and so are revenues at Atlantic City’s 11 casinos, which continue to see their profitable slots customers flee to Pennsylvania and New York. The gambling halls took in USD 384.4 million in October, a 7.5 percent decline from the October 2006. Slots revenues were USD 270.3 million, a decrease of 12.6 percent over a year ago. It matched the worst month of the year so far for slots here, along with September, which was also down 12.6 percent.

The country stands to double its tax revenues from gaming over the next five years as three more casinos come to the table — new players likely to add, not take from existing operations. „The possibility exists, all things being equal, that the government could double its tax revenue from casinos with the addition of these new operations,“ said gaming board secretary Bernard Bonamy. The government already does quite well with the existing four. In 2006, it raked in BSD 14.1 million, through a dual system of taxation.

States and cities frustrated by gamblers spending their money elsewhere are putting casinos in or near major cities to maximize tax revenue. „We’re sick of people from Wichita driving through our county on the way to casinos in Oklahoma,“ says Janis Hellard, economic development director in Sumner County, Kan., near Wichita. „We want some of the action.“ Her county is one of four places in Kansas recently authorized to have casinos, although none has been built yet.

The Macau Statistics and Census Service reported that May gaming revenue was up 67.2% to USD 908 million. In a report released by Citigoup, analysts said they estimated table supply was up 60 over 2006 and remains positive for June. “Looking ahead to June results, the comp is relatively easy at up 8.5 and the calendar is favorable.

New Orleans (AP) — Buoyed by a record month from Harrah’s Entertainment Inc.’s downtown land casino in New Orleans, Louisiana’s state-licensed casinos won USD 220.5 million from gamblers in May, state police reported Wednesday. Harrah’s won USD 39.6 million last month, compared with USD 35.7 million in May 2006 when the state was enjoying reduced competition from casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast — all of which were wiped out by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

Atlantic City, New Jersey – Hal Thomas drives from Murfreesboro, N.C., to Atlantic City at least three times a year, knowing there are many gambling resorts much closer to his home. The reason: Comps. Those freebies that casinos dangle to entice gamblers to spend their time and money here range from free hotel rooms and show tickets to coupons for a free buffet or a roll of quarters to pump into slot machines.

The horse breeders, owners, drivers and trainers who fought for Las Vegas-style slot machines at The Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park now want the gambling devices temporarily unplugged. The Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association has filed a harshly worded lawsuit against the racetrack casino, alleging that Pompano Park officials refuse to give the horsemen their fair share of the slots revenue.

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.

The Seneca Nation of Indians President Maurice John Sr. said Friday the nation will respond to a subpoena from the National Indian Gaming Commission that is seeking records about how gambling revenues are spent. The records were subpoenaed as part of an investigation that involves the Seneca Nation of Indians and the “use of gambling revenues,” said Shawn Pensoneau, a spokesman for the commission. Pensoneau declined to detail what the commission is investigating, but said the scope of the probe is beyond routine audits the federal agency typically conducts.