Missouri Casinos End 2021 With Increase in December Revenue

The 13 commercial casinos in Missouri ended 2021 on a high note for revenue.

The state’s gaming facilities made $163,329,307 in revenue for December, a 7.6% increase over the $151.8 million in November revenue.

December was the best month for the state’s casinos since July, when they made $167.4 million in Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR).

In a year-over-year comparison, the December numbers look even better, according to figures from the Missouri Gaming Commission. The $163.3 million in revenue is 21.8% higher than December 2020, when it was $134.1 million.

Halfway through the fiscal year, from July to June, the increase is almost identical. Thus far in FY 2021-22, Missouri casinos have made $949.3 million in AGR, 21.9% ahead of the pace in the 2020-21 fiscal year when it was at $779 million through December 2020.

Leaders in Missouri Casino Gaming

The Ameristar Casino in St. Charles led all Missouri casinos in revenue for December at $27.25 million. Two other facilities in the St. Louis market, River City ($21.88 million) and Hollywood ($20.35 million), also topped $20 million in revenue for the month.

Ameristar Kansas City led that market for the month with $16.76 million in revenue, followed by Harrah’s ($14.82 million). The “out-state” markets were topped by Isle Casino in Boonville at $7.39 million.

In all, the state’s casinos combined for $140.3 million in AGR from slot machines and $22.7 million from table games. Hybrid machine AGR accounted for $349,000; those are only available at Ameristar St. Charles and Argosy in Riverside.

Gaming proceeds earmarked for the state education fund totaled $30,869,239 in December, an increase of more than $2 million over the November total of $28.7 million.

Sports Betting Still Awaits

There are no real money online casino options in Missouri. Advocates are pushing for online sports betting in the state but the legislature has yet to pass a bill legalizing the practice.

Neighboring states Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee and Arkansas have some form of sports betting and the trend is growing across the country. New York just launched mobile sports betting on Saturday and smashed records for any state’s opening weekend.

Four of the state’s professional sports teams – the Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues and St. Louis City Soccer Club – have backed a series of initiatives designed to get Missouri sports betting on the ballot.