Miss. casino revenue falls in August

JACKSON — Revenue for Mississippi’s 30 state-licensed casinos fell 9.1 percent in August as compared to July.

Figures released Tuesday by the Mississippi State Tax Commission show casinos won $206 million last month, about $18.8 million less than in July. The casinos took in $238.2 million in August 2008.

The industry had rebounded somewhat in July – at $224.8 million – from a dismal June, when casinos won less money from gamblers than during any month after the reopening of coast casinos in December 2005 following Hurricane Katrina. Revenue was $189.2 million in June.

Casino revenue, or "win," is the net amount of money won from gamblers. It is not profit.

The gross earnings figure represents casino revenue only – separate from hotel, restaurant or bar revenues generated by the resorts.

The casinos along the Mississippi River won $109.6 million last month compared with $120.6 million in July. The Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos took in about $96.4 million in August compared with about $104.1 million in July.