STRICTLY BUSINESS; CASINOS ADD JOBS, TOURISM DOLLARS

Pemiscot County tourism spending has tripled over the past half decade, since the opening of the Aztar Riverboat Gambling Casino.

In 1994, the total of tourism/travel spending was about $2.5 million. Last year's tourism spending in the county topped the $8 million mark.

Missouri riverboat gambling has created increases in tourism and local economies throughout the areas where casinos are located.

The 15 riverboat casinos at 10 sites have paid out more than $350 million in wages and benefits in the past year, most of which was spent in their local communities.

Gambling casinos add as many as 11,000 jobs to Missouri employment numbers.

To determine how the salaries were spent, the Missouri Riverboat Gaming Association (MRGA), a trade organization for the state's gaming industry, recently conducted an employee job survey.

A total of 6,229 -- more than half of the 11,000 casino workforce answered the survey.

"We wanted to know what impact employees of the gaming industry have on their local communities," said Mike Ryan, executive director of the MRGA.

The study includes consumer spending patterns, contribution of time and money to local charities.

"What we found in the survey is that gambling is providing good jobs for employees," said Ryan. "Many of them are making more money, increasing their savings, saving more toward retirement and increasing their self-esteem," said Ryan.

The average wage for employees is in excess of $30,000 a year, with health and pension benefits to employees who work more than 30 hours a week. Thirty-two percent of the workers are minority, and 52 percent of them are female.

Some of the findings:

* 36 percent of the 11,000 workers work more than 40 hours a week, with 58 percent working between 28 and 40 hours. Only 5 percent of the workers worked less than 30 hours a week.

* 44 percent of employees have worked more than three years at the same casino.

* 84 percent were employed before starting on the casino job.

* 38 percent of the workers are high school graduates with some college, and 14 percent are college graduates.

* 39 percent of the employees are making more money. Twenty-five percent of the employees were on welfare when they started and have now left the welfare roles.

* 44 percent worry less about making ends meet, 2 percent save toward retirement, and 31 percent have developed new job skills.

* Over the past year, employees have donated $579,031 to various charities.

* Many employees eat out more, go to movies, concerts and other activities.

* More than a third of the employees have purchased a car or major appliance over the past year.

* And, employees have volunteered more than 12,000 hours to charities and other community organizations over the past year.

A few other pluses for the gambling industry:

* The casino industry has contributed more than $1.2 billion to state and local communities during its six years of existence.

* The casinos paid $754 million in taxes to help finance the state's public school system.

* In addition, more than $280 million has been funneled into cities where the casinos are located via $197 million in admission fees and $84 million from a 2 percent tax on casino receipts.

* Gambling has been a source of entertainment for more than 24 million people a year in Missouri, making casinos one of the top tourist attractions in the state.

The Missouri riverboat gambling industry has piled up some big numbers since the first casino opened in June 1994. Now, 15 riverboat casinos operate in eight areas in the state. The casinos have become the sixth largest source of revenue for Missouri.

In addition to the 11,000 jobs at casinos, the gambling industry has created hundreds of jobs in other businesses surrounding the industry.

Ryan said the industry has provided more than $100 million in gambling taxes and admission fees to help build three new veterans homes and five new cemeteries in Missouri.

The money to local communities has been used to improve streets and bridges, build parks and recreational complexes, and to replace fire and police equipment and to improve wastewater systems.

Caruthersville, Mo., home to Aztar Riverboat Casino, has received more than $6 million in gambling revenues over the past six years, which has been used to construct a new sports complex and to purchase police cars and sanitation equipment, and carry out capital improvements.

Aztar also picked up some unemployment slack left by the closures of a shoe factory about the time the casino came in. Aztar employs more than 400 people.

Kansas City has been a big recipient of funds from the gambling industry, receiving more than $65 million in gambling revenues. North Kansas City has received $53.7 million. Many of the funds were used in bridge and stormwater improvements, and the purchase of new fire trucks and parks in each area.

St. Louis areas have received more than $100 million used for improvements.

St. Joseph, Mo., has received $71.8 million in gambling revenues and has purchased new police cars, improved streets and sidewalks and built a recreational complex.

Missouri could have more casinos within another year. The gaming commission has approved plans for the $72 million Victorian Star, a 35,000-square-foot casino at Booneville, Mo. Construction is under way by Davis Gaming for the new casino, which will provide 900 new jobs. A second casino is planned for LaGrange, Mo. Both could be in operation in late 2001.