ANTOHER GAMBLING FIRM EYES SCOTT CITY

SCOTT CITY -- As the Scott City Council's gambling committee called its first meeting to order Tuesday, two representatives from yet another gambling company sat waiting to be recognized.

The men came to Scott City representing the Colorado-based casino company, Eagle Gaming Ltd.

"This was primarily an investigative trip for us," said Glenn Hunter, the a development agent for Promus Companies Inc., which represents Eagle Gaming. "We, as many other casino companies, are looking for opportunities to branch out and for new markets."

Eagle Gaming operates two land-based casinos in Colorado. Hunter said the company has no prior experience with riverboat gambling, but is looking to expand to new markets.

"We're going to take everything we've learned about Scott City back to Colorado and go from there," said Hunter. "We have been looking for opportunities like this -- it's something that really interests us."

But the first hurdle Scott City must clear is the April 5 citywide gambling election. Although riverboat gambling was voted down by Scott County in November, the measure was approved by Scott City wards.

If Scott City voters again approve gambling in the April election, then the landlocked city will look at annexing the land between the eastern city limits and the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority.

Casino Magic, a firm which once expressed interest in working with the port authority to place a boat in the slackwater harbor, has an option to lease about 28 acres of land at the port authority for a gambling development.

Scott City Mayor Larry Forhan has said he contacted Casino Magic, and the company said it will not pursue that option when it's due for renewal next month.

At Monday's regular city council meeting, two other gambling companies made pitches to members. Both proposals included property Casino Magic will abandon.

Lady Luck, a Las Vegas-based casino company, and Royal Casino Group Inc., headquartered in Calabasas, Calif., appeared before the council, extolling the benefits of riverboat gambling for the financially strapped city.

Lady Luck proposed a three-phase, $63.2 million project that includes a hotel, sports complex and outlet mall. Royal Casino proposed spending about $32.5 million on a facility, but were not specific about their plans. Either would add millions of dollars in tax revenue to Scott City's $750,000 annual general revenue budget.

Shirley Young, president of the Scott City Chamber of Commerce, attended Wednesday's meeting, but said she wasn't representing the chamber.

Young will spearhead a pro-gambling committee to "dispel some of the myths, fears and rumors floating around about the issue," she said.

"A lot of people realize the economic impact this could have on the community and the jobs it could generate," Young said. "If we don't do something to keep our youth in this community, it's going to die."

Hunter offered Eagle's assistance in getting the gambling measure passed in Scott City.

"It is important for us as operators to become part of the community, acting in a purely ancillary role," said Hunter. "Anything we can do to see this idea come to its fruition would benefit us both. We want to see our industry continue in places like Scott City."

The gambling committee heard from the representatives of Eagle Gaming, but did little else Wednesday night.

"This is all new to us," said Ward 2 Councilman John Rogers Jr. "We're just trying to get started here."

Although Forhan insisted the council's gambling committee not become involved in politicking for or against the measure, the mayor did voice his support for riverboat gambling in Scott City.

"This committee was set up to handle the administrative end of the gaming issue," said Forhan. "It is designed to meet with representatives of gaming firms, receive proposals and eventually make a recommendation to the full council.

"Personally, I'm all for riverboat gambling -- the jobs, the economic impact to Scott City and the region," he continued. "This is the kind of boost this city needs right now."