ILLINOIS RIVERBOAT ATTENDANCE UP; NEW CASINOS PLANNED IN MISSOURI

New gambling regulations in Missouri and Illinois have changed the gambling atmosphere in both states.

Among developments:

-- More people are boarding riverboat casinos.

-- Illinois, led by a $30.3 million take by one casino in August, is raking in more revenue.

-- A new casino is planned for the Chicago area.

-- Casino Aztar at Caruthersville is one of four Missouri casinos with notable increases in attendance.

-- Casino construction is under way at two Missouri sites, and applications have been filed for a third new casino and hotel in South St. Louis County.

The happenings in Illinois are attributed to new regulations that permit open boarding and don't require cruising. Previously, Illinois gambling boats had to cruise and boarding was permitted at two-hour intervals.

Since open boarding started in July, admissions are up 25 to 40 percent, and July receipts alone were up $34 million statewide.

Open-boarding rules are being tested on eastern Missouri riverboats, and results show increased admissions and receipts. Open boarding is allowed only at St. Charles, Riverport, St. Louis and Caruthersville.

The Missouri Department of Revenue recently announced casinos contributed $203 million in taxes and admission fees to the state during fiscal-year 1999, which ended June 30. That amount represented the sixth-largest source of revenue for the state behind individual income tax, $4.1 billion; sales and use taxes, $1.7 billion; Proposition C, $605 million; gasoline tax, $497 million; and corporate income tax, $439 million.

The state permits 15 casino operations at 10 locations. Two more are under construction: the $72 million Victorian Star, a 35,000-square-foot casino, and two restaurants at Boonville; and the Mark Twain Casino LLC, a riverboat and restaurant at LaGrange.

The Missouri Gaming Commission approved plans for both casinos in 1997. The Boonville casino is expected to be completed this year and the one at LaGrange next spring.

Casino companies are lining up to build in South St. Louis County. Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., which recently opened a casino in Tunica County, Miss., filed an application for a casino and hotel south of Jefferson Barracks Bridge. The Capri filing came just after Ameristar Casinos Inc. said it would revive its plan for a casino at Lemay.

The commission has not processed any applications for a St. Louis-area casino since approving the joint venture of Harrah's Entertainment and Players International at Riverport in 1997.

The Isle of Capri is proposing a $130 million development that would include a casino, hotel and parking garage.

There also are casinos proposed for Southeast Missouri. Royal Casino has obtained approval from the Corps of Engineers for a riverboat on the Mississippi River near Wyatt; Lady Luck filed an application with the gaming commission three years ago for a $65 million casino complex near Scott City; and Ste. Genevieve Gambling Co., at Ste. Genevieve wants a casino.

But the commission isn't considering another Southeast Missouri casino at this time because Aztar at Caruthersville hasn't shown good results. Reports from Aztar, however, indicate that the open boarding has resulted in increased admissions.