Rebates may have helped casinos have good August

ST. LOUIS -- August was the second-biggest month ever for Missouri casinos, according to numbers released by the Missouri Gaming Commission.

The state's 10 casinos brought in $99.3 million last month. Could it be those tax rebate checks from the federal government that gamblers are losing at the boats?

Gambling-industry analysts suggested that the checks, which began arriving in late July, provided an increase in spending money for players.

"That's free money," said Jim Oberkirsch, the chief financial analyst for the Missouri Gaming Commission. "You don't pay bills with that."

The rebates provide up to $300 for single taxpayers and $600 for married couples filing jointly. The Internal Revenue Service will finish mailing the checks this month.

John V. Finamore, president of the Missouri Riverboat Gaming Association, said he has no proof that the tax cut is boosting his industry's bottom line, "but it can't hurt."

"One has got to make the leap that perhaps some of that is benefiting us."