Report: Casinos don't lead to increase in bars, liquor stores

When Isle of Capri's casino in Boonville, Mo., was under construction in 2000, Julie Thacher was worried.

The woman who would join the city council in three years and become mayor in 10 thought that, among other things, the new gambling boat would attract more bars and liquor stores to dot the midstate town of 8,000.

"There were people in our community who had those same fears," she said. "It was fear of the unknown. You never know what it's going to bring, so yeah, there were some worries."

On Friday, Thacher said there was no need to worry. In fact, she said, the presence of Isle of Capri -- which created 500 jobs and $4 million in annual tax revenue -- has been nothing but an outstanding community partner.

"If anything, I would say the casino has raised the standard in the whole area where they're located," she said. "It was pretty much a blighted area, and they keep it spotless now."

The Boonville mayor's comments back up a new city report that says each Missouri community that was researched, St. Charles, Boonville and St. Joseph, has seen no increase in the number of bars or liquor stores as a direct result of casinos there.

The report is in response to a recent suggestion by city council member Debra Tracy that Cape Girardeau should at least consider placing limits on the number of liquor licenses granted. Tracy said she has heard from constituents who worry that the casino will bring in more bars and liquor stores and don't want that to happen.

On Friday, Tracy said she had yet to see the report that was compiled by the Cape Girardeau Police Department and is a part of the council's packet for its Monday night meeting. When she was told of the memo's conclusion, she said that every place is different and just because it didn't happen there doesn't mean it won't happen here.

"For me, looking at this is keeping in line with the whole idea of balance," she said. "We have a comprehensive plan and seeing what Cape Girardeau wants to be once it grows into that plan."

At a meeting earlier this month, the council as a whole was not interested in exploring limiting liquor licenses in Cape Girardeau. Instead, the council asked for a report on what other rural communities have done with a focus on stepping up enforcement or attaching more across-the-board restrictions to existing liquor licenses.

Mayor Harry Rediger on Friday said he believes the report shows what he suspected -- that there is no correlation between casinos and spikes in the number of bars or liquor stores.

"I frankly wouldn't even have taken it this far," Rediger said. "It just goes to my free-enterprise, loss-of-supply-and-demand idea. I know limiting liquor licenses are legal and I know we can do it. I'm just opposed to it."

Rediger said it was a fair question to ask, but now they have their answer.

"I'm now totally satisfied it's a nonissue," he said. "I can't see, personally, asking staff to spend any more time doing any more research on it."

The six-page report shows that Boonville seriously considered a license restriction but instead adopted a wait-and-see approach. They ultimately did not need to enact it, the report says.

St. Charles does have a restrictive licensing process, based on zoning. In certain zones, the city may issue one liquor license for every 15 businesses within that zone, and in another zone it may be one for every 25 businesses. St. Joseph does not have any form of limitation, though until 2001 it did set a maximum number which the council increased as the population grew. In 2001, the city removed its limitations, the report says, and has not experienced a proliferation of license applications.

Isle of Capri spokeswoman Jill Alexander said such fears tend to be unwarranted.

"Historically, when a casino comes to town for the first time, there have been concerns which historically have been proven to be unfounded," she said. "It's fear of the unknown, fear of change. ... We are working closely with the city and Old Town Cape to ensure that this area is welcoming to our guests."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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