CASINOS BRING BIG BUCKS-- AND WHAT ELSE?

Five years ago, Missouri took a gamble. In a close vote, Missourians approved riverboat gambling. Today, many Missourians have mixed feelings about the benefits of gambling. There's no doubt it has brought in big bucks to state and local coffers.

Two Missouri casinos opened in 1994. Today, 15 casinos operate at 10 sites. In the last five years, gambling operators have provided $936 million to state and local communities. Of that, $575 million went to the state's public schools. Sounds like a lot doesn't it? But the gambling revenue is actually only a small slice of the total education budget of about $15 billion over the last five years.

There's no doubt that communities with casinos benefited royally. Take Caruthersville. Casino Aztar pumps almost $1 million annually into city coffers. The city of 7,200 population has benefited from new vehicles, new streets and a new computer system.

Kansas City, St. Louis, Riverside, St. Joseph, Maryland Heights and St. Charles boast of similar revenue bonanzas. The smaller the towns, the more visible the community benefits from additional gambling revenues.

The gambling boats have also brought thousands of jobs to the state. But at record unemployment levels, the job benefits don't seem as appealing as in days past.

While individual cities have profited, the appreciable benefits to the rest of the state are not so clear. The state gets just 18 percent of gross receipts. The rest of the money represents a tremendous drain of dollars to gambling companies headquartered outside Missouri.

A tourism boost? Maybe. Many gift shops and restaurants near the boats haven't seen any increase in business. Tourists who come to gamble tend spend their dollars on the boats.

The fact the boats have quit cruising still sticks in the craw of many Missourians. That tourism promise quickly went down the tubes after approval.

That change hasn't gone unnoticed in Illinois, which has had cruising riverboat casinos since 1991. A bill to allow the casinos to permanently dock and let customers come and go is on the desk of Gov. George Ryan. He's expected to sign the bill.

In Missouri, the gaming commission has taken the first step toward open boarding. The commission is studying how the casinos can guarantee gamblers won't exceed the $500-per-cruise loss limit. Missourians can pretty well bet that open boarding will be commonplace in the not-so-distant future.

The state could have more casinos within another year. The gaming commission has already approved plans for a $72 million casino in Boonville. Other casinos have expressed interest in Missouri locations, including one in the small town of Wyatt.

Casinos seem firmly entrenched in Missouri. But it may take several more years before the full benefits -- and difficulties -- become clear.