What does the commercial casino industry look like in the Midwestern states?
Gaming has become a multimillion-dollar industry for many states. In 2005, according to the American Gaming Association, 455 commercial casinos operating in 11 states generated more than $30 billion in gross gaming revenue. This figure represents a 5 percent increase over the previous year. The commercial casino industry also employed more than 350,000 people and paid wages totaling over $12.5 billion last year. And with 29 racetrack casinos in nine states, “racino” generated more than $3.1 billion in 2005. Five of the 11 states with commercial casinos are in the Midwest, and one of those (Iowa) has racetrack casinos. In Iowa, gross racino revenues totaled more than $355 million, resulting in over $84 million in distributions to state and local government. Every state in the region with casinos dedicates the associated revenues to certain programs, with local government, education-related programs and various forms of economic development being the most common uses for these funds. Ill
