Recent reports from the American Gaming Association, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission and the National Indian Gaming Commission all delivered bad news for Iowa casinos.
The AGA’s report for calendar year 2013 versus 2012 indicated Iowa’s 18 state-licensed casinos employed 9,062 permanent workers compared to 9,558; and had a payroll of $335 million in wages, benefits and tips compared to $341.1 million, ranking eighth in the U.S. Gross revenue declined $50.3 million to $1.417 billion in 2013, generating $321.6 million, $12.8 million less in taxes for the state.
Wes Ehrecke of the Iowa Gaming Association, said Iowa casinos today employ 9,334 people and that’s expected to rise as soon as proposed upgrades are completed and the Sioux City license dispute is settled. Ehrke added before the recession began in 2008, Iowa casinos employed 10,000 people.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission also recently released its report for fiscal year 2014, which ended June 30. It showed adjusted gross receipts at the 18 state-licensed riverboats and racetrack-casinos operating in Iowa fell about 4 percent to $1.388 billion through June 30. Commissioners will meet soon to discuss whether the state’s gambling industry has reached market saturation.
In addition, National Indian Gaming Commission officials released data showing the Indian gaming industry in 2013 generated $28 bill in revenues, a new record and 0.5 percent higher than 2012. The report also indicated Iowa was part of the only region out of seven in the U.S.—the St. Paul region of nine Great Plains states–that posted decreasing revenues at Native American casinos in fiscal 2013. Tribal casinos operate near Onawa, Sloan and Tama. The region’s 128 gaming operations reported revenues of $4.745 billion in fiscal 2013, a drop of 1.1 percent or $52.5 million from about $4.8 billion reported by 120 operations one year earlier.
