New Sugar Creek Casino Decision Deadline March 1

KANSAS CITY, MO - The Missouri Gaming Commission set March 1 as its deadline to decide whether to authorize a new casino in Sugar Creek.

A study prepared for the commission estimates a new casino in Sugar Creek would add $20 million in annual revenues. This seems to be a small number since the Kansas City market brought the state $720 million in 2007.

The study warned of sizable declines in revenues to existing casinos if a Sugar Creek casino is built. The new casino may take up to $60 million in gambling from Ameristar and $25 million from Isle of Capri. The market loss could bring financial failure to one of these casinos.

Gaming Commission director Gene McNary believes Missouri can achieve more tax revenues if it licenses more casinos. “It’s not our job to protect existing casinos,” he said. “If a higher-quality casino came in and one of the lesser qualities went out, that’s a gain for Missouri. Should we close the door and say we’re going to protect the existing casinos? I believe in the free market, and so do the chairman and the entire commission.”

Return to Missouri Casinos.