November 25th, 2010 – by Glen Farmer
The Missouri Gaming Commission said Wednesday that December 1st will be the date of decision surrounding the future of the state’s last casino license. The developer who will receive the license, if there is one, will be named on December 1st.
Currently, Isle of Capri, Casino Celebration, and Paragon Casino are the prospects who could receive the license.
The Missouri Casino Control Commission is not guaranteed to distribute another license. In the event that the Commission deems another casino unnecessary, an additional license will not be passed along.
Harry Rediger, mayor of Cape Girardeau, the city that will receive the casino, is optimistic that a new license will be created.
Over 400 jobs and nearly $17.4 million in tax revenue is expected to be generated. Rediger was quoted as saying “I think the commission would be remiss if they made a decision not to award a license. It would cost our community, our state, and everyone involved.”
Missouri is a state in which casinos are a flourishing enterprise, particularly around the Kansas City area. These non-tribal casinos generate funds for the state to employ.
Gambling expansion is an overwhelming motif in the United States, and is proving successful outside of the nation’s major gambling hubs of Nevada and Atlantic City.