By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Casinos in Missouri seem to have bounced back after a rough 2020.
The coronavirus pandemic shut down operations for a while and even once the casinos opened, the public was slow to return.
The St. Jo Frontier Casino has had to weather a flood in 2019 followed by the pandemic.
Missouri Gaming Commission member, Pat Conway of St. Joseph, says the industry has had to overcome quite a bit.
“I think from the gaming industry standpoint, the biggest problem has been COVID,” Conway says. “The numbers were down. The casino here, of course, had the flooding issue and then had the COVID issue, but their numbers are starting to get better.”
Revenue generated by the 13 Missouri casinos dipped drastically last year, but seem to be rebounding to near-2019 levels this year. The last two months have seen a strong increase in traffic at the casinos, especially the casinos in the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas.
“I think the numbers for the last 60 days have shown a significant increase of people returning,” Conway tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I think the downturn in COVID has allowed people to go to the casinos, not only in St. Joseph, but across the state. And I think in the metropolitan areas we’re seeing more significant increases, but we’re still seeing the numbers increase at the local casino and, of course, in the long run that benefits the community.”
Other gambling avenues might soon open for Missouri residents.
Conway, a former state legislator, expects the legislature to again consider bills legalizing sports betting in Missouri.
“We’re looking forward to see how the legislature moves in that direction and if we’re called upon to set up regulations for sports wagering, we’re prepared to do that,” Conway says.