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Missouri Gamblers Conduct Record-Shattering Wagering

And that was just lottery players chasing a mind-boggling $295 million multistate Powerball jackpot that eventually was hit by four players in New Hampshire, Delaware, Minnesota and Kentucky.

"The state's 10 riverboat casinos posted their second-best month, raking in $99.3 million, up a whopping 23.5 percent over August 2000, according to the monthly revenue report by the Missouri Gaming Commission.

"And Kansas City's riverboats had their third-biggest month in history -- $50.2 million -- with all three big months coming this year.

"Riverboat revenues represent gamblers' combined losses, and experts say rebate checks of up to $600 that began arriving in late July helped feed the frenzy.

"…Analysts at CIBC World Markets noted that virtually all the growth in Missouri came through increased play at the state's 15,558 slot machines. While slot play was up almost 30 percent, table-game revenues were actually down 4.3 percent from the same month a year ago.

"…Despite the local market's increasingly strong revenues, a dark cloud may be gathering.

"Ameristar Midwest President John V. Finamore said declining admissions this year in tandem with stronger-than-ever revenues signals a worrisome trend that the market is not attracting significant numbers of new players…"

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