The Missouri gaming commission has placed a moratorium on new casinos in the state until voters decide a measure in November that may prohibit additional casinos beyond those already in existence or approved and under construction. The commission also expressed concerns over the impact of the US economic slowdown on the casino industry.

Missouri voters yesterday approved a measure to remove the state’s anachronistic $500 loss limit. With the measure, backed by a concerted lobbying from the casino industry, comes marginally increased gaming taxes and a moratorium on new casino construction in the state.

Two lawsuits filed last week are set to challenge the constitutionality of a Missouri ballot measure that would eliminate the state’s player loss limit rule and cap the number of casinos in the state. The progress of the ballot measure is being closely watched in neighbouring states.

On the heels of a noteworthy 2009 performance, in which Missouri's casino market served as one of a select few to experience market gains, the emergence of the River City casino has fueled further market growth. Meanwhile, the closure of the President casino has led to a flurry of momentum among interested parties seeking to obtain the state's final casino license.

A bill designed to make Missouri’s casinos more competitive with those in neighbouring Kansas and Illinois has lost the support of many of the state’s operators because they cannot swallow the tax hike that would accompany it.

Casino operators in Missouri are enjoying recession, defying growth on their gaming floors thanks to last year’s loss limit repeal; a change which brought both obvious and subtle benefits to the state’s 13 properties.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has authorized two studies to examine the viability of an expansion of the state’s casino sector beyond the 20 venues currently in operation, ahead of the possible approval of new gaming licences in the latter half of 2009.

The chief executive of one of the US’s major regional casino operators quit yesterday - just a week after he threatened a politician who voted in favour of a rival’s casino plans.

The bleeding continued in the U.S. gambling industry at the end of 2008 with two major markets – Nevada and Illinois – reporting steep drops in casino revenue continuing into the end of the year.

The Missouri Senate has approved, by a one vote majority, the repeal of the State’s unique loss limit for casino and slot machine gambling in direct response to neighbouring Kansas’ recent move to allow expanded gambling.