Video gambling revenue down 16 percent

HELENA — State gambling regulators say video gambling revenues have declined over the past two fiscal years, including a 16 percent drop in the most recent reporting period.

The Gambling Control Division reported taxes collected from electronic poker and keno machines fell from $62.1 million in fiscal 2009 to $54.2 million in fiscal 2010, which runs from July 2009 through June 2010. The fiscal 2008 taxes were $63.4 million.

Gaming Industry Association of Montana executive director Neil Peterson attributed the 2 percent drop from 2008 to 2009 to the start of the economic downturn. He tells Lee Newspapers of Montana the addition of Montana's indoor smoking ban in October 2009 helps explain the larger decrease.