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...