Missouri gaming commission weighs four casino proposals

Once that is decided, it must determine whether it wants to grant a "full investigation" to any of the four proposed projects. The investigation would determine whether the proposal is viable and whether the owner should get a gambling license.

The commission could answer some of those questions when it meets Wednesday morning at a hotel in suburban St. Louis.

Currently, there are three Missouri casinos in the St. Louis area. They are Station Casino in St. Charles, Harrah's in Maryland Heights and the President Casino on the Admiral in downtown St. Louis.

While the decision for a "full investigation" is not a guarantee that a proposal will be licensed, it is a key vote that nearly always leads to a license.

The four proposals up for approval are:

Ameristar and Isle of Capri casinos have experienced strong opposition to their proposals, while the boat proposed near the Chain of Rocks Bridge in the northern section of St. Louis has received nary a whimper.

For the first time in Missouri, two groups formed to oppose casinos in south St. Louis County: South County First and Rally Against Gambling Expansion (RAGE). Denny Hettenhausen formed RAGE in November after attending a gaming commission meeting. Her group organized a 40-day prayer vigil at 50 churches and has delivered 30,000 letters asking the gaming commission to place a freeze on new gaming licenses.

"I think we've done everything possible to get this stopped," Hettenhausen said. "Now all we can do is wait for an answer."

In Jefferson County, Kimmswick merchants worry that the casino, first proposed for the area in 1993, will get a license.

"We're afraid that if a casino comes in here, it will ruin that quaintness and charm that we've tried so hard to create," said Mary Hostetter, owner of the popular Blue Owl Restaurant in Kimmswick. "It would be a heartbreaking decision."

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