Fact: the number of businesses licensed for gambling in Montana is virtually unchanged in the last decadeThe number of businesses licensed for gaming in Montana has held steady for 10 years at about 1,700 (1,701 in FY 1996 vs. 1,688 as of Jan. 31, 2005). Most of these establishments are bars, restaurants or travel centers where gaming revenues account for just 24 percent of overall revenues.
"Casinos," as defined by Montana's Bureau of Business and Economic Research have the maximum number of machines (20) and derive the majority of their business revenues from gaming (66 percent), and only number 294.
There may be an impression that new "casinos" are regularly being established because traditional taverns that have offered gaming for years may now emphasize that entertainment offering more in their marketing, especially when updating their exterior signage and decor.
The number of machines in operation has not changed significantly either, ranging between 16,500 and 17,300 for nearly the last decade.
Source: Special Reports II,
published and distributed to 180,000 households state-wide, winter 2002 (updated March 8, 2005) by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701; Montana Department of Justice Gambling Control Division web site <[doj.state.mt.us]>.