Flathead leads the way in gambling revenue gains

Video gaming revenue in Montana is slowly climbing back to its 2008 levels, before the impacts of the recent recession and the ban on indoor smoking.

According to preliminary figures recently released by the state’s Gambling Control Division, video gaming revenue in Montana rose to $14.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014, about 2 percent higher than the fourth quarter in 2013 and the highest since the first quarter in 2010.

But while video gaming revenue in Montana posted a gain quarter-for-quarter, it was slightly down 0.2 percent for the year, falling to $56.9 million. Video gaming revenue statewide fell a whopping 15 percent in 2010. It peaked at $63.4 million in 2008.

Five of the state’s seven largest counties showed growth in the last quarter, with Flathead County posting the largest gain. Video gaming in the Flathead grew to $1.2 million, about 7.3 percent higher than for the fourth quarter in 2013.

Video gaming revenue in Columbia Falls rose 2.1 percent quarter-to-quarter, reaching $163,278. Whitefish saw a 10.7 percent gain to $120,757, and Kalispell posted an 8.1 percent gain to $669,495.

Several eastern Montana counties posted double-digit or even triple-digit gains quarter-to-quarter, but the totals were very small reflecting small populations. Petroleum County posted a 194 percent increase in video gaming revenue — from $639 in 2013 to $1,881 in 2014.

Counties benefiting from the Bakken oil boom, including Dawson and Richland counties, posted higher numbers in the last quarter after falling off in the past two quarters.