Missouri’s casino industry wants to circulate a petition to overturn the loss limits. It’s filed paperwork with the Secretary of State to start a campaign to put the issue on the November ballot.

The effort is led by Ameristar, which has a casino in Kansas City and fears developing competition from a casino in the planning just across the state line in Kansas. Kansas has no loss limits.

State lawmakers have refused to throw out loss limits despite pleas from Kansas City casinos that the no-limits casino in Kansas would put Missouri casinos at a competitive disadvantage.

The State Gaming Commission estimates almost one-third of gamblers at Kansas City and St. Joseph casinos come from Kansas.

The Missouri Gaming Commission has given the green light to Isle of Capri Casinos to take over operations at Casino Aztar in Caruthersville.

The Commission had taken on a supervisory role at the casino, in January, when difficulty arose in finding a buyer after Aztar decided to get rid of the property. Isle of Capri stepped in and has now been granted authority to take over operations.

Casino Aztar employs close to 300 people and has a huge economic impact in Caruthersville and Pemiscot County. Caruthersville Mayor Diane Sayre welcomes the Commission’s decision: "We were always a little worried and concerned about an owner and somebody taking on the new ownership in the city of Caruthersville," says Sayre. "The creation of jobs and additional revenue to the city is very important. The casino has been a big corporate sponsor and it plays a big role in our community, economically as well as creating jobs."

Isle of Capri, which already operates casinos in Kansas City and Boonville, and is headquartered in St. Louis, has agreed to buy the Caruthersville property for $45-Million.  The Gaming Commission will supervise operations at Casino Aztar until the acquisition is completed within 60 days.

Download/Listen: Caruthersville Mayor Diane Sayre (:30 MP3)