Iowa's casinos flourished last year amidst the economic turmoil in the U.S., said Holly Thomsen, a spokeswoman for the American Gaming Association, a trade group in Washington, D.C.


In Nevada, which was hurt by high gasoline prices, a reduction in airline flights and consumer belt-tightening, casino revenue fell in 2008 to $11.6 billion, off 10 percent. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, casino revenue last year fell 8 percent to $4.5 billion amid economic problems, competition from neighboring states and a partial ban on smoking in casinos.

Iowa's casinos are performing much better than those in other gambling markets because they offer opportunities for customers to take shorter, cheaper trips, rather than full-blown, expensive vacations to distant cities, said Wes Ehrecke, president of the Iowa Gaming Association, an industry group.

"People can still get away and have their discretionary dollars stretch a little further by staying closer to home," he said.


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