As gamblers spend their money at Catfish Bend Casino, they're helping to improve Burlington, Fort Madison, and Keokuk.
"It's on a per-passenger headcount basis. It's right at about $1 million a year. Each community gets about $300,000 per year," said Catfish Bend Assistant General Manager Robert Winckler.
That money is distributed through the Southeast Iowa Regional Riverboat Commission. S.I.R.R.C. is Catfish Bend's non-profit co-licensee.
"The legislation that created riverboat gaming made it so that the boat operator had a partner with a community not-for-profit group and they co-hold the license," said S.I.R.R.C. Chairman, Doctor Larry Smith.
Smith says the reason for a shared riverboat license is to create a revenue stream back into the community.
"That money has been used for quite a number of things. We spent $2.5 million on riverfront improvements: River View Park, the pavilion, the street scape, the dock facility, the shore line, and some parking lots and beautification," said Smith.
"If granted a license, three percent of Ottumwa's annual casino revenue would be donated to community non-profits. Wapello County Supervisor Steve Siegel estimates that could be close to $1 million per year.
"We've decided to have half of that distributed to our 10-county area to the counties by population, and the other half we'll set up a grant application process for that," Siegel said.
Fort Madison and Burlington also receive lease payments while the boat is docked in each town. In the past, those monies have been used for street repair and property tax relief. Future lease revenue has been earmarked for library renovations pending approval by area voters.
"We also have a $100,000 matching grant program here where we take applications from the whole area," said Winckler.
Riverboat casinos also draw tourism dollars into the surrounding area, and support hundreds of people living and working in the community.
"I think the biggest plus of riverboat gaming is that it generates multi-million dollar payroll. There's 300-400 employees that all make a nice wage, they all have great benefit packages, they all turn around and spend that money locally and it makes it one of the largest employers in the area," said Smith.
All around Smith says, Catfish Bend has helped the region grow and improve.
"I think that it's been good for the community as well as economic development is concerned, it's been good for the community as far as employment is concerned, it's helped increase the tax base, I think it's been very positive for the community," Smith said.