Mathewson named to state gaming commission

Sedalia resident and former state Sen. Jim Mathewson was appointed to serve on the Missouri Gaming Commission by Gov. Jay Nixon.

The commission, which was established in 1993, is responsible for overseeing the activity of all licensed gaming entities in the state, including operators of bingos, lotteries and casinos. The commission’s role is to ensure licensed gaming authorities provide the proper percentage of their revenue to support state programs that receive money from gaming taxes, that criminal elements do not infiltrate licensed gaming operations and that games are conducted fairly.

Mathewson, 71, said aside from sales and property taxes, the state’s gaming industry is among the top sources of state revenue.

“This is pretty serious stuff because there is so much money involved,” he said.

In 2008, Missouri casinos took in more than $1.6 billion. State casinos employed 11,658 people, paying more than $360 million in wages and contributing $327.3 million in direct gaming taxes to state and local governments.

With the repeal of the loss limit that Missouri voters approved in November (a move Mathewson called for in the Legislature years earlier), state casinos have already earned more than $551.5 million so far in 2009. The gaming tax has generated $99.3 million for education and $11 million for local governments during the first four months of 2009.

The Missouri Gaming Commission and local governments have taken in $16.8 million from the $2 admissions tax for each person who enters a casino so far in 2009.

The commission disperses its earnings among the Veterans Commission Capital Improvement Fund, the National Guard Trust Fund, Missouri College Guarantee Fund, Early Childhood Development and Compulsive Gamblers Fund.

Mathewson served in the state Senate for 24 years, including a four-year term as the majority leader and an eight-year stint as the chamber’s president pro tem. Mathewson has known Nixon for years, and received a call from the governor the day after his election.

Nixon asked Mathewson to serve on his staff, but the recently retired Mathewson told the new governor he “didn’t want a job that he had to go to everyday.”

After Nixon told him he could not serve on the state Highway and Transportation Commission, Mathewson requested an appointment to the Gaming Commission, which meets in Jefferson City once a month. Mathewson views the commission as an “interesting and challenging” next step in his long career of public service.

Mathewson believes he will bring a new perspective and a wealth of experience to one of the highest revenue producers in the state. He hopes to help the panel live up to its mission of “striving to promote a positive impact on the state by ensuring the integrity of charitable and commercial gaming.”

“It has been my opinion that the gaming industry isn’t always treated by the commission in the most respectful way, and I can change that because I always treat everyone with respect,” Mathewson said.

Lowry City Republican Sen. Delbert Scott sponsored Mathewson’s appointment to the commission.

“He has a rich background in state government,” Scott said. “He was active in setting up the commission, and he was there when the rules were written and the laws were passed.”

Scott, who has always opposed gaming and the expansion of gaming in the state, believes Mathewson will be a good advocate for keeping state gaming clean.

Mathewson will appear before the Senate’s Gubernatorial Appointments Committee on Wednesday. If his appointment is confirmed by the Senate, he will serve on the commission for a term ending April 29, 2012.