As reported by: Austin Business Journal
Nearly 3 million Texas adults, or 21 percent of the state's adult population, took casino gambling trips in 2002, according to a survey released Friday.



The more than 11.3 million gambling trips taken by Texans last year accounted for 4 percent of the U.S. total, according to the survey, commissioned by Las Vegas-based Harrah's Entertainment Inc. [NYSE: HET].

Shreveport/Bossier City, La., topped the list of gambling destinations for Texans, with 37 percent of trips last year, according to the study. That's followed by Lake Charles, La., 29 percent; Las Vegas, 13 percent; and Mississippi's Gulf Coast, 3 percent.

With 17 percent of casino trips last year, California topped the list of gambling states, followed by Illinois, Nevada, New York, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Missouri, according to the survey.

Twenty-six of Americans ages 21 and older gambled at a casino in 2002, according to the study. On average, gamblers visited a casino about once every two months. The number of U.S. casino visits last year added up to more than 297 million.

Survey findings are based on three nationwide studies -- one study by RoperASW and two studies by NFO WorldGroup. Both are units of London-based media conglomerate United Business Media PLC [Nasdaq: UNEWY].

The survey shows the median household income of casino gamblers, $50,716, is more than 20 percent higher than that of the overall U.S. population, $42,228.

Among Americans, the highest casino gambling participation rate is in the 51-65 age group, with 30 percent of the total, according to the survey.