Mississippi casinos took in $253.9 million in February, a $31 million improvement from January, according to figures from the State Tax Commission.

Win, or casino revenue, is the net amount of money won from gamblers. It is not profit.

The gross earnings figure represents revenue with no operating costs or other expenses deducted. It’s casino revenue only, separate from hotel, restaurant or bar revenues generated by the resorts.

The figures do not include Mississippi’s two Indian reservation casinos, which are not required to report their winnings publicly.

In February, the Mississippi River casinos took in $143.4 million, up $25.5 million from January. The coastal market, which continues to rebound after Hurricane Katrina, took in $110.5, up about $4 million from January.

Gaming revenue is tracked by calendar year. For the year to date, casinos revenues totaled $478.6 million. Through February 2007, total revenues were $494.5 million.

Gaming tax collections are tracked on the state’s fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. Casino tax collections in February totaled $26.1 million, compared to $27.7 million in January. Tax collections for the first eight months of the fiscal year totaled $227 million.

On the Net:

Mississippi State Tax Commission, http://www.mstc.state.ms.us