Terrible’s St. Jo Frontier Casino took in nearly $3.1 million in September, up 5 percent from a year ago, as its revenues rebounded from a rare drop in August.

Despite navigating a recession, Terrible’s gross revenue has grown 3.5 percent to nearly $29.2 million in the first nine months of 2009. Its only bad month was in August when Terrible’s revenue dropped 3 percent to about $3.3 million. All of the figures are in comparison to the same period in 2008.

Terrible’s attributes its steady roll to three factors: riverboat casinos being a good source of affordable hometown enjoyment, more people taking ‘stay-cations’ rather than traveling out-of-town, and the repeal of a $500 loss limit in November.

“The continued situation with the economy keeps people in a conservative mode, closer-to-home mode,” said Craig Travers, Terrible’s general manager. “And that gives people a little more discretionary dollars to spend here in town.”

Mr. Travers attributes the down month in August due to Labor Day weekend falling partly in September this year rather than August.

Terrible’s had 55,028 customers in September, up from 45,190 last year, according to statistics the Missouri Gaming Commission released Monday. That is a 22 percent increase. An additional admission is recorded whenever a patron stays for more than one two-hour gambling session.

Statewide in September, Missouri’s 12 casinos took in nearly $137.6 million, up 7 percent from a year ago. The Kansas City area’s four riverboat casinos posted 3.6 percent higher combined revenue in September. As a whole, the Kansas City market reported revenue of $56.5 million.

At the end of the 2009 fiscal year that ended in June, Terrible’s reported a 2 percent increase in revenue and admissions, and a 3 percent increase in customers.

Its parent company, Herbst Gaming Inc., is trying to emerge from bankruptcy, possibly through a deal in which lenders obtain control of the company.

Mr. Travers said Terrible’s Casino — in the relatively stable Midwest, far from the troubles of its parent company in Las Vegas — hasn’t been hurt by the bankruptcy proceedings, beyond negative publicity.

Ahmad Safi can be reached at ahmadsafi@npgco.com.