La. casino revenue dips to $188 million in August

Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's state-licensed casinos took in $188 million from gamblers last month, winnings that were on par with a year earlier but a 5 percent drop from July.

The figures, compiled by the state police, were presented Thursday to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. The winnings don't include the new Baton Rouge riverboat casino, which opened over Labor Day weekend and will be included in the data released next month.

Across the state, the mix of riverboat, land-based and race track casinos brought in $9.6 million less than the $197.6 million taken from gamblers in July and $2.5 million more than the $185.5 million they collected in August 2011.

Gamblers lost the most on average in August at Horseshoe Bossier City, Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner and Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge, similar to previous months.

The state's only land-based casino, Harrah's in downtown New Orleans, won $22.9 million from gamblers in August, a 7 percent slide down from the same month a year earlier and a 4 percent drop from the $24 million collected in July.

Meanwhile, the state's 12 riverboat casinos brought in $132.7 million last month, up more than 2 percent from August 2011. By comparison, gamblers at the riverboats lost $138.6 million in July, 4 percent more.

Louisiana's four race tracks took in a combined $32.4 million from gamblers, 4 percent more than collected a year earlier and a nearly 8 percent drop from the $35 million lost by gamblers at the facilities in July.

Among Louisiana's casino markets:

—In Shreveport-Bossier City, the area's five riverboats won $53.8 million, while the Louisiana Downs track casino took in $6.3 million.

—The Lake Charles market's two riverboat casinos brought in $42.4 million, while the area's Delta Downs track casino won $14.9 million.

—In the New Orleans area, gamblers lost $16.7 million at the riverboat casinos and $3.3 million at the Fair Grounds race track casino.

— Baton Rouge's two riverboats opened in August won $15.4 million.

The Louisiana State Police figures do not include Indian reservation casinos in Louisiana, which are not required to report their winnings to the public.