BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Louisiana’s state-licensed casinos took in $215 million from gamblers last month.
The August winnings were on par with July, but they represented a 14 percent growth from the $188 million generated a year ago, when two fewer riverboat casinos were operating.
Since then, new casinos in the Shreveport and Baton Rouge markets have opened – Margaritaville Resort Casino in Bossier City and L’Auberge Baton Rouge – and they brought in $25 million combined last month.
The figures, compiled by state police, were presented Thursday to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
Across the state, the mix of riverboat, land-based and race track casinos brought in $2.5 million more than the $212.6 million taken from gamblers in July and $27 million more than the $188 million they collected in August 2012.
Gamblers lost the most on average in August at Horseshoe Bossier City, Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner and L’Auberge Baton Rouge, along with the Delta Downs race track casino.
The state’s only land-based casino, Harrah’s in downtown New Orleans, had a strong month, winning $27.9 million from gamblers in August, a 22 percent jump from the same month a year earlier and a 10 percent growth from the $25.4 million collected in July.
Meanwhile, the state’s 14 riverboat casinos brought in $153.7 million last month, up 16 percent from August 2012. By comparison, gamblers at the riverboats lost $153.6 million in July, virtually no change.
Louisiana’s four race tracks took in a combined $33.5 million from gamblers, nearly 4 percent more than collected a year earlier and only slightly less than the $33.7 million lost by gamblers at the facilities in July.
Among Louisiana’s casino markets:
-In Shreveport-Bossier City, the area’s six riverboats won $61.3 million, while the Louisiana Downs track casino took in $5.6 million.
-The Lake Charles market’s two riverboat casinos brought in $45.5 million, while the area’s Delta Downs track casino won $16.3 million.
-In the New Orleans area, gamblers lost $18 million at the riverboat casinos and $3.8 million at the Fair Grounds race track casino.
-Baton Rouge’s three riverboats won $24.3 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.
Winnings from gamblers at Louisiana’s state-licensed casinos in August 2013 with totals, attendance and average loss per customer:
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY:
Market total – $67 million
Boomtown – $5.7 million, 94,715, $59.95
Eldorado – $12.2 million, 225,770, $53.86
Horseshoe – $18.2 million, 132,518, $137.41
Diamondjacks – $5.7 million, 104,912, $54.23
Sam’s Town – $8 million, 127,199, $62.51
Margaritaville – $11.6 million, 262,744, $44.08
Louisiana Downs track casino – $5.6 million, 114,485, $49.28
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LAKE CHARLES:
Market total – $61.8 million
Isle of Capri – $12.2 million, 139,438, $87.44
L’Auberge Lake Charles – $33.3 million, 369,856, $90.16
Delta Downs track casino – $16.3 million, 170,541, $95.30
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NEW ORLEANS:
Market total – $49.7 million
Boomtown – $9.8 million, 109,263, $89.89
Treasure Chest – $8.2 million, 89,963, $91.01
Harrah’s New Orleans (land) – $27.9 million, 407,061, $68.49
Fair Grounds track casino – $3.8 million, 64,005, $59.08
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BATON ROUGE:
Market Total – $24.4 million
Belle of Baton Rouge – $5.2 million, 77,987, $66.08
Hollywood – $6 million, 68,694, $87.45
L’Auberge Baton Rouge – $13.2 million, 130,896, $100.59
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MORGAN CITY:
Amelia Belle – $4.6 million, 56,693, $80.75
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OPELOUSAS:
Evangeline Downs track casino – $7.8 million, 122,326, $64.12
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TOTAL WINNINGS:
Riverboats – $153.7 million
New Orleans land casino – $27.9 million
Casinos at race tracks – $33.5 million
Total casino winnings – $215.1 million
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Source: Louisiana State Police
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
