Despite being hit by Hurricane Laura in late August, Baton Rouge, Louisiana riverboat casinos posted a 4.6 percent increase in winnings to $18.8 million in September compared to $17.9 million in September 2019, leading all other gambling markets in the state, according to Louisiana Gaming Control Board figures. L’Auberge Baton Rouge posted winnings of $12.9 million, up 6.9 percent over $12.1 million in September 2019. Hollywood Casino’s winnings were $4.6 million, a 19.1 percent increase over $3.8 million in September 2019; it recently announced plans to build a land-based casino, opening in February 2022. The Belle of Baton Rouge, which has closed its hotel for renovations, posted a 36.9 percent drop in revenue from $2 million to $1.3 million.
Statewide, gaming board data showed the 14 riverboat casinos, Harrah’s land-based casino and four racinos brought in slightly more than $126 million in September, down 31.3 percent from $183.4 million in September 2019, when there was one additional riverboat. Part of the reason for the year-to-year drop was Hurricane Laura’s impact on the Lake Charles market, where revenue fell 64.9 percent from $62.2 million in September 2019 to $21.8 million in September 2020.
The Golden Nugget and L’Auberge Lake Charles, also hit by the hurricane, reopened September 1; slots at Delta Downs reopened September 16. Laura also caused the gambling barge at the Isle of Capri in Lake Charles to break loose and damaged its new land-based casino under construction. As a result, it isn’t expected to welcome gamblers until early 2021.
September video poker revenue rose 13.4 percent statewide from $48 million in September 2019 to $54.5 million, even though bar-based video poker revenue fell 52 percent. Governor John Bel Edwards shut down bars for several months due to Covid-19 but they reopened in September in several parishes.
In New Orleans in September, casino revenue declined 31.2 percent from $49.1 million to $33.7 million. Impacted by the loss of tourism caused by Covid-19, Harrah’s New Orleans’ winnings fell 43 percent, from $24.1 million to $13.7 million.
The three New Orleans-area riverboat casinos posted a 21 percent drop in revenue. Boomtown New Orleans revenue fell 17.4 percent to $7.9 million from $9.6 million in September 2019. Revenue at Treasure Chest, closed for two days in mid-September due to Hurricane Sally, fell 22.1 percent from $8.3 million to $6.5 million. At the Amelia Belle, winnings declined by 28.2 percent, from $3.5 million to $2.5 million.
The slots at the Fair Grounds racetrack led New Orleans gambling venues in September, with winnings of $3 million, a 13 percent decrease from $3.4 million in September 2019.
Elsewhere in Louisiana, Shreveport-Bossier City posted $46 million in revenue, down 3.6 percent from $47.8 million, despite having one less casino due since DiamondJacks closed. Slots revenue at Evangeline Downs in Acadiana fell 12.3 percent from $6.5 million to $5.7 million.
