Gambling winnings in Baton Rouge and New Orleans dropped in January, but the riverboats and racetrack casinos in other markets brought in more money than they did the year before.
Winnings at the Capital City’s three riverboats were down 2 percent in January. Those numbers are attributable to a significant drop in business at Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge.
Statewide gambling winnings were $188.5 million in January, according to figures released Thursday by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. That compares with nearly $185.2 million a year ago, a 1.8 percent increase.
The 14 riverboat casinos won nearly $131.5 million in January, 3.7 percent more than the nearly $126.9 million won at 13 casinos in January 2013. The Margaritaville Resort Casino in Bossier City, which opened in June, brought in nearly $9.2 million during the month.
BATON ROUGE: Hollywood, which has been hardest hit by the arrival of L’Auberge Baton Rouge, had a 19.4 percent drop in winnings. The casino brought in $5.2 million in January, down from nearly $6.5 million in January 2013.
L’Auberge brought in nearly $11.5 million during the month, compared with nearly $10.7 million in January 2013, a 7.3 percent increase.
The Belle of Baton Rouge, the oldest casino in the Baton Rouge market, saw a modest increase in winnings, going from nearly $4.54 million in January 2013 to $4.59 million, a 1.2 percent increase.
NEW ORLEANS: Winnings at Harrah’s, the Crescent City’s three riverboat casinos and the slots at the Fair Grounds all fell in January. Winnings totaled nearly $50.2 million in January, down from $50.26 million in January 2013.
Harrah’s brought in $26.8 million in January, a 0.8 percent drop from the $27 million won the year before.
The riverboats brought in $19.7 million during the month, an 8.6 percent drop from the nearly $21.7 million the properties won in January 2013.
The Amelia Belle had the smallest decline in business, dropping 2.7 percent. The Morgan City casino brought in nearly $3.9 million during January, compared with almost $4 million a year earlier.
Treasure Chest fell by nearly 9.7 percent, from $8 million to nearly $7.3 million. Boomtown was down 10.2 percent from $9.5 million to nearly $8.6 million.
The Fair Grounds slots generated nearly $3.7 million in winnings during the month, an 8.8 percent drop from $4 million in January 2013.
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER: With a sixth riverboat casino in its fleet last year compared with 2013, the take jumped 10.8 percent to $53.2 million. The Harrah’s Louisiana Downs racetrack in Bossier City dropped 7.6 percent to $5 million.
LAKE CHARLES: Its two riverboat casinos combined for a 4.9 percent gain to nearly $37.3 million.
OTHER MARKETS: Among the other racetracks in the state, Delta Downs in Vinton was up a modest 0.6 percent to nearly $14.8 million. Evangeline Downs in Opelousas fell 6.7 percent to $6.7 million.
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