Casinos report drop in revenue across La.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — State-licensed casinos in Louisiana won $182.2 million in September — nearly 9 percent less than a year earlier.

The drop was nearly statewide and across all types of casinos, according to figures compiled by state police and released Wednesday by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

The single exception was the Isle of Capri in Lake Charles. It won $10.9 million — 3.4 percent more than in September 2012.

L’Auberge du Lac took in $26.2 million, 17.1 percent less than a year ago, and the $14.4 million won by the Delta Downs race track slots casino was down 6.4 percent.

Overall, racetrack slots took in $30.1 million, down 8.1 percent from a year earlier. The New Orleans land casino’s $23.9 million was 5.5 percent off from September 2012, and the riverboat casinos’ take of $128.3 million was down 9.5 percent.

The hardest-hit market was Baton Rouge, down 16.8 percent. The Belle of Baton Rouge had nearly made up losses since L’Auberge Baton Rouge opened in September 2012, its $4.5 million down seven-tenths of a percentage point from a year ago. Hollywood was down 26 percent, to $5.4 million, and the $11 million in winnings at L’Auberge Baton Rouge was down 17.2 percent from its opening month.

Shreveport-Bossier, where Margaritaville opened in June, saw revenue from race track slots and six riverboats dip 4.3 percent. However, at four of the casinos, winnings fell 15 to 31 percent. DiamondJacks saw the lowest drop, at 2.9 percent, to just under $5 million. Boomtown, with winnings of $4.9 million, had the largest one-year drop of 31.3 percent. The Louisiana Downs racetrack slots took in $5.1 million, down 14.4 percent.

Shreveport-Bossier remained the state’s largest gambling market at $55 million, closely followed by $51.5 million at Lake Charles. New Orleans’ three casinos and track slots won $43.6 million and the Baton Rouge boats $20.9 million.

The Amelia Belle riverboat in Morgan City won $4 million, down 6.1 percent from a year earlier, and the Evangeline Downs track casino in Opelousas won $7.1 million, down 3.7 percent.