Gamblers lost $194.4 million at Louisiana’s state-licensed casinos last month - a more than $22 million increase over the same period last year when several riverboat casinos and the land casino in New Orleans were shut down because of the hurricanes. But the state’s casinos and race track slot machines brought in less money from gamblers in October than they did a month earlier as casinos reopen and rebound on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, according to state police gambling revenue figures released Tuesday. The 12 riverboat casinos operating in Louisiana took in $135.9 million in October, compared with $145.9 million in September.
Three riverboats are still shut down after suffering damage from hurricanes Katrina and Rita more than a year ago. Of the shuttered boats, the Belle of Orleans, which once operated in New Orleans, is planning to move to St. Mary Parish. Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. has bought the two boats once operated by Harrah’s in Lake Charles. One of those Harrah’s licenses will be used by Pinnacle for a second casino resort in Lake Charles, and Pinnacle is seeking to move the other boat to East Baton Rouge Parish, which already has two riverboat casinos.
In other gambling types, Harrah’s New Orleans casino took in $30.7 million, slightly less than the $33 million it won in September. Slot machines at three racetracks in Louisiana brought in $27.8 million last month, less than the $30.2 million they won from gamblers in September.
By comparison to the $194.4 million total winnings for October, the statewide total for September was $209.1 million. In October 2005, gamblers lost $171.8 million - but those figures aren’t really comparable because several casinos remained shut down at the time last year after the hurricanes, state police officials said.
Louisiana earns tax dollars off the earnings from the riverboat casinos, Harrah’s in New Orleans and slots at the tracks. The Louisiana State Police gambling revenue figures do not include the state’s three Indian reservation casinos, which are not required to report their winnings publicly and do not pay state taxes on them.
