In a slightly concerning trend, Louisiana casino revenues in June dipped for a second straight month.
It may be somewhat surprising since COVID-19 restrictions are easing. But weather may have played a part, specifically Tropical Storm Claudette.
This downward trend might seem like cause for concern. However, through May, revenues have increased when compared to the same time frame in 2019.
Total revenue in June takes a dive
Total revenue for gambling establishments in the state dropped last month. And the New Orleans area saw the most significant decline.
According to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, Louisiana casinos (13 riverboat, four racinos, one land-based) brought in about $221.6 million altogether. That makes for a 2.9% decrease since May. However, the total also reflects a 34.8% increase over June 2020 revenue.
Video poker experienced a 5.5% decrease from May’s figure, while it brought in about $12 million more than in the same time period in 2020.
Riverboat casino, Harrah’s New Orleans revenue
All but four riverboat casinos reported dips in revenue month to month. The biggest drop-off occurred with Horseshoe Bossier City, which posted a 23.5% decrease in June.
However, there were certainly some highlights. For example, L’Auberge Lake Charles reported $32.4 million last month, good for a nearly 19% spike month over month.
The breakdown of riverboat casino revenue:
| Riverboat casino | June 2021 revenue | May 2021 revenue |
|---|---|---|
| L'Auberge Lake Charles | $32,484,199 | $27,325,613 |
| Golden Nugget Lake Charles | $30,893,844 | $29,473,623 |
| Margaritaville Resort Casino | $19,692,209 | $18,970,132 |
| L'Auberge Baton Rouge | $16,756,578 | $18,159,512 |
| Horseshoe Bossier City | $13,499,028 | $17,637,796 |
| Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport | $11,855,702 | $12,686,287 |
| Boomtown New Orleans | $11,801,116 | $12,526,737 |
| Treasure Chest Casino | $8,436,661 | $9,184,921 |
| Hollywood Baton Rouge | $5,993,164 | $5,729,514 |
| Sam's Town | $5,125,539 | $6,142,688 |
| Boomtown Casino Hotel | $4,924,690 | $5,026,957 |
| Amelia Belle Casino | $3,169,118 | $3,671,301 |
| Belle of Baton Rouge | $1,430,730 | $1,602,683 |
The lone land-based commercial casino in the state, Harrah’s New Orleans reported nearly $24.6 million in June revenue. While still strong, that total is actually down from May, when the casino pocketed $26.7 million.
Slots at racetracks, video poker revenue
Similar to riverboat and land-based casinos in Louisiana, slots and video gambling in the state also decreased.
All four racetracks experienced drops of at least 4% from May to June. Evangeline Downs saw the worst of it with a dip of 11% in revenue.
| Racetrack | June 2021 revenue | May 2021 revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Downs | $15,441,647 | $16,592,752 |
| Evangeline Downs | $6,962,088 | $7,820,573 |
| Harrah's Louisiana Downs | $4,591,570 | $4,781,624 |
| Fair Grounds | $3,901,266 | $4,166,139 |
As for video gaming at bars, restaurants, hotels, racetracks and truck stops, those facilities combined for $73.4 million last month, down 5.5% from May.
Did Claudette dampen revenues … and spirits?
It’s possible — but not established — that weather may have contributed to the downturn in Louisiana gaming revenue.
In June, Gov. Jon Bel Edwards issued a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Claudette approached. This was a precaution as experts believed the storm would bring flash floods, strong winds and tornadoes to the area.
Indeed, that was the case, as Claudette held sustained winds of 45 miles per hour over the first few days while canvassing the state with a projected 12 inches in heavy rain. This caused flooding on roads, streams and rivers.
A storm such as this would understandably deter any casino-goer from making their way to a gambling facility.
