Louisiana casinos win $210.7 million

Louisiana casinos win $210.7 million

	Published : Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:49 By : Agencies Print this Story

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Players lost $210.7 million at Louisiana's state-licensed casinos in September, a slight increase from a year ago when there were two fewer gambling halls, state police reported Tuesday.

In September 2006, the Amelia Belle Casino near Morgan City and the slot machine casino at the New Orleans Fair Grounds had not yet opened. Casino winnings that month totaled $209.1 million.

In the latest tally, the 13 riverboats won $145.6 million, Harrah's New Orleans Casino won $35.2 million and the slot casinos at the state's four race tracks took in $29.9 million.

In the Shreveport-Bossier City market, five dockside riverboats and the casino at Louisiana Downs won $68.2 million, down from $70.2 million in September 2006. That market has been facing increasing competition for Texas gamblers from Indian reservation casinos in Oklahoma that are closer to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

In the New Orleans market, two riverboats and Harrah's New Orleans won $58.9 million, almost unchanged from $58.3 million in September 2006. However, last month marked the opening of the slot casino at the Fair Grounds, which pulled in $360,606 in 12 days of operation.

In the Lake Charles market, which attracts players from southeastern Texas, three riverboats won $38.8 million and the Delta Downs casino won another $13.3 million for a total of $52.1 million. That market won $51.8 million in September 2006.

Gamblers lost $18.8 million at the two riverboats in Baton Rouge last month, compared with $20.3 million in September 2006. Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. is proposing the addition of a third riverboat to that market. East Baton Rouge Parish voters will decide whether to allow the $250 million project during a Feb. 7 referendum.

The Amelia Belle won $4 million last month, while the Evangeline Downs track casino at Opelousas pulled in $8.6 million, up from $8.3 million in September 2006.

The figures do not include the three Indian reservation casinos in Louisiana, which are not required to report their winnings publicly.

In August 2007, the riverboats won $148.1 million, the track casinos took in $29.7 million and Harrah's New Orleans won 35.3 million for a total of $213.1 million.