Despite further COVID reopening, New Orleans casinos see 34.5% revenue drop in February
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New Orleans casinos saw their revenue drop by 34.5% in February when compared to the year before, once again the biggest decrease in any of the state’s gambling markets.
Statewide, the 13 riverboat casinos, Harrah’s land-based casino and four racinos brought in $151.1 million during February, according to figures released Thursday by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. That’s down 28.9% from the $212.5 million that 15 riverboats, Harrah’s and the four racinos generated in February 2020.
Casino capacity has been capped at 50% in an attempt to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. On top of that, a hard freeze around Mardi Gras caused several riverboats around the state to close for as long as three days. The riverboats that remained open the whole time had fewer customers because of icy roads and closed bridges.
Video poker revenue was down 2.5% statewide in February to $53.6 million from $54.9 million a year earlier.
Crescent City gambling halls saw their revenue drop from nearly $55.2 million to $36.1 million.
Harrah’s, which has been hard hit by the loss of tourism caused by the pandemic, saw its winnings plunge by 40.7% from $26.6 million to $15.8 million. The slots at the Fair Grounds racetrack dropped by 34.6% to $2.9 million compared to $4.5 million in winnings in February 2020. The three New Orleans area riverboat casinos posted a 27.6% drop in revenue. Boomtown New Orleans was down by 17.3% from $10.7 million to $8.9 million. Treasure Chest had a 35.1% drop from $9.5 million to $6.2 million. Winnings at the Amelia Belle, which was closed for a day during the freeze, were down 38% from $3.9 million to $2.4 million.
The three riverboat casinos in Baton Rouge brought in $17.3 million in February, compared to $20.1 million in February 2020, a 14% decrease. Hollywood Casino brought in $4.1 million in February, an 8.6% drop. L'Auberge Baton Rouge posted $12 million in winnings, a 10.1% decrease. The Belle of Baton Rouge, which was closed for two days during the freeze, posted a 46.9% drop in revenue to $1.2 million. Casino Queen, a Midwest riverboat casino operator, has announced plans to buy both the Belle and Hollywood.
In other markets, Acadiana, represented by the slots at Evangeline Downs, was down 14.4% to $5.4 million. Lake Charles was down by 27% to $53.9 million. The market has one less property than a year ago, after Hurricane Laura temporarily shut down the Isle of Capri. Shreveport-Bossier City, which is also down one riverboat after DiamondJacks shut down in May, posted $38.2 million in winnings, a 32.8% drop.
