Louisiana casinos, racetracks lost more than $3 million in August after Hurricane Ida
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Casinos and racetracks with slot machines impacted by Hurricane Ida lost more than $3 million in August after the powerful storm forced many of the locations to close, according to data from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
Gaming sites across Southeast Louisiana saw the month of August cut short due to the Category-4 storm, and most of the casinos in the New Orleans and Houma-Thibodaux areas remained closed into the second week of September.
The bulk of the losses came from affected riverboat casinos, most of which were closed three to four days during August. The six casinos in the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Houma-Thibodaux areas lost a combined $4.5 million compared to August 2020.
The six riverboat casinos that closed during Hurricane Ida and in the aftermath include the Amelia Belle in Amelia, Boomtown New Orleans, the Treasure Chest in New Orleans, the Belle of Baton Rouge, Hollywood Baton Rouge and L'Auberge Baton Rouge.
In Baton Rouge, the Belle reopened Sept. 1 and Hollywood reopened Sept. 2. L'Auberge was closed until Sept. 4.
In New Orleans, Boomtown reopened Sept. 6, and the Treasure Chest reopened Sept. 10. The Amelia Belle reopened Sept. 9.
Overall, riverboat casinos statewide saw revenue increase from August 2020, rising $5.9 million or 5.2%.
The racetracks in South Louisiana also saw revenue from slot machines fall. Evangeline Downs in Opelousas was only closed one day in August, but revenue fell by 1.1% or $63,412 from August 2020.
The Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots in New Orleans reopened Sept. 15 and was closed for four days in August. The track lost $378,390 from August 2020, falling 12.4%.
Harrah's in New Orleans, the state's lone non-tribal, land-based casino, actually saw revenue increase from August 2020, despite the loss of three gaming days in August. Harrah's made $13.7 million in August, up 16% from $11.8 million in August 2020.
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board data does not include information on tribal casinos.
Video gaming sites did not show a significant impact from Hurricane Ida. The sites, which include bars, restaurants, hotels, racetracks and truck stops, made $58.6 million compared to $53.5 million in August 2020, an increase of 9.5%.
It's likely that the revenue reports for September, which will probably be released in early or mid-October, show sharper losses, as most casinos saw the bulk of their closure days in September.
