B.R. casino winnings fall 6.9% in July

For the first time since January, Baton Rouge’s two casinos saw their individual and collective winnings fall in June compared to the same month in 2011. Collectively, the Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino saw winnings dip 6.9%, to $16.3 million, from $17.5 million in July 2011. Hollywood, which brought in $10.2 million on the month, saw a bigger drop in winnings: off 8.9%, or $992,700. The Belle won $6.1 million: down 3.2%, or $205,800, from July 2011. The local declines were in line with what other casinos saw across the state. Louisiana’s state-licensed casinos took in nearly $197.6 million from gamblers in July, a 12% drop in winnings from July 2011 and a 3% dip from the previous month. Across the state, the mix of riverboat, land-based and racetrack casinos brought in $26.7 million less than what was collected in July 2011 and $5.2 million less than June’s total. The statewide figures do not include Indian reservation casinos in Louisiana, which are not required to report their winnings to the public. You can access the complete winnings reports here.