B.R. casinos outperform rest of state in August

Baton Rouge’s two casinos posted a collective 2.6% increase in winnings during August compared to a year ago, whereas the state’s 13 riverboat casinos saw collective winnings fall by 3.6%. According to a report released today by the Louisiana State Police, the Belle of Baton Rouge brought in $5.7 million in August, down 5.2% from the $6 million won last year. Hollywood Casino’s saw a 7.7% increase in winnings, however, with $9.7 million collected this year compared to $9 million in August 2010. For comparison, Shreveport-Bossier City’s five casinos reported a collective 8.3% reduction in winnings; Lake Charles’ three casinos won a scant 0.2% more in August, and New Orleans’ three riverboat casinos saw winnings fall by 2.4%. Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans, the lone land-based casino in the state, won $26.4 million in August, a 7.4% decrease from the month a year ago. The total take in August for Harrah’s, the state’s 13 riverboat casinos and four slot-machine operations at racetracks was $185.5 million. That’s down from $193.4 million for August 2010 and $224.3 million in July.