Baton Rouge’s two riverboat casinos reported a 5.6% drop in winnings in May compared to one year ago. The Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino won $18.7 million from gamblers in May, according to state police. That compares with $19.8 million that was won in May 2008. Winnings at Hollywood, the top casino in the market, fell by nearly 5%, from $12.1 million in May 2008, to $11.5 million. The Belle posted a bigger drop, going from $7.7 million in winnings, to $7.1 million in May. Statewide, May’s tally was down 4.5% from the $235.2 million won by the casinos in May 2008. Although casino revenue has been lagging somewhat in Louisiana since last fall, the state has fared better than other gambling states—including Nevada and New Jersey—which have seen double-digit drops from a year ago amid the recession.
B.R. casinos report drop in earnings
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