B.R. casinos see winnings rise 9% in February

Gamblers collectively walked out of Baton Rouge’s two riverboat casinos with just a tad under $19.2 million less in their pockets in February, according to figures compiled by the Louisiana State Police and released today by the state’s Gaming Control Board. The casinos’ combined take on the month was 9.1% better this year than during February 2011, when collective winnings were $17.6 million. The Belle of Baton Rouge won $7.3 million on the month, a 10% increase, while Hollywood Casino raked in $11.9 million, up 8.3%. Winnings for all of Louisiana’s state-licensed casinos and racetracks collectively jumped 8.7% from a year ago. The state’s 12 riverboat casinos, its lone land-based casino—Harrah’s New Orleans—and the three casinos at racetracks won $217.7 million, compared with $199.5 million for February 2011. February figures this year include an extra day because of the leap year. The state’s riverboats won $151 million, the New Orleans casino took in $28.9 million, and the track casinos won $37.2 million. The figures do not include Indian reservation casinos, which are not required to report their winnings to the public.