Louisiana Casinos Up From 2005
In a post hurricane surge, Louisianas state licensed casinos continued to gain in May as gamblers left behind 220.2 million dollars, in comparison to 199.5 million in May of 2005 when there were more gambling halls in operation before the destructive hurricanes.
A large number of relief workers in the state with money and the boost has been attributed to them and Hurricane Katrinas virtual annihilation of the Mississippi Gulf Coast where now only three casinos have reopened since the storm.
The 12 operating riverboats won 152.1 million last month, up from 136.7 million won in May 2005 even when 14 boats were open the full month according to state police records released Tuesday.
Since last May, hurricanes Katrina and Rita which destroyed and mangled everything in sight, have shuttered three riverboats; two riverboats in Lake Charles and the Belle of Orleans in New Orleans, owned by Columbia Sussex Corp.
Harrahs New Orleans land casino took in 35.7 million, a record month, compared with 33 million dollars in the previous year. Three slot machine casinos at the Louisiana Downs, Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs took in 32.3 million dollars, up from 28.9 million in May of last year.
Near New Orleans, which has two riverboats in addition to the land casino, gamblers lost 67.1 million to the companies last month, compared with 58 million dollars in May 2005 up several percent.
These figures do not include Louisianas three Indian reservation casinos, which are not required to report winnings publicly.
