(The Center Square) — In August, Louisiana’s gambling sector saw solid revenue growth across video gaming, riverboat casinos, land-based casinos, racetrack slot machines, sports wagering and fantasy sports despite some ongoing challenges.
Video gaming operations across bars, restaurants, hotels, racetracks, and truck stops generated $62.16 million in net device revenue, a 2.7% increase from the previous year.
Truck stops, the largest contributor, brought in $45.9 million, up 2.6%, while bars contributed $9.09 million from 2,356 devices, marking a 3.2% rise. Restaurants saw a 1.9% increase in revenue to $3.36 million. T
The hotel sector saw the most significant declines, a 6.9% revenue decline to $70,186 from July and a 36% decline from last year.
Harrah’s New Orleans Casino, the state’s only land-based casino, recorded $18.89 million in gross gaming revenue, a 6.7% month-over-month increase and a 5.2% rise from August 2023.
The casino had 199,666 admissions and contributed $5.52 million in state fees. This fiscal year to date, Harrah’s has generated $36.59 million in gross gaming revenue, up 3% from the previous year, though admissions remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Riverboat casinos also posted gains, with total adjusted gross revenue of $147.26 million, up from $138.08 million in July and $136.07 million in August 2023, a 1.6% year-over-year increase.
L’Auberge Lake Charles led the riverboats with $25.98 million in adjusted gross revenue, followed closely by Golden Nugget Lake Charles with $25.63 million. Horseshoe Bossier City saw a significant improvement, generating $15.65 million, nearly doubling its July earnings.
Racetrack slot machines brought in $26.51 million in August, a 5.8% increase from July’s $25.06 million and a 5.9% rise from August 2023.
Delta Downs led with $14 million, reflecting a 9.5% month-over-month and 9.9% year-over-year increase. Evangeline Downs followed with $6.21 million, up 1.5% from July and 3% from last year. Louisiana Downs and Fair Grounds posted smaller gains, though Fair Grounds saw a 2.6% decline compared to August 2023.
Sports wagering recorded a total handle of $234.51 million in August. Despite a 1.6% decline in net sports betting, sportsbooks still generated $25.42 million in revenue, up 5.9% from July, with $3.7 million in state taxes — a 75.3% year-over-year increase.
Fantasy sports also added to the sector’s revenues. In August, Louisiana’s fantasy sports contests generated $435,998 in gross contest revenue, with $45,450 in net revenue.
This resulted in $3,636 in taxes paid. Year-over-year comparisons show a 15.2% decrease in net revenue from fiscal year 2024, though there was a slight 0.3% increase compared to August 2023. For fiscal year-to-date, fantasy sports have brought in $88,701 in net revenue.
