Acadiana Business

Casinos win $35.8M less in April than in March

by Walter Pierce

State police figures show most also won less than they did a year ago. The big exceptions were 8.7 percent one-year increases at both L'Auberge Lake Charles and the slots casino at the New Orleans Fair Grounds.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Louisiana's state-regulated casinos all won less money in April than in March. The drop totals $35.8 million.

State police figures show most also won less than they did a year ago. The big exceptions were 8.7 percent one-year increases at both L'Auberge Lake Charles and the slots casino at the New Orleans Fair Grounds.

April winnings totaled $196.4 million, up $4.9 million from April 2012 - before the L'Auberge of Baton Rouge opened.

Harrah's New Orleans took in $25.8 million, 18.3 percent below March and 3.9 percent below April 2012.

Riverboat casinos won $137.9 million, down 14.5 percent from March but up 4.9 percent from a year earlier.

Slot-machine casinos at four race tracks won $32.7 million, down 16.7 percent from March and 1.5 percent from April 2012.