December Numbers Show A Strong Month For Louisiana Casino Revenue

Louisiana casinos experienced a rise in revenue in the final month of 2021, as December’s figure was the best in the state since July.

In December, the four segments of Louisiana gaming – riverboat casinos, one land-based casino, racinos (slots at racetracks) and video terminals – accounted for $289,066,960 in revenue. That was up 13.0% compared to $255,893,920 in November.

Breakdown of Louisiana Gaming Revenue

The state’s 13 operating riverboat casinos combined for $164.1 million for the final month of 2021, a jump of nearly $17 million compared to November.

Golden Nugget Lake Charles led the state with $31.2 million in revenue for December, edging out L’Auberge Lake Charles, which reported $30.8 million, according to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

Up next on the revenue chart was video gaming terminals, which reported $74.2 million in revenue for December. That was a rise of 6.3% in a month-over-month comparison and a leap of 36.1% over December 2020.

Racinos accounted for $28.65 million for December, a 10.8% increase over November. And the lone land-based gaming facility, Harrah’s New Orleans, reported $22.1 million last month, a whopping 74.1% higher than the $12.7 million from November.

The total of nearly $289.1 million was the best figure in the Bayou State since a five-month streak of total over $290 million ended with a $295 million total in July.

The high mark for 2021 was in April, when Louisiana gaming brought in $320.5 million worth of revenue.

The state’s gaming facilities made $3.21 billion in revenue for 2021.

Sports Betting Still in Progress

There are still no real money online gaming options in Louisiana, but mobile sports betting is just around the corner.

Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill into law last summer to legalize mobile sports betting in the state. Each of Louisiana’s 20 casinos are eligible to apply for two mobile betting skins, or licensed brands.

The aim has been to launch online sports wagering in time for Super Bowl LVI, which is Feb. 13 in Los Angeles. Voters in 55 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes approved of legalized sports betting in a referendum in November 2020.

Meanwhile, December was the second month for Louisiana’s retail sportsbooks to operate. The state recorded $39.5 million in retail sports betting handle for December, a 42.9% increase over November’s $27.64 million. Revenue dropped from $5.685 million in November to $4.38 million in December.

Eight sportsbooks were operating in the state in November and three more joined in December: Treasure Chest in Kenner, Delta Downs in Vinton and Evangeline Downs in Opelousas.