Now that S&G has been informed that it’s Louisiana that is the Bayou State, let’s take a look at how its casinos did last month. Overall, they dropped 2% for a $198 million gross. The headline 
item has to be a shocking, 21% plunge in business at L’Auberge Lake Charles ($24 million) which used to own the Lake Charles market. As you might suspect, Golden Nugget (+25%, $23 million) is eating Pinnacle Entertainment‘s lunch. Also struggling was Isle of Capri Lake Charles, down 7% to $9 million. Boyd Gaming‘s Delta Downs was up 7.5% to $15 million. Is Pinnacle management so dazzled with the prospect of a Penn National Gaming merger that they’re taking their eyes off the Lake Charles ball?
In Pinnacle’s other big market, Baton Rouge, it was down 4% to $13 million at L’Auberge Baton Rouge, but the real beatdown happened at Tropicana Entertainment‘s Belle of Baton Rouge, which lost 25% of its business to close out the month at $4 million. Casino Rouge also took a hard hit, falling 16% to $5 million. In outlying markets, Boyd’s Evangeline Downs dropped 10% to $6 million.
As for New Orleans — almost an afterthought now that Lake Charles rules the state — Harrah’s New Orleans led the pack 
with dollars and percentages, up 18% to $25 million. Churchill Downs‘ Fair Grounds racino slipped 1.5% to $3 million, Boyd’s Treasure Chest gained 2% for $8.5 million and Pinnacle’s Boomtown New Orleans fell 6% to $9 million. Boyd’s Amelia Belle lost 2.5% to finish with $3 million.
As for the crowded Shreveport/Bossier City region, Horseshoe Bossier retained its supremacy, up 3.5% to $14 million. Hot on its trail is newcomer Margaritaville, grossing $11 million, also up 3.5%. Other brand news took a walloping: Eldorado Shreveport down 9% to $11.5 million, Boomtown Bossier off 10.5% to $4 million and Sam’s Town Shreveport slipping 8% to $5.5 million. The remaining Caesars Entertainment property, Louisiana Downs, gained 8% to finish the month at $3.5 million.
* If half of what I hear is true, the casino industry is rife with sexual abuse. I’ve kept silent due to a lack of corroboration. However, the tendrils of the growing sexual-predator scandal in our country are reaching out toward Las Vegas, as these allegations about Sylvester Stallone indicate. The incident in question took place at the Las Vegas Hilton, a hotbed of sexual predation in Sin City. This may be the first such story we’re hearing but I venture it won’t be the last.
* Both Boyd and Pinnacle are in the hunt for acquisitions. Lucky for them, Empire City Casino in Yonkers, New York is in play. Management may still decide *not* to sell but the prospect of a Gotham foothold must be very tempting for prospective suitors.
