Fertitta conquers Lake Charles; Parking fees rise again

Gambling revenue in Louisiana was flat last month, but the bottom-line number doesn’t tell the whole story. For instance, Lake Charles was up 8.5% and trouble-plagued Baton Rouge was 10.5% down. In the former market, Golden Nugget vaulted 21%, to finish February at $25 million, edging past L’Auberge du Lac ($24.5 million), up 6% but not enough to stave off a hard-charging Tilman Fertitta. We submit that Eldorado Resorts should rethink its planned sale of Isle Grand Palais, good for $9.5 million (+1.5%). Boyd Gaming‘s Delta Downs was flat at $15 million. Boyd’s outlying Evangeline Downs slipped 7% to $7 million, while Amelia Belle was flat at just under $4 million.

In New Orleans, a $5 million month was good enough for Churchill Downs‘ Fair Grounds racino to lead the market percentage-wise with a 5% gain. In dollars, Harrah’s New Orleans ($23.5 million) was predictably tops, with a 4.5% gain. Treasure Chest was 2% shallower, at $9 million while Boomtown Belle was flat at $10.5 million. Nobody had a good month in Baton Rouge, although L’Auberge Baton Rouge was the least-bad, down 7% to $13.5 million. Penn National Gaming‘s Casino Rouge fell 14% to $5.5 million and Tropicana Entertainment‘s Belle of Baton Rouge tumbled more than 16% to $4.5 million. As ever, L’Auberge made more than all its competition combined.

Finally, in Shreveport/Bossier City, Horseshoe Bossier has a very bad month, down 15% but still hanging onto first place with $14 million. Close behind is Margaritaville, up 6% and grossing over $13 million. Caesars Entertainment also sucked wind at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, falling 10.5% to $3 million. Pinnacle Entertainment gained 2% at Boomtown Bossier, for almost $5 million, while Boyd Gaming had a mediocre month at Sam’s Town Shreveport, grossing $6.5 million, a 1.5% decline. As though to make its case for moving to another market, Diamond Jacks sank 8%, to $3 million.

* “Welcome to the party,” gloated MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren, when informed of resort-fee increases at Caesars Entertainment’s Las Vegas Strip casinos. The Caesars imposts vary from $32 to $39, while MGM runs the $30-$39/night gamut. Downtown is far from immune, either. Over at The D and the Golden Gate, owner Derek Stevens will sock you for $25, up from $20. According to USA Today, a $35/night resort fee doubled a $35/night stay at Luxor while Circus Circus room prices increased in excess of 100% once resort fees were added to the equation. MGM also continues to gouge the customer who drives to their properties, raising parking fees by 25%. That’s self-parking, mind you. Valet parking is far worse still, having gone from $20 to $24, and even pricier Bellagio, Aria and Vdara, where valet service that once set you back $18 is now $30. Las Vegas: Where the customer almost matters.

Postscript: The graphic showing Wynncore renamed “Elaine” was mis-credited. It is the handiwork of VitalVegas author Scott Roeben. He also wants you to know it took him all of six minutes to do it. Good. It would take me six hours and that’s if I’m lucky.