Louisiana better than it looks; Covid checkmates brothels

Casinos in the Pelican State were off 10% in January. However, when one adjusts the numbers to account for the permanent closure of Diamond Jacks in Shreveport and the all-but-permanent shutdown of Isle Grand Palais on Lake Charles, gaming revenues were only down 6%. We’d call that recovery, given a difficult comparison, stimulus money on the loose, capacity limits (50%), gaming-position limits (75%) and an extra weekend day. Penn National Gaming properties prospered, up 10%. By contrast, Caesars Entertainment took a -38% walloping. Somewhere in between (-11%) was Boyd Gaming. Staying with Lake Charles, L’Auberge du Lac and Golden Nugget were tied at just under $26 million, a 7.5% gain for L’Auberge and a 2.5% for the Nugget. Delta Downs rounded out the market with $14 million, up 3.5%.

Caesars needs a course correction in Bossier City/Shreveport, where Horseshoe was eclipsed by Penn’s Margaritaville, $12 million to $16 million (-16% vs. +36%). Eldorado Shreveport slipped 6.5% to $7 million, while Boomtown Bossier inched up 3% to $4 million and Sam’s Town stumbled 24% to $4.5 million. Harrah’s Louisiana Downs nudged 2% higher to $4 million. In Baton Rouge, customers continue to flee Belle of Baton Rouge, collapsing 43.5% to $1 million. Doing better was Casino Rouge, up 3% to $4.5 million. Surprisingly, L’Auberge Baton Rouge was 2% lower but still dominated the market with $13 million.

Harrah’s New Orleans, slated for retheming, had a wretched month, falling 39% to $15 million, Boomtown New Orleans posted $10 million (+3%), Treasure Chest plunged 24.5% to $6.5 million, Fair Grounds racino lagged 24% with $3 million and Amelia Belle sank 29% to $2.5 million. The good news for Boyd, aside from Delta Downs, was that outlying Evangeline Downs was flat at $6 million.

Sex-for-pay is virtually nonexistent in Nevada, where brothels have been closed for a year and only chaste escort services are permitted. Since your average prostitute doesn’t qualify for unemployment insurance, this has spawned a sexual black market. Alice Little, the face of sex work in the Silver State, contends that going to the bordello could be as safe (and presumably far more welcome) than visiting a dentist’s office. “We could easily do work at arm’s length, just the same as they do within the massage parlors, which are open in the state of Nevada,” she tells The Associated Press, noting also that it’s business as usual for tattoo parlors. Touché. Unfortunately for Little, her lawsuit against Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) has “fizzled.”

If Covid-19 continues receding until May 1, brothels can reopen. But that 15-month shutdown is a long time to eke out lacking any form of customary income. Little, who can be found online at OnlyFans (or so we’re told), has lost 95% of her income. Even should the bordellos reopens, it’s dead cert that Coronavirus testing will join HIV and sexually transmitted diseases as a litmus for sex work. Allison Starr managed to qualify for federal relief for gig workers, but she’s hardly taking a victory lap. She’s abandoned Nevada for Pittsburgh and is offering online companionship, unlike some she knows who are providing high-risk sex on the sly.

The lone holdout among Silver State brothels, Mustang Ranch, has survived by repositioning to providing masked, celibate arm pieces for your next casino or dining outing. And you’d better be upfront with pimp Lance Gilman about where you intend to go. According to the AP, “Mustang Ranch submitted a proposed plan to state officials that suggests reopening for contactless dates in private rooms, with masks and gloves worn by workers.” That sounds about as erotic as having one’s prostate examined. Sisolak hasn’t given the idea his blessing and we’re hardly surprised.

To close, various iterations of good news from MGM Resorts International, including some belated clarification of its new TopGolf sports-betting partnership.