Casinos operating in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, posted a 10% revenue gain in December from November 2022, according to the latest report from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. The combined revenue from the city’s three river casinos was almost $22 million for the last month of the year, up by about $2 million when compared to the $19.9 million delivered in November.
Each riverboat reported higher month-over-month revenue. L’Auberge brought in $16.5 million in December, an 8.9% increase over November’s $15.1 million. Meanwhile, Hollywood Casino earned $4.4 million, up 12.4% from November’s $3.9 million; and Belle of Baton Rouge took in $1.1 million, the biggest month-over-month jump of the three casinos at almost 19%.
Despite closing out the year with positive month-over-month revenue growth, December’s combined total for the three casinos was 9.1% lower than the $24.2 million generated in December 2021, points out Business Report.
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge
The figures come as the casinos work to bring their facilities ashore. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board approved last year the move of the Belle of Baton Rouge riverboat casino onto land in a $35 million project expected to be completed in May 2024. For its part, Hollywood Casino’s new inland facility, also expected to open next year, will increase its footprint to 100,000 square feet.
They also arrive as Louisiana bettors become accustomed to betting on sports. According to a recent Louisiana Gaming Control Board report, 2022, the first full year of legal sports betting, resulted in more than $1.8 billion in wagers, generating over $26.4 million in taxes.
Louisiana sports betting produced a monthly handle record of $255.5 million in October 2022, with $219 million coming from mobile bets and $36.4 million from retail. The state legalized retail sports betting beginning in November 2021, followed by mobile sports betting in January.