Louisiana gaming revenues came in for a hard landing (-7.5%) as the Golden Nugget Lake Charles marked its first anniversary. The New Orleans market (-13.5%) took it worst, although Lake Charles was 
down 12%. The latter continues to be the top grosser in the state, bringing in $76 million to New Orleans’ $66 million. The Nugget’s novelty factor wore off in a hurry, as it was down 24% year/year. Grossing $30 million to the Nugget’s $21 million, L’Auberge du Lac was off 7%. Isle Grand Palais ($10 million) was down 11% while Boyd Gaming had a relatively easy time of it at Delta Downs, off only 2% on a $15 million gross.
Evidence of whether or not New Orleans’ new smoking ban has hurt Harrah’s New Orleans has been all over the place but it had a terrible December, grossing $22 million and down 27%. The other property affected by the smoking ban, Churchill Downs‘ Fair Grounds racino was only down 3% on a $4 million gross. Pinnacle Entertainment‘s Boomtown New Orleans picked up business, rising 4%, to $10 million, and Boyd’s Treasure Chest was up 9% to $9 million.
Evangeline Downs ($8 million, up 1%) was the only other Boyd 
property to post a gain. Amelia Belle ($4 million) was off 7% and Sam’s Town Shreveport was down 11.5% ($7 million). What Caesars Entertainment lost at Louisiana Downs ($4 million, -23%) it made back at Horseshoe Bossier City, which grossed $17.5 million for a 9% gain. Margaritaville Casino ($12 million, +6%) was the only other casino in the Shreveport area to record a revenue-positive month.
L’Auberge Baton Rouge handily beat its competitors, gaining 12% on a $14 million gross, while Hollywood Baton Rouge managed a more-modest 5% on $6 million and Tropicana Entertainment‘s Belle of Baton Rouge fell 8%, to $5 million. Louisiana’s casinos are vulnerable to the vicissitudes of the oil market and, with gas selling just above $2 gallon, many of their key customers may have less “pin money” with which to gamble.
* Vigilance is growing within the gaming industry when it comes to anti-money laundering (AML) measures. According to an Ernst & Young study commissioned by the American Gaming Association, 68% of the industry increased their AML budgets by an average of 74% per company and the number of Suspicious Activity Reports filed grew twofold between 2011 and 2014. And “customer relationships terminated due to unacceptable levels of risk” has increased 23X since 2011. Consequently, 71% of law enforcement officials and regulators believe the industry understands AML tools. We’d like that last number to be higher but the industry is clearly and firmly on the right path.
