Gambling Revenue Drops 5%in Louisiana

The 14 dockside gambling venues, Harrah's New Orleans Casino and slot machine parlours at racetracks won $150.3 million last month, compared with $157.4 million in September 2002, state police reported Tuesday.

The latest figures indicated a continuing trend: the opening of new casinos does not increase the overall gambling take.

The Shreveport-Bossier City market, which includes five riverboats and the Louisiana Downs, won $60.3 million in September, down nearly 12 percent from $64.1 million in September 2002. A year ago, the slot s venue at Louisiana Downs had not opened. That outlet won $3.7 million last month.

The Lake Charles market, consisting of the Delta Downs casino and a pair of two-boat complexes, tallied $32.5 million, down from $34.1 million a year ago.

Delta Downs, which has sharply cut the riverboat take in that market since opening in February 2002, won $10.1 million last month, compared with $9.7 million in September 2002.

The New Orleans market, consisting of three riverboats and Harrah's downtown casino, won $43.7 million last month, up slightly from $42 million in September 2002. Harrah's won $20.9 million last month, compared with $20.8 million a year ago.

The two riverboat casinos in Baton Rouge won $13.8 million last month, down slightly from $14.1 million in September 2002.