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http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/05/20/ap5031122.html
By ALAN SAYRE 05.20.08, 4:31 PM ET
A sluggish economy and record gasoline prices are keeping travelers closer to home and off the gambling floor at Southern casinos, an industry analyst said Tuesday.
Mississippi's state-licensed casinos saw a 19.4 percent drop in winnings from March to April, while Louisiana's state-licensed casinos recorded a 7.2 percent drop, according to state regulatory agencies.
Both months traditionally are big ones for casinos, as income tax refund checks are issued.
Mississippi and Louisiana seem to be following a national pattern, said Andy Holtmann, editor of the Las Vegas-based Casino Journal, a trade journal.
"The economy, gas prices, job losses are why you are seeing diminished results," Holtmann said.
Casinos in states such as Louisiana and Mississippi, which depend heavily on drive-in gamblers, are probably the most vulnerable, though the same sag in revenue is beginning to hit fly-in markets such as Las Vegas, Holtmann said.
"It's not crippling" Holtmann said. "Most of the pundits and analysts think there will be no long-term damage. But for now, it's getting tighter."
Louisiana's 13 riverboat casinos, Harrah's New Orleans land casino and the four slot machine casinos at horse racing tracks took in $213.1 million last month, down from $229.6 million in March, but still up a bit from $205 million in April 2007. However, there were two fewer gambling outlets open a year ago.
In Mississippi, the tally from players who ventured into that state's 29 casinos fell from $260.6 million in March to $210.1 million in April.
Holtmann said Mississippi casinos probably are being hit by four Seminole tribal casinos that opened in Florida. "That's taking a small chunk from Biloxi, but it can be replaced," Holtmann said.
Mississippi coastal casinos saw a drop in winnings from $120.8 million in March to $97.1 million in March.
Louisiana markets that are heavily dependent upon Texas gamblers - Shreveport-Bossier City and Lake Charles - saw March-to-April dips in winnings. Shreveport-Bossier City casinos won $69.1 million in April, down from $73.3 million in March, while the Lake Charles market won $53.4 million last month, a drop from $58.6 million in March.
New Orleans, a mix of the Harrah's casino in the tourist district and two riverboats that cater to local gamblers, won $59.4 million in April, dipping from $64.8 million in March. The two riverboats in Baton Rouge, considered to be a local market, saw their combined winnings go from $19.2 million to $18.3 million.
The two states' figures do not include Indian reservation casinos, which are not required to report their winnings to the public. |
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发表于 2008-5-22 07:41
