NEW ORLEANS — April dealt a losing hand to Louisiana's state-licensed casinos, with most raking in fewer winnings last month compared to April 2011.
State police said Thursday that Harrah's in downtown New Orleans, the state's only land-based casino, took in $26.8 million last month. That's 8.4 percent less than in April 2011 and 24.9 percent less than the previous month.
The state's 12 riverboat casinos won a combined $131.5 million, down 5.9 percent compared to April 2011 and 14.7 percent less than in March.
Louisiana's four race tracks took in a combined $33.2 million, which is 1 percent less than in April 2011 and a decrease of 12.7 percent over the previous month.
Cory Morowitz, chairman of Galloway, N.J.-based Morowitz Gaming Advisors, said a spike in gas prices and "bad jobs data" could help explain why casinos in many states had a disappointing April.
"I'm very careful not to make one month a trend, but Louisiana wasn't alone in having a bad month," Morowitz said.
March is typically one of the big months for the casino business as income tax refund checks are issued.
Among Louisiana's casino markets:
— In Shreveport-Bossier City, the area's five riverboats won $50 million, down 9.6 percent compared to April 2011 and a decrease of 18.2 percent from March. The Louisiana Downs track casino won $5.9 million, which is 8.1 percent less than in April 2011 and 13.4 percent less than March.
— The Lake Charles market's two riverboats took in $39.4 million, a drop of 7.4 percent from April 2011 and decrease of 14.1 percent from March. The Delta Downs track casino won $15.5 million, up 2.7 percent compared to April 2011 but down 11.2 percent from March.
— The New Orleans market's three riverboats took in $24.6 million, dropping 1.9 percent compared to April 2011 and 11.2 percent from March. The Fair Grounds casino won $3.5 million, down 4.7 percent compared to April 2011 and a decrease of 23.4 percent from March.
— Baton Rouge's two riverboats won $17.4 million, which is an increase of 4.3 percent compared to April 2011 but a 10.1 percent drop from March.
— The Evangeline Downs track casino took in $8.3 million last month, a 0.8 percent decrease compared to April 2011 and 9.6 percent drop from March.
The figures do not include Indian reservation casinos in Louisiana, which are not required to report their winnings to the public.