Louisiana casinos hold steady in May, taking in us$ 204 million

Across the state, the mix of riverboat, land-based and race track casinos brought in us$ 1 million more than the us$ 203 million they collected in 2011 and nearly us$ 13 million more than the us$ 191.5 million taken from gamblers in April.

Gamblers lost the most on average in May at Horseshoe Bossier City, Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner and Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge. The state's only land-based casino, Harrah's in downtown New Orleans, won us$ 28.5 million from gamblers, a 7 percent slide down from the same month a year earlier, but up from us$ 26.8 million in April.

Meanwhile, gamblers lost us$ 141.5 million at the state's 12 riverboat casinos last month, up more than 2 percent from May 2011. By comparison, the riverboats took in a combined us$ 131.5 million in April.

Louisiana's four race tracks took in a combined us$ 34 million from gamblers, nearly the same as a year earlier and slightly more than us$ 33.2 million lost by gamblers at the facilities in April.

Among Louisiana's casino markets:
—In Shreveport-Bossier City, the area's five riverboats won us$55.3 million, while the Louisiana Downs track casino took in us$ 6.4 million.

—The Lake Charles market's two riverboat casinos brought in us$ 44.2 million, while the area's Delta Downs track casino won $15.9 million.

—In the New Orleans area, gamblers lost us$ 20.3 million at the riverboat casinos and $3.5 million at the Fair Grounds race track casino.

— Baton Rouge's two riverboats won $16.9 million.

The Louisiana State Police figures do not include Indian reservation casinos in Louisiana, which are not required to report their winnings to the public.