The three casinos in Baton Rouge collectively saw their winnings in April fall more than 15% compared to March, according to figures released by the Louisiana State Police. L'Auberge Casino & Hotel, Hollywood Casino and the Belle of Baton Rouge took in approximately $24.3 million last month, down from $28.8 million in March. L'Auberge led the three, with $12.3 million, down from $15.1 million the month previous. Hollywood took in about $7 million, down from $8 million in March. And the Belle won roughly $5 million, down from $5.6 million. The winnings of Hollywood and the Belle last month were also down significantly from April a year ago, which is due to the increased competition L'Auberge has brought to the city since opening last September. Hollywood won $10.5 million from gamblers in April 2012, or about 33% more than last month. The Belle won $6.9 million in April last year, which is 27% more than last month. According to the report, L'Auberge had roughly 128,200 admissions in...
The Metro Council will soon take up the issue of whether or not Baton Rouge's three riverboat casinos should be able to serve alcohol 24 hours a day. An ordinance allowing as much was introduced on Wednesday by Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle, with the council set to discuss the issue further at its next meeting on March 13. Councilwoman Tara Wicker says she's skeptical about the idea. "I really need to see the details on what the justification is for it," she says. "I'm never in favor of allowing alcohol being served 24 hours a day. I just don't see it as a need." Some say the unlimited alcohol service would allow the Baton Rouge casinos to better compete with those in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. By contrast, Wicker contends that the extended alcohol service could exacerbate crime problems, particularly downtown, where two of the city's three casinos are located. Metro Councilman Ryan Heck says he's always in favor of fewer regulations on businesses and will likely support...
Baton Rouge's three casinos collectively won $21.7 million from gamblers in January, or about 5.5% less than the $22.9 million they won in December. As it has since opening in September, L'Auberge accounted for the bulk of the winnings—$10.7 million—but like the Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino, it nonetheless saw a decline in winnings from December. L'Auberge's winnings were down 2.5%; the Belle of Baton Rouge's $4.5 million was 6.9% less than December winnings, and Hollywood Casino's $6.5 million represented a decline of 9.1%. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board posts detailed winnings reports for all state-licensed casinos here.
Baton Rouge's three riverboat casinos collectively won $22.9 million from gamblers in December—a 52% improvement over the same month a year earlier. However, much of that increase can be attributed to the fact that the city has one more casino than it did in December 2011. L'Auberge, which opened in September, won just shy of $11 million in December. The Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino collectively won just over $15 million; but the Belle's $4.9 million was down 6.2% from December 2011, and Hollywood's $7.1 million was off 27.8%. Figures posted by regulators today show that, overall, December was a good month for the state's casinos and 2012 was a good year. Louisiana's state-licensed casinos won roughly $2.4 billion from gamblers in 2012, up from about $2.37 billion in 2011. The figures do not include revenue from Indian reservation casinos, which are not required to report winnings to the public.
In a deal that would more than double its size, Pinnacle Entertainment announced today it will buy rival Ameristar Casinos for about $869 million, plus take on $1.9 billion of its debt. Pinnacle owns seven U.S. casinos and a racetrack—including the new L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge—and is developing another gaming property. Ameristar has eight casinos in the United States, the nearest to Louisiana of which is located in Vicksburg, Miss. Pinnacle says buying Ameristar could help it become a bigger player, while trimming some costs. If the deal is approved by shareholders and regulators, Pinnacle will pay $26.50 for each share of Ameristar Casinos Inc. That's about 20% premium over the company's Thursday closing stock price of $22.07. It's also gaining $116 million of the company's cash. Along with its L'Auberge properties in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, Pinnacle has casinos in Missouri and Indiana, and is developing another in Ohio.
The Powerball jackpot has grown to a record $425 million, sending millions of Americans to supermarkets, shops, gas stations and other ticket outlets to buy lottery tickets before Wednesday's drawing. None of the $2 tickets matched the winning numbers in a drawing of the multistate game Saturday night, when the jackpot was an estimated $325 million. The estimated $425 million up for grabs on Wednesday in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands could get bigger if sales boom before the drawing. Louisiana Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says Powerball sales in the state on Saturday alone reached $2.1 million. The previous top Powerball windfall—claimed by eight employees of a Nebraska meatpacking plant—was $365 million in 2006. The biggest U.S. lottery payout was $656 million—shared by holders of three winning tickets in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland—in a March Mega Millions drawing. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot: 1 in 175...
Gamblers left less on the tables and in machines at Baton Rouge's three casinos in October than they did in September. L'Auberege, the city's newest casino, reported winning $11.2 million on the month, according to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. That's down about $2 million from September, the casino's first month in operation. The Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino also saw collective winnings dip in October compared to the previous month—and they were also down compared to October 2011. The Belle won $4.6 million in October; a scant 0.9% increase from September, but 9.7% less than the $5.1 million the casino won in October last year. Hollywood won $6.9 million in October, which was 5.6% less than the $7.3 million it won in September and more than 25% less than the $9.2 million it won in October 2011. Winnings were down at most state-licensed casinos throughout Louisiana in October compared to September. In total, gamblers lost just shy of $185 million during the...
L'Auberge Casino & Hotel raked in more winnings—$13.3 million—in the month of September than Baton Rouge's two other casino boats combined, according to a gaming revenue report by the Louisiana State Police. Hollywood Casino came in second, with $7.3 million; the Belle of Baton Rouge generated $4.6 million. The total revenue of $25.2 million is 70% more than the $14.8 million that Hollywood and the Belle generated in September 2011. The September revenue report is the first to include L'Auberge since the new riverboat opened Sept. 1 at River Road and Gardere Lane. Hurricane Isaac delayed its opening by three days. Compared to a year ago, Hollywood earned $1.7 million less last month, and the Belle earned $1.2 million less. James Rigot, general manager of Hollywood Casino, told Business Report before L'Auberge's opening that the new casino would have to grow the local casino market by 50% if all three casinos were to survive. Last month, L'Auberge had 167,281...
July was just the second month this year—and the first time since January—in which the Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino saw their winnings dip compared to the same month last year. August wasn't much better, according to the latest figures from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Hollywood saw its winnings fall 4.8% last month, to $9.3 million. The Belle, for its part, posted a 5.1% increase in August, taking in $6 million from gamblers; but that was 1.2% less than the casino's take in July. The $15.3 million the casinos collectively won in August was 1.1% less than the $15.5 million they took in during August 2011. The board's August report does not include Baton Rouge's third and newest casino, L'Auberge, which opened Sept. 1. The local take appears to be in line with what most casinos across the state experienced in August. Louisiana's state-licensed casinos took in $188 million from gamblers in August, winnings that were on par with a year earlier but reflect...
Hurricane isaac delayed L'Auberge Casino & Hotel's opening by three days. But when the party barge on stilts declared all bets were no longer off on Sept. 1, visitors waited for hours to be among the first to step inside.
To promote its grand opening earlier this month, L'Auberge Casino and Hotel deployed several public relations strategies, including social media, traditional news releases and a dramatic use of tchotchke. The company, working with Wright Feigley Communications, sent a succession of fancy giveaways to media members in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, including teddy bears, plush towels, chocolate sculptures and barware. Each item was meant to plant a different story idea about the $368 million casino complex, says Wright Feigley partner Jeff Wright.
Gambling has deeper historical roots in Louisiana than in any other Southern state, Michael Nelson and John Lyman Mason write in How the South Joined the Gambling Nation. During the last century, with help from New York mobster Frank Costello's organization, illegal gambling flourished. According to Louisiana State Police, Nelson and Mason say, by the mid-1970s gambling was a quarter-billion-dollar industry, the third largest in the state.
The industry reviews on the recently opened L'Auberge Baton Rouge are in: Pinnacle Entertainment's $368 million hotel and casino complex is a winner. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Pinnacle, which is based in Las Vegas, recently conducted an analyst day for the property, which opened on Sept. 1. "Based on our conversations with various property managers and tours of several casinos, we believe Pinnacle will indeed cannibalize the existing Baton Rouge casinos by 35% to 40%, grow the market by about a third, and take some share from the destination casinos in New Orleans and Biloxi/Gulfport," Brean Murray Carret & Co. gaming analyst Justin Sebastiano says, adding L'Auberge Baton Rouge would easily rise to top-of-the-market status. JP Morgan gaming analyst Joe Greff, meanwhile, told investors Pinnacle executives believe the new hotel and casino development could achieve the cash flow necessary for a midteens return on invested capital. And Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets...
Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson was quoted earlier today as saying that the $368 million L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge is planning a 2 p.m. opening on Saturday. And while neither the casino's parent company nor the local public relations firm handling its communications was willing to confirm those plans this afternoon, it appears the opening is a go, pending the casino gets the final sign off to open from LSP. Baton Rouge-based Wright Feigley Communications referred all questions about the reported Saturday opening to Pinnacle Entertainment, which is developing the casino at River Road and Gardere Lane. Calls to the Pinnacle public relations staff were not answered, and messages were not returned as of press time. Wright Feigley does confirm casino employees are prepared to open and welcome guests, but would not comment further on when they may do so. Pinnacle had planned for a grand opening on Wednesday, Aug. 29, but Isaac led to its postponement. A message on...
Pinnacle Entertainment announced this morning that it's postponing the grand opening of the $368 million L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge, which had been planned for Wednesday, given the state's need to prepare for Tropical Storm Isaac. The casino says it cannot take the final step in the formal licensing and approval process, commonly referred to as a mock cruise, because Louisiana State Police personnel who would normally assist in the process have been diverted to the coast to assist with preparations for Isaac. Pinnacle has not set a new date for the grand opening. "We remain at the ready to open L'Auberge when it is clear Tropical Storm Isaac is no longer a threat and pending this one final regulatory approval. We understand the primary focus of Louisiana State Police right now is making sure the citizens of Louisiana are out of harm's way," reads a statement from Pinnacle President and CEO Anthony Sanfilippo.
Pinnacle Entertainment has announced that it's postponing the grand opening of the $368 million L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge, which had been planned for Wednesday, due to Tropical Storm Isaac. The casino says it cannot take the final step in the formal licensing and approval process, commonly referred to as a mock cruise, because Louisiana State Police personnel who would normally assist in the process have been diverted to the coast to assist with preparations for Isaac. Pinnacle has not set a new date for the grand opening. "We remain at the ready to open L'Auberge when it is clear Tropical Storm Isaac is no longer a threat and pending this one final regulatory approval. We understand the primary focus of Louisiana State Police right now is making sure the citizens of Louisiana are out of harm's way,” reads a statement from Pinnacle President and CEO Anthony Sanfilippo.
While L'auberge Casino & Hotel will be limited by law to 30,000 square feet of gaming space like the existing riverboats in downtown, it will be at an advantage as a single-floor casino. The Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino have three floors, and experts say their gaming spaces—compared to L'Auberge's—are limited by staircases and balconies.
Baton Rouge isn't big enough for three casino boats, according to industry watchers anticipating the Aug. 29 opening of L'Auberge Casino & Hotel. They predict the demise of one of Baton Rouge's two downtown boats, unless Pinnacle Entertainment's newest development on River Road at Gardere Lane can attract gamblers here like the city's higher ground did in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
For the first time since January, Baton Rouge's two casinos saw their individual and collective winnings fall in June compared to the same month in 2011. Collectively, the Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino saw winnings dip 6.9%, to $16.3 million, from $17.5 million in July 2011. Hollywood, which brought in $10.2 million on the month, saw a bigger drop in winnings: off 8.9%, or $992,700. The Belle won $6.1 million: down 3.2%, or $205,800, from July 2011. The local declines were in line with what other casinos saw across the state. Louisiana's state-licensed casinos took in nearly $197.6 million from gamblers in July, a 12% drop in winnings from July 2011 and a 3% dip from the previous month. Across the state, the mix of riverboat, land-based and racetrack casinos brought in $26.7 million less than what was collected in July 2011 and $5.2 million less than June's total. The statewide figures do not include Indian reservation casinos in Louisiana, which are not required to...
Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. has received approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to open its new $368 million Baton Rouge casino on Aug. 29, assuming the riverboat passes a safety inspection. The board agreed unanimously today to allow the opening later this month of the facility, called L'Auberge Baton Rouge, subject to a successful inspection and the gambling board chairman's determination that the project is substantially completed. Jack Godfrey, the company's general counsel, says construction is on track for the grand opening. The development on River Road at Gardere Lane will include a 74,000-square-foot casino with nearly 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games, a 12-story hotel, four restaurants, a bar overlooking the Mississippi River, various entertainment venues and outdoor festival grounds.
The sale of all Louisiana Lottery Corp. tickets soared to almost $430 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, the second-highest sales total since the lottery began operations two decades ago, officials reported Monday. Lottery spokeswoman Kelly Spell tells The Times-Picayune the sales figures mean the lottery has turned over to the state about $156.9 million in the fiscal year. By law, the state must receive 35% of the sales, and the winners' shares total 50%. Retailers receive 5% of the sales, and the lottery can keep no more than 10% of the money generated. Spell says the $156.9 million turned over to the state for elementary and secondary education needs included $5.5 million from the agency's "operational efficiency." The total remitted to the state in the last fiscal year is almost $25 million more than what had been projected, she says. The ticket sales of $429.6 million cover the period from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, the state's fiscal year. In the first...
As part of a quarterly report released this morning, Pinnacle Entertainment announced it's planning to officially open the doors of its $368 million L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Pinnacle says the grand opening will "feature memorable entertainment, dining experiences and an unveiling ceremony capped off with a stunning fireworks display." Details on entertainment specifics were not released, but are expected as the opening date nears. L'Auberge Baton Rouge will feature a single-level gaming floor measuring 74,000 square feet, with nearly 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games and poker room. The hotel is 12 stories, and has 205 guest rooms and a rooftop pool. There are four dining outlets throughout the complex, as well as a casino bar with views of the Mississippi River, a multi-purpose events center and outdoor festival grounds. The covered parking garage encompasses 800 of the 2,400 total parking spots on site. "We are so proud of our...
Here in Louisiana, Nicky Nichols is a video poker mogul known for his colorful family history and closeness to power brokers. But Nichols may be sidelined in Illinois, as The Chicago Tribune reports. The Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday denied video gambling licenses to seven companies tied to Nichols. Last summer the Tribunedetailed Nichols' Louisiana business practices and his move to cash in on Illinois' video poker gold rush. The move by regulators came as they are nearing a rollout of the slotlike machines in bars across the state. A central computer system—long a roadblock to implementing the 2009 law—is ready to go. As for Nichols, board Chairman Aaron Jaffe was tight-lipped about why the licenses were denied. The board has broad authority to reject applicants; negative assessments about whether one is "a person of...
The Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood casinos in Baton Rouge collectively won roughly $1 million more from gamblers in June than they did a year ago, together bringing in $15.9 million—an increase of 6.3% over June 2011 winnings. The rate of increase was double that of Louisiana's state-licensed casinos. Across the state, the mix of riverboat, land-based and racetrack casinos brought in nearly $6 million more than the $197 million they collected in June 2011—good enough for an increase of just 3%. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board released the figures today. Locally, the Belle of Baton Rouge outperformed Hollywood Casino in June. The Belle brought in $5.7 million on the month, which is $803,000 more than June 2011 and a 14% increase. Hollywood Casino raked in $10.1 million, about $200,000 more than last June and a 2% increase. Meanwhile, Pinnacle Entertainment President and CEO Anthony Sanfilippo reportedly told gaming regulators today that the casino the company is...
Baton Rouge's two riverboat casinos collectively won approximately $16.9 million from gamblers in May, a 2.3% increase from May 2011 winnings of $15.8 million. The figures, compiled by the state police, were presented today to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. The Belle of Baton Rouge posted winnings of $6.7 million, a 15.1% increase over its May 2011 take; Hollywood Casino won $10.2 million, which was 1.5% better than its winnings last May. Across Louisiana, the mix of state-licensed riverboat, land-based and racetrack casinos collectively brought in $204 million in May, about $1 million more than they collected in May 2011. Gamblers lost the most on average in May at Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City, Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner and Baton Rouge's Hollywood Casino. The state's only land-based casino, Harrah's in downtown New Orleans, won $28.5 million from gamblers, a 7% slide from a year earlier. Meanwhile, gamblers lost $141.5 million at the state's 12 riverboat casinos last...
Baton Rouge casino winnings fall in April
The three casinos in Baton Rouge collectively saw their winnings in April fall more than 15% compared to March, according to figures released by the Louisiana State Police. L'Auberge Casino & Hotel, Hollywood Casino and the Belle of Baton Rouge took in approximately $24.3 million last month, down from $28.8 million in March. L'Auberge led the three, with $12.3 million, down from $15.1 million the month previous. Hollywood took in about $7 million, down from $8 million in March. And the Belle won roughly $5 million, down from $5.6 million. The winnings of Hollywood and the Belle last month were also down significantly from April a year ago, which is due to the increased competition L'Auberge has brought to the city since opening last September. Hollywood won $10.5 million from gamblers in April 2012, or about 33% more than last month. The Belle won $6.9 million in April last year, which is 27% more than last month. According to the report, L'Auberge had roughly 128,200 admissions in...
Metro Council to take up 24-hour booze service at B.R. casinos
The Metro Council will soon take up the issue of whether or not Baton Rouge's three riverboat casinos should be able to serve alcohol 24 hours a day. An ordinance allowing as much was introduced on Wednesday by Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle, with the council set to discuss the issue further at its next meeting on March 13. Councilwoman Tara Wicker says she's skeptical about the idea. "I really need to see the details on what the justification is for it," she says. "I'm never in favor of allowing alcohol being served 24 hours a day. I just don't see it as a need." Some say the unlimited alcohol service would allow the Baton Rouge casinos to better compete with those in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. By contrast, Wicker contends that the extended alcohol service could exacerbate crime problems, particularly downtown, where two of the city's three casinos are located. Metro Councilman Ryan Heck says he's always in favor of fewer regulations on businesses and will likely support...
B.R. casino winnings drop in January
Baton Rouge's three casinos collectively won $21.7 million from gamblers in January, or about 5.5% less than the $22.9 million they won in December. As it has since opening in September, L'Auberge accounted for the bulk of the winnings—$10.7 million—but like the Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino, it nonetheless saw a decline in winnings from December. L'Auberge's winnings were down 2.5%; the Belle of Baton Rouge's $4.5 million was 6.9% less than December winnings, and Hollywood Casino's $6.5 million represented a decline of 9.1%. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board posts detailed winnings reports for all state-licensed casinos here.
L'Auberge's $11M offsets lower winnings at Belle, Hollywood in December
Baton Rouge's three riverboat casinos collectively won $22.9 million from gamblers in December—a 52% improvement over the same month a year earlier. However, much of that increase can be attributed to the fact that the city has one more casino than it did in December 2011. L'Auberge, which opened in September, won just shy of $11 million in December. The Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino collectively won just over $15 million; but the Belle's $4.9 million was down 6.2% from December 2011, and Hollywood's $7.1 million was off 27.8%. Figures posted by regulators today show that, overall, December was a good month for the state's casinos and 2012 was a good year. Louisiana's state-licensed casinos won roughly $2.4 billion from gamblers in 2012, up from about $2.37 billion in 2011. The figures do not include revenue from Indian reservation casinos, which are not required to report winnings to the public.
L'Auberge parent company buying Ameristar Casinos for $869 million
In a deal that would more than double its size, Pinnacle Entertainment announced today it will buy rival Ameristar Casinos for about $869 million, plus take on $1.9 billion of its debt. Pinnacle owns seven U.S. casinos and a racetrack—including the new L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge—and is developing another gaming property. Ameristar has eight casinos in the United States, the nearest to Louisiana of which is located in Vicksburg, Miss. Pinnacle says buying Ameristar could help it become a bigger player, while trimming some costs. If the deal is approved by shareholders and regulators, Pinnacle will pay $26.50 for each share of Ameristar Casinos Inc. That's about 20% premium over the company's Thursday closing stock price of $22.07. It's also gaining $116 million of the company's cash. Along with its L'Auberge properties in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, Pinnacle has casinos in Missouri and Indiana, and is developing another in Ohio.
Record Powerball jackpot has Americans feeling lucky
The Powerball jackpot has grown to a record $425 million, sending millions of Americans to supermarkets, shops, gas stations and other ticket outlets to buy lottery tickets before Wednesday's drawing. None of the $2 tickets matched the winning numbers in a drawing of the multistate game Saturday night, when the jackpot was an estimated $325 million. The estimated $425 million up for grabs on Wednesday in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands could get bigger if sales boom before the drawing. Louisiana Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says Powerball sales in the state on Saturday alone reached $2.1 million. The previous top Powerball windfall—claimed by eight employees of a Nebraska meatpacking plant—was $365 million in 2006. The biggest U.S. lottery payout was $656 million—shared by holders of three winning tickets in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland—in a March Mega Millions drawing. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot: 1 in 175...
Baton Rouge casino winnings down in October
Gamblers left less on the tables and in machines at Baton Rouge's three casinos in October than they did in September. L'Auberege, the city's newest casino, reported winning $11.2 million on the month, according to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. That's down about $2 million from September, the casino's first month in operation. The Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino also saw collective winnings dip in October compared to the previous month—and they were also down compared to October 2011. The Belle won $4.6 million in October; a scant 0.9% increase from September, but 9.7% less than the $5.1 million the casino won in October last year. Hollywood won $6.9 million in October, which was 5.6% less than the $7.3 million it won in September and more than 25% less than the $9.2 million it won in October 2011. Winnings were down at most state-licensed casinos throughout Louisiana in October compared to September. In total, gamblers lost just shy of $185 million during the...
L'Auberge wins $13.3M in first month
L'Auberge Casino & Hotel raked in more winnings—$13.3 million—in the month of September than Baton Rouge's two other casino boats combined, according to a gaming revenue report by the Louisiana State Police. Hollywood Casino came in second, with $7.3 million; the Belle of Baton Rouge generated $4.6 million. The total revenue of $25.2 million is 70% more than the $14.8 million that Hollywood and the Belle generated in September 2011. The September revenue report is the first to include L'Auberge since the new riverboat opened Sept. 1 at River Road and Gardere Lane. Hurricane Isaac delayed its opening by three days. Compared to a year ago, Hollywood earned $1.7 million less last month, and the Belle earned $1.2 million less. James Rigot, general manager of Hollywood Casino, told Business Report before L'Auberge's opening that the new casino would have to grow the local casino market by 50% if all three casinos were to survive. Last month, L'Auberge had 167,281...
August winnings a mixed bag for B.R. casinos
July was just the second month this year—and the first time since January—in which the Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino saw their winnings dip compared to the same month last year. August wasn't much better, according to the latest figures from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Hollywood saw its winnings fall 4.8% last month, to $9.3 million. The Belle, for its part, posted a 5.1% increase in August, taking in $6 million from gamblers; but that was 1.2% less than the casino's take in July. The $15.3 million the casinos collectively won in August was 1.1% less than the $15.5 million they took in during August 2011. The board's August report does not include Baton Rouge's third and newest casino, L'Auberge, which opened Sept. 1. The local take appears to be in line with what most casinos across the state experienced in August. Louisiana's state-licensed casinos took in $188 million from gamblers in August, winnings that were on par with a year earlier but reflect...
Let it ride
Hurricane isaac delayed L'Auberge Casino & Hotel's opening by three days. But when the party barge on stilts declared all bets were no longer off on Sept. 1, visitors waited for hours to be among the first to step inside.
Seeking sweet influence
To promote its grand opening earlier this month, L'Auberge Casino and Hotel deployed several public relations strategies, including social media, traditional news releases and a dramatic use of tchotchke. The company, working with Wright Feigley Communications, sent a succession of fancy giveaways to media members in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, including teddy bears, plush towels, chocolate sculptures and barware. Each item was meant to plant a different story idea about the $368 million casino complex, says Wright Feigley partner Jeff Wright.
For love of the game
Gambling has deeper historical roots in Louisiana than in any other Southern state, Michael Nelson and John Lyman Mason write in How the South Joined the Gambling Nation. During the last century, with help from New York mobster Frank Costello's organization, illegal gambling flourished. According to Louisiana State Police, Nelson and Mason say, by the mid-1970s gambling was a quarter-billion-dollar industry, the third largest in the state.
Las Vegas analysts expect L'Auberge to grow B.R. gaming market
The industry reviews on the recently opened L'Auberge Baton Rouge are in: Pinnacle Entertainment's $368 million hotel and casino complex is a winner. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Pinnacle, which is based in Las Vegas, recently conducted an analyst day for the property, which opened on Sept. 1. "Based on our conversations with various property managers and tours of several casinos, we believe Pinnacle will indeed cannibalize the existing Baton Rouge casinos by 35% to 40%, grow the market by about a third, and take some share from the destination casinos in New Orleans and Biloxi/Gulfport," Brean Murray Carret & Co. gaming analyst Justin Sebastiano says, adding L'Auberge Baton Rouge would easily rise to top-of-the-market status. JP Morgan gaming analyst Joe Greff, meanwhile, told investors Pinnacle executives believe the new hotel and casino development could achieve the cash flow necessary for a midteens return on invested capital. And Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets...
L'Auberge reportedly eyeing Saturday opening
Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson was quoted earlier today as saying that the $368 million L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge is planning a 2 p.m. opening on Saturday. And while neither the casino's parent company nor the local public relations firm handling its communications was willing to confirm those plans this afternoon, it appears the opening is a go, pending the casino gets the final sign off to open from LSP. Baton Rouge-based Wright Feigley Communications referred all questions about the reported Saturday opening to Pinnacle Entertainment, which is developing the casino at River Road and Gardere Lane. Calls to the Pinnacle public relations staff were not answered, and messages were not returned as of press time. Wright Feigley does confirm casino employees are prepared to open and welcome guests, but would not comment further on when they may do so. Pinnacle had planned for a grand opening on Wednesday, Aug. 29, but Isaac led to its postponement. A message on...
L'Auberge's Wednesday grand opening postponed by Isaac
Pinnacle Entertainment announced this morning that it's postponing the grand opening of the $368 million L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge, which had been planned for Wednesday, given the state's need to prepare for Tropical Storm Isaac. The casino says it cannot take the final step in the formal licensing and approval process, commonly referred to as a mock cruise, because Louisiana State Police personnel who would normally assist in the process have been diverted to the coast to assist with preparations for Isaac. Pinnacle has not set a new date for the grand opening. "We remain at the ready to open L'Auberge when it is clear Tropical Storm Isaac is no longer a threat and pending this one final regulatory approval. We understand the primary focus of Louisiana State Police right now is making sure the citizens of Louisiana are out of harm's way," reads a statement from Pinnacle President and CEO Anthony Sanfilippo.
News alert: L'Auberge grand opening postponed by Isaac
Pinnacle Entertainment has announced that it's postponing the grand opening of the $368 million L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge, which had been planned for Wednesday, due to Tropical Storm Isaac. The casino says it cannot take the final step in the formal licensing and approval process, commonly referred to as a mock cruise, because Louisiana State Police personnel who would normally assist in the process have been diverted to the coast to assist with preparations for Isaac. Pinnacle has not set a new date for the grand opening. "We remain at the ready to open L'Auberge when it is clear Tropical Storm Isaac is no longer a threat and pending this one final regulatory approval. We understand the primary focus of Louisiana State Police right now is making sure the citizens of Louisiana are out of harm's way,” reads a statement from Pinnacle President and CEO Anthony Sanfilippo.
Doubling down
While L'auberge Casino & Hotel will be limited by law to 30,000 square feet of gaming space like the existing riverboats in downtown, it will be at an advantage as a single-floor casino. The Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino have three floors, and experts say their gaming spaces—compared to L'Auberge's—are limited by staircases and balconies.
The view from downriver
Baton Rouge isn't big enough for three casino boats, according to industry watchers anticipating the Aug. 29 opening of L'Auberge Casino & Hotel. They predict the demise of one of Baton Rouge's two downtown boats, unless Pinnacle Entertainment's newest development on River Road at Gardere Lane can attract gamblers here like the city's higher ground did in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
B.R. casino winnings fall 6.9% in July
For the first time since January, Baton Rouge's two casinos saw their individual and collective winnings fall in June compared to the same month in 2011. Collectively, the Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood Casino saw winnings dip 6.9%, to $16.3 million, from $17.5 million in July 2011. Hollywood, which brought in $10.2 million on the month, saw a bigger drop in winnings: off 8.9%, or $992,700. The Belle won $6.1 million: down 3.2%, or $205,800, from July 2011. The local declines were in line with what other casinos saw across the state. Louisiana's state-licensed casinos took in nearly $197.6 million from gamblers in July, a 12% drop in winnings from July 2011 and a 3% dip from the previous month. Across the state, the mix of riverboat, land-based and racetrack casinos brought in $26.7 million less than what was collected in July 2011 and $5.2 million less than June's total. The statewide figures do not include Indian reservation casinos in Louisiana, which are not required to...
Pinnacle given go-ahead for Aug. 29 opening of L'Auberge
Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. has received approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to open its new $368 million Baton Rouge casino on Aug. 29, assuming the riverboat passes a safety inspection. The board agreed unanimously today to allow the opening later this month of the facility, called L'Auberge Baton Rouge, subject to a successful inspection and the gambling board chairman's determination that the project is substantially completed. Jack Godfrey, the company's general counsel, says construction is on track for the grand opening. The development on River Road at Gardere Lane will include a 74,000-square-foot casino with nearly 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games, a 12-story hotel, four restaurants, a bar overlooking the Mississippi River, various entertainment venues and outdoor festival grounds.
Louisiana lottery ticket sales skyrocket to $430M
The sale of all Louisiana Lottery Corp. tickets soared to almost $430 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, the second-highest sales total since the lottery began operations two decades ago, officials reported Monday. Lottery spokeswoman Kelly Spell tells The Times-Picayune the sales figures mean the lottery has turned over to the state about $156.9 million in the fiscal year. By law, the state must receive 35% of the sales, and the winners' shares total 50%. Retailers receive 5% of the sales, and the lottery can keep no more than 10% of the money generated. Spell says the $156.9 million turned over to the state for elementary and secondary education needs included $5.5 million from the agency's "operational efficiency." The total remitted to the state in the last fiscal year is almost $25 million more than what had been projected, she says. The ticket sales of $429.6 million cover the period from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, the state's fiscal year. In the first...
Pinnacle announces B.R. casino will open Aug. 29
As part of a quarterly report released this morning, Pinnacle Entertainment announced it's planning to officially open the doors of its $368 million L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Pinnacle says the grand opening will "feature memorable entertainment, dining experiences and an unveiling ceremony capped off with a stunning fireworks display." Details on entertainment specifics were not released, but are expected as the opening date nears. L'Auberge Baton Rouge will feature a single-level gaming floor measuring 74,000 square feet, with nearly 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games and poker room. The hotel is 12 stories, and has 205 guest rooms and a rooftop pool. There are four dining outlets throughout the complex, as well as a casino bar with views of the Mississippi River, a multi-purpose events center and outdoor festival grounds. The covered parking garage encompasses 800 of the 2,400 total parking spots on site. "We are so proud of our...
Illinois gaming officials show Louisiana video poker mogul the door
Here in Louisiana, Nicky Nichols is a video poker mogul known for his colorful family history and closeness to power brokers. But Nichols may be sidelined in Illinois, as The Chicago Tribune reports. The Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday denied video gambling licenses to seven companies tied to Nichols. Last summer the Tribune detailed Nichols' Louisiana business practices and his move to cash in on Illinois' video poker gold rush. The move by regulators came as they are nearing a rollout of the slotlike machines in bars across the state. A central computer system—long a roadblock to implementing the 2009 law—is ready to go. As for Nichols, board Chairman Aaron Jaffe was tight-lipped about why the licenses were denied. The board has broad authority to reject applicants; negative assessments about whether one is "a person of...
Baton Rouge casino winnings up $1M in June
The Belle of Baton Rouge and Hollywood casinos in Baton Rouge collectively won roughly $1 million more from gamblers in June than they did a year ago, together bringing in $15.9 million—an increase of 6.3% over June 2011 winnings. The rate of increase was double that of Louisiana's state-licensed casinos. Across the state, the mix of riverboat, land-based and racetrack casinos brought in nearly $6 million more than the $197 million they collected in June 2011—good enough for an increase of just 3%. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board released the figures today. Locally, the Belle of Baton Rouge outperformed Hollywood Casino in June. The Belle brought in $5.7 million on the month, which is $803,000 more than June 2011 and a 14% increase. Hollywood Casino raked in $10.1 million, about $200,000 more than last June and a 2% increase. Meanwhile, Pinnacle Entertainment President and CEO Anthony Sanfilippo reportedly told gaming regulators today that the casino the company is...
B.R. casinos' winnings up 2.3% in May
Baton Rouge's two riverboat casinos collectively won approximately $16.9 million from gamblers in May, a 2.3% increase from May 2011 winnings of $15.8 million. The figures, compiled by the state police, were presented today to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. The Belle of Baton Rouge posted winnings of $6.7 million, a 15.1% increase over its May 2011 take; Hollywood Casino won $10.2 million, which was 1.5% better than its winnings last May. Across Louisiana, the mix of state-licensed riverboat, land-based and racetrack casinos collectively brought in $204 million in May, about $1 million more than they collected in May 2011. Gamblers lost the most on average in May at Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City, Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner and Baton Rouge's Hollywood Casino. The state's only land-based casino, Harrah's in downtown New Orleans, won $28.5 million from gamblers, a 7% slide from a year earlier. Meanwhile, gamblers lost $141.5 million at the state's 12 riverboat casinos last...