In August, New Orleans casinos made less money this year compared to the same period last year. Revenue of the three riverboat casinos, the Harrah’s land-based resort, and the Fair Grounds tumbled from $32.2 million last year to $30.5 million this year.
Casinos in Southeast Louisiana began closing late in August as the powerful Hurricane Ida rolled toward the state. The storm sustained a speed of 150 mph when it slammed Louisiana at Port Fourchon, south of New Orleans, on 29th August. It became the fifth strongest hurricane in the history of the US.
On its path, the storm knocked down the powerline, destroyed homes and businesses, and killed dozen people as it plowed along the Gulf Coast, through mid-South and then East Coast states, including New Jersey and New York.
Casinos in South Louisiana closed before the Ida landed and stayed shuttered into early September. Harrah’s casino resort had a better position to win more than last August. The land-based commercial casino revenue jumped from $11.8 million last August to $13.7 million last month.
Though Harrah’s experienced a gain in revenue in August this year, other gaming properties in New Orleans reported a steep tumble. Amelia Belle, for instance, went from $2.4 percent in previous to $1.7 million last month. A 32.1 percent decline.
