Louisiana casinos are recording lower and lower winnings as potential gamblers are tightening their belts to deal with the weakening economy and high gasoline prices.
BusinessWeek.com reported that state-licensed casinos in Louisiana reported a 7.2 per cent drop in winnings from March to April, a time usually prosperous for casinos as income tax refund cheques arrive.
Andy Holtman, editor of Casino Journal, commented on the figures: "The economy, gas prices, job losses are why you are seeing diminished results."
Often heavily dependent on drive-in gamblers, the casinos here are particularly susceptible with rising oil prices, something being combated by increased focus on the fly-in market cornered by places like Las Vegas.
In an attempt to attract punters of this sort, casino giant Harrah's has recently constructed its AAA Four Diamond Award-Winning Harrah's Hotel in New Orleans to make the casino more competitive with the 13 riverboat casinos in the city.