Louisiana Sportsbooks Handle $382.8M in January as Promotions Surge

The start of 2025 brought varied results for Louisiana’s sports betting market. According to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, sportsbooks processed $382.8 million in wagers in January. This figure reflects a slight decline from December’s $390.7 million, marking the second consecutive month of decreased betting activity. However, with the NFL playoffs in full swing, sportsbooks still saw strong engagement compared to the summer months.

Increased Promotions Benefit Bettors

Bettors saw an increase in promotional offerings as sportsbooks aimed to attract more wagering activity. January was one of the more generous months for Louisiana operators, along with September and November. Sportsbooks provided nearly $13 million in promotional deductions—more than the total of the past eight months combined. This level of promotional spending wasn’t unexpected, considering that January 2024 saw nearly $14 million in similar incentives.

Despite the giveaways, sportsbooks remained profitable. After payouts, operators reported $40.8 million in net receipts, reflecting a hold percentage of 10.8%. Louisiana’s mobile sportsbooks have frequently maintained double-digit hold rates, with January marking the 13th time in 14 months they reached that threshold.

While sportsbooks generated substantial revenue, the state’s tax collections took a hit due to promotional deductions. Although the January hold was 1% higher than in December, tax contributions totaled just $5.9 million, the lowest amount in five months.

Retail Sportsbooks Show Mixed Results

Retail sportsbooks experienced a challenging start to 2025. Their total betting handle declined 2.1% year-over-year, an improvement over the 11.5% decline recorded in December. Revenue also fell, dropping 20.6% compared to January 2024, but this was still a better outcome than November’s 110% year-over-year revenue decrease.

Online sportsbooks, in contrast, showed growth. Their betting handle increased by 11.7% year-over-year, with revenue climbing 7.5%. However, retail locations saw a positive shift in January as well, reporting $2.5 million in net revenue after posting a loss the previous month.

Louisiana’s mobile sportsbooks continued to dominate the market, securing profits across all major betting categories. Once again, parlay bets proved to be the most significant contributor to operator revenue.

Gaming Revenue Climbs Statewide

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board also reported that total gaming revenue across all sectors reached $180.2 million in January, reflecting a 10.5% increase year-over-year. Growth was recorded in each of the state’s five gaming districts.

Online sports betting contributed significantly, with revenue reaching $51.1 million from a $355 million handle—marking a 9% revenue increase and a 12% handle boost year-over-year.

Casinos in the Lake Charles area led the state in gaming revenue, generating $66.8 million, an 11.4% increase from the previous year. Golden Nugget Lake Charles reported $24.3 million in revenue, up 6.4%. L’Auberge Casino Resort earned $23.2 million, a 13.4% year-over-year increase, while Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel reported $11.6 million, marking a 4.2% rise.

New Orleans casinos also posted growth, collectively generating $44.7 million, an 11.3% increase from January 2024’s $40.2 million. Caesars New Orleans, however, saw a slight decline, bringing in $18.2 million, down 2.7%. Meanwhile, Treasure Chest Casino experienced significant growth, earning $11.9 million—an 86.4% increase. Boomtown Casino & Hotel recorded $9.1 million, a 4% decline.

Shreveport-Bossier City properties reported a combined revenue of $41.6 million, marking an 11.8% increase from January 2024. Margaritaville Resort Casino led the market with $14 million in revenue, up 9.2% year-over-year. Horseshoe Bossier City followed with $9.9 million, reflecting a 9.1% increase, while Bally’s Shreveport Casino & Hotel posted an impressive 34% rise, earning $8.8 million.

The Baton Rouge district recorded $21.5 million in revenue, growing 5.8% year-over-year. L’Auberge Casino Hotel remained the top performer with $13.3 million, despite a 2.1% decline from January 2024. The Queen of Baton Rouge saw strong gains, generating $7.7 million, up 25.8%. The Belle of Baton Rouge, however, saw a 19% drop, reporting just $0.5 million in revenue.

Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino in St. Landry Parish reported $5.7 million in revenue, reflecting a 3.6% year-over-year increase.

Source:

‘’Louisiana gaming revenue rises 10.5% year-over-year in January’’, cdcgaming.com, February 24, 2025.