(The Center Square) − Louisiana’s gaming industry reported a strong April, with casinos, sports wagering, and video poker reporting year-over-year gains.
Daily fantasy sports, while a smaller portion of the market, also saw modest improvement after several months of volatility.
Daily fantasy sports operators in Louisiana posted a slight rebound in April 2025, bringing in $689,933 in gross contest revenue − up 4.5% compared to April last year, according to new data from the Louisiana State Police Gaming Audit Unit.
The state’s fantasy sports market saw net revenue of $82,457 in April, generating $6,997 in taxes for the month. Fiscal year-to-date, total fantasy sports gross revenue stands at $11.4 million, which is down 11% from the same point last year.
However, net revenue is up nearly 9% year-over-year, suggesting operators are retaining a larger share of contest earnings or adjusting prize payouts.
While April showed a modest year-over-year increase, the month-over-month trend remains volatile. March revenue had dipped 8.6% from February, which itself had dropped 37.5% from January, highlighting a seasonal or engagement-driven fluctuation in participation.
Meanwhile, Louisiana’s riverboat casinos demonstrated a stronger performance. In April, the 14 operating riverboat casinos generated $151.8 million in total admissions revenue and $32.6 million in state taxes.
That marks an improvement from the $138.2 million reported in April 2024. Year-to-date admissions revenue has reached $1.47 billion—an 8.3% increase over the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Among the top performers, L’Auberge Baton Rouge and Lake Charles properties posted particularly strong gains. L’Auberge Lake Charles alone contributed over $25 million in total revenue for April.
Video poker also delivered steady growth. Net device revenue totaled $65 million in April, up 2.7% from the same month last year. That generated $19 million in franchise fees for the state. Year-to-date, the machines have brought in $627.5 million in net revenue and $190 million in fees.
Sports wagering continued its sharp upward trajectory. Louisianans placed $326 million in wagers in April — an increase of 23.9% over April 2024. Net proceeds from those wagers came to $37 million for the month.
At Caesars New Orleans, one of the state’s highest-profile properties, admissions topped 243,000 in April. The casino reported $22.5 million in gross gaming revenue, down from $30 million in March but up from $19.3 million in April 2024. Total fees owed for April amounted to $5.3 million.
