Some Louisiana Casinos Post Big Gains, Lead January Revenue

^{Caesars New Orleans Hotel & Casino is currently one of the few land-based casinos in Louisiana. (Photo: AP / Julia Demaree Nikhinson)}

Louisiana’s riverboat and land-based casinos generated $174.8 million in January, a 11.5% year-on-year increase from the $156.8 million generated in January 2025.  

Of the total, riverboat casinos generated $153.7 million, rising 10.9% from $138.6 million, while the state's sole land-based casino generated $21.1 million, up 16% from $18.2 million.  

In other news, Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino has new owners after Boyd Gaming reached an agreement to sell the property, with the deal expected to close later this year.  

Triple-Digit Revenue Rise for Bally’s Baton Rouge  

According to the latest report from the Louisiana State Police, of the state's 16 casinos, six saw year-on-year revenue decline, seven saw revenue rise, one saw revenue remain stable, and one had no statistics to report due to opening in February 2025.  

The most significant revenue increase was recorded by Bally’s Baton Rouge, formerly the Belle of Baton Rouge, which opened its land-based facility in December last year. The casino's revenue increased 768.2% year-on-year, from $518,242 to $4.5 million.  

Additionally, four venues in the state experienced double-digit year-on-year revenue increases, including Amelia Belle casino, up 21.7%; Treasure Chest casino, up 15.2%; L’Auberge Lake Charles, up 11.8% and the state’s only land-based casino, Caesars New Orleans, up 16%. 

The biggest loser in January was Bally’s Shreveport, which saw revenue decline by 23.2% from $8.8 million in 2025 to $6.8 million in 2026. Other double-digit declines were recorded by Boomtown Bossier casino, which fell 20% from $3.3 million to $2.7 million, and Margaritaville casino, which fell 15.3% from just over $14 million to $11.9 million.  

L’Auberge Baton Rouge was the only casino to report revenue remaining stable year-on-year in January, seeing a mild 0.3% decline from $13.3 million to $13.2 million, and Live! Casino had no change to report as it was not in operation in January 2025.  

Boyd Gaming Agrees Sale of Sam’s Town Casino to Bally’s 

While Sam’s Town Casino experienced a revenue decline year-on-year in January, later this year it will be operating under new ownership, following an agreement between its current owner, Boyd Gaming, and Bally’s.  

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year, though no financial terms of the agreement have been disclosed to date.  

Boyd Gaming currently operates five casinos and racinos in the state, including Amelia Belle, Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, and Treasure Chest Casino.  

“The sale of our Sam’s Town Shreveport property is consistent with our continued focus on refining our operating model and our nationwide property portfolio,” said Boyd CEO Keith Smith.  

Sam’s Town casino has operated in Louisiana since 2004 and features a 29,000-square-foot casino with 750 slot machines and 14 table games, a number of restaurants, a live entertainment space, convention and meeting spaces, and a 514-room hotel.