Louisiana’s gaming sector encountered a notable cooling period in March, with the state’s casinos, mobile sportsbooks, and daily fantasy operators all failing to match their 2025 performance.
According to the latest filings from the Louisiana State Police, the overall industry is facing a slowdown despite individual month-to-month improvements in specific verticals.
Retail Performance: Caesars New Orleans
As the state’s sole land-based casino, Caesars New Orleans generated $29 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR) for March. While this marked a 15% increase from February’s totals, it represents a 3.4% decline compared to March 2025.
This downturn occurred despite a full 31-day operating calendar and a 14% year-to-date increase in admissions. While fiscal-year-to-date revenue remains 10% ahead of last year at $225.8 million, the March dip suggests that consumer spending at physical venues may be plateaing.
Digital Trends: High Handle, Low Returns
The mobile sports betting landscape in the Pelican State presented a paradox of high activity but weak profitability. The total amount wagered, the handle, climbed to $372.5 million, slightly exceeding the previous year. However, net proceeds totaled just $42.7 million, as operators were forced to absorb more than $5.3 million in promotional write-offs.
Louisiana year-to-date figures show mobile gaming in net proceeds are down more than 13%, suggesting that while bettors remain highly active, aggressive marketing costs and softer win rates are eroding operator margins.
Daily Fantasy Sports Struggles
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) mirrored the wider market’s downward trajectory. Operators reported $508,000 in gross revenue, a nearly 14% drop year-over-year.
Net revenue for the segment fell to just $62,000, resulting in a modest tax contribution of under $5,000 to the state treasury. Through the first nine months of the fiscal year, DFS net revenue has declined by 2.6%, further highlighting a challenging environment for digital wagering in Louisiana.
