BILOXI -- Memorial Day weekend helped Coast casinos end the month with a bang, pushing gross gambling revenues up almost 13 percent over April.
The 11 Coast casinos earned $108.4 million in May after falling 9.5 percent in April. May 2008 earnings were up over last year and second to the record $113 million earned in 2005, shortly before Hurricane Katrina.
Part of the drop in April was because there were five weekends in April 2007 compared with four this year. Likewise, May revenues were up for 2008, thanks to five weekends compared with four in May 2008. Weekends appeared just as significant in Louisiana, whose casinos saw a 10.4 percent increase in May after a 7.2 percent drop in April.
Despite the slowing economy, casino revenue is holding steady on the Coast with earnings for the first five months just $3.5 million off the record pace of 2005.
"Because of gas prices we're seeing people staying closer to the area," said Bob Davidge, spokesman for Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis. For those who live within a tank of gas of the Coast, "It makes for a nice, affordable getaway without having to drive to Orlando or Tennessee," he said.
"All businesses have to offer more to justify the drive to begin with," he added, and casino customers are benefitting from promotions such as Hollywood Casino's Corvette giveaway, along with reduced buffet prices at several Coast casinos and other incentives.
The Mississippi River casinos winnings were also up from April, but $7 million below last May.
Statewide earnings were $236.8 million in May, just shy of the $239.9 million for the same time last year.
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