Louisiana’s casino revenues dropped in July as the amount statewide casinos took fell 12 percent compared with the previous year. State-licensed casinos took a total of $197.6 million from customers across the mix of riverboats, racinos and land-based venues that are in the state. The only land-based casino, Harrah’s New Orleans, had a win that totalled $23.9 million – down 13 percent compared with the previous year. The figures don’t include Indian reservation casinos.
North Carolina’s Cherokee casino has started to offer live table games two months after it obtained the relevant licence. The 15-year-old Jackson County Casino dealt blackjack at 12 tables on Wednesday to VIPs and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Chief Michel Hicks is hopeful the expansion will bring more visitors to the Harrah’s managed casino. To cope with the extra demand Harrah’s has hired 500 new dealers and they can earn around $60k in wages and tips per year.