“For video poker revenue, 75 percent goes to the state and 25 percent goes to the local government from which it is derived. “The Golden Nugget and L’Auberge Lake Charles lease property from the Port of Lake Charles, dedicating money back into the local entity,” Johns said. That includes the lottery, which is constitutionally dedicated to education, and that’s about $160 to $170 million a year. Johns contrasted that with gaming that brings in over $1 billion a year. Oil and gas now brings in less than $600 million a year. When oil went up $1 a barrel, that was another million dollars for the state budget.” When I got into the Legislature in ‘96, that’s what we relied on. “Most of us grew up recognizing oil and gas as the king daddy of state revenue,” Johns said. Johns made that announcement when he gave an overview of gambling’s impact to the West Cal Chamber of Commerce in Sulphur. The gaming industry, which now includes sports betting, brings more money into the state budget than any other private industry, according to Ronnie Johns, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

The Lake Charles market, with only these two casinos at this time, brings in $15 million more with its two licenses than the five licenses in the Shreveport-Bossier Market combined, according to Ronnie Johns. Golden Nugget Lake Charles, left, and L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles, right, were busy with guests at noon Monday.

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