• Year Louisiana Regulated Gambling: Lottery (1868-1893, 1990-present), Racing (1852-1868, 1971-present), Bingo (1987), Casinos (1991), Truck Stop/Tavern Video Poker (1991)
• Estimated Tax Revenue from Gambling: $670 million
• Estimated Gambling Revenue: $2.9 billion
• Louisiana Gambling Age: 18 for racing and charitable gambling, 21 for lotteries and casinos
• Smoking ban: Louisiana permits smoking in casinos. New Orleans bans smoking at Harrah’s through city ordinance.
• Louisiana Online gambling: Horse racing

1. Louisiana Casinos Locations
2. Casinos Open In Louisiana
3. Casino Laws In Louisiana

Louisiana gambling has the deepest roots of any other state in the South. It was home to the first racing industry in the region. It also hosted the most infamous lottery racket in history.

Moving beyond sports betting, other forms of legal gambling in Louisiana include casinos on tribal land, riverboat casinos, racetrack-casinos, parimutuel horse racing betting and the state lottery. Online gambling options are currently restricted to parimutuel horse racing betting. Responsibilities The Operations Section oversees and regulates licensed casinos and gaming establishments located throughout Louisiana. The Section is responsible for the processing and investigation of applicants for licensure or permitting in the local Casino Gaming, and Video Poker industries.

Modern day Louisiana gambling is still among the most friendly in the South. It hosts a lottery, horse racing, off-track betting, charitable gaming and full-scale Louisiana casinos. About half of the parishes legalized video poker at bars, taverns and truck stops. These types of sin have become a part of the state’s history.

With a total of 21 Louisiana casinos, six of them being Native American casinos, there are plenty of locations to choose from. Depending on your location, you can check the Louisiana casinos map and find the nearest one.

Paying Gambling Taxes in Louisiana

Did you know that your gambling income is taxable? OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying taxes on your gambling winnings straight from a Certified Public Accountant. For more information please visit our exclusive Gambling Taxes article.

November 2018 Update

After the midterm elections, Daily Fantasy Sports will be a reality in the state. Residents decided to approve an initiative to allow the contests. Out of the 64 parishes in the state, 47 were in favor of legalizing daily fantasy sports. Those who voted in approval will be able to offer the option.

Due to the state constitution prohibiting gambling, legislation implementing the initiative will state that participation in a fantasy sports contest will not be considered gambling.

Louisiana Casinos Map & Guide

• Harrah’s
• Golden Nugget
• Boomtown
• Horseshoe Casino
• Paragon Casino

• Number of B&M Casinos: 21
• Number of Poker Rooms: 13
• Number of Indian Casinos: 6

Types of Louisiana Online Gambling Allowed

The only form of legal Louisiana online gambling is off-track betting. Horses are the only types of races permitted.

Daily fantasy sports are illegal in Louisiana. The state forbids games of any chance, as well as all forms of online gambling not specifically legalized by statute. Louisiana takes a hard line against illegal online gambling operators. Most offshore poker, casino, and sports betting sites do not even attempt to take action from Louisianans.

Types of Live Louisiana Gambling

• Slots: Yes
• Blackjack: Yes
• Poker: Yes
• Craps/Roulette: Yes
• Horses: Yes
• Lottery: Yes

There are many forms of live gambling in Louisiana. No other state in the South compares to it.

Horseracing is one of the original forms of gambling in Louisiana. There are several tracks in the state that offer live and simulcast racing. There is a state lottery that sells scratch-off and lotto tickets.

Charities are permitted to sell bingo cards, raffle tickets, and pools that involve games of chance. These must be operated by nonprofit organizations that register with the state.

There are plenty of legal Louisiana casinos that offer all of the popular games. There are three types of casinos in Louisiana. There are riverboat casinos, which comprises all but one commercial Louisiana casino. Harrah’s New Orleans has a special arrangement that allows it to be on land. That is because it guarantees a minimum number of jobs. There are also Native American Louisiana casinos located on reservation land.

The most unusual form of live gambling in Louisiana is video poker. It is not legal everywhere. Local jurisdictions decide whether video poker should be permitted through referendums. As of February 2016, 31 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes legalized video poker in one form or another. Some allow it in taverns while others expand that right to racetracks and/or truck stops.

Louisiana Casinos Locations

Louisiana Gambling Laws

There is unusual minimum gambling ages in Louisiana. Minimum Louisiana gambling age for Bingo and racing players is 18 years to get into action. The state lottery requires players to be at least 21 years old. Louisiana casinos and convenience-style video poker also have a minimum gambling age of 21 years.

Louisiana gambling laws specifically prohibit all forms of internet gambling. Online gamblers face a fine of up to $500 for participating. Louisiana is one of just two states with explicit penalties for players. While gambling online is a misdemeanor, site operators of unlicensed poker, casino, and sports betting sites face felonies if convicted of the crime.

Louisiana casinos are required to be located on bodies of water. There are currently 15 Louisiana casino licenses for commercial operations. Five casinos in Shreveport. Four casinos in Lake Charles. There are three casinos in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Harrah’s New Orleans is the exception to this rule. In exchange for this monopoly, Harrah’s must employ at least 2,400 people. These positions are not required to be full time. Harrah’s was required to pay a $100 million annual tax payment to the state. That was later lowered to $60 million.

Casinos Open In Louisiana

The original agreement with the state did not permit Harrah’s to have a hotel. This was repealed in 2001. Harrah’s was also permitted to open a full-service restaurant at that time. These conditions were originally placed on the casino to prevent it from taking business away from other businesses in downtown New Orleans.

There are 31 parishes that permit video poker. Each local jurisdiction has the right to determine where these devices may be hosted or whether the games are outright illegal. The tax rate is 26% for games located in bars and restaurants. Racetracks get a discounted 22.5% tax rate. Truck stops must pay 32.5% in taxes. Local governments receive 20% of the taxes collected. Other funds go towards local law enforcement, problem gambling, and horsemen. Two-thirds of the taxes collected go to the general fund of the state.

List of Louisiana Casinos

There are four racetracks and 28 Louisiana casinos that currently operate within the state. There are 31 parishes where video poker is available in some capacity. There is also a state lottery and a wide range of charitable organizations that spread games of chance.

You can find all Louisiana casinos below, with details on their location, size, and website. For more detailed information on locating them, you can use our Louisiana casinos map to help guide you to the closest one.

• Louisiana Downs – Bossier City
• Evangeline Downs – Opelousas

• Delta Downs – Vinton
• Fairgrounds Race Course – New Orleans

History of Louisiana Gambling

The first form of organized gambling in Louisiana was a government-run casino in 1753. There were more places to gamble in Louisiana than nearly any other city in the early 1800’s. The federal government had enough of the rampant gambling in the territory and banned casinos in 1812. The law exempted New Orleans. The legality of casinos bounced back and forth until 1866.

The first version of the Louisiana Lotterystarted in 1866. The state outlawed all other forms of gambling at that time. A private company operated the lottery. It paid the state $40,000 a year. This early form of the Louisiana Lottery accepted action across state lines. It held a near-100% market share in the country. Tickets and transactions were handled by mail. This was legal at the time but Congress deemed it unlawful on 1890. The lottery became so despised that the state legislature repealed it in 1893.

Horseracing was legalized in 1929. The first track was at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. It was the only place in the state where gambling was regulated at the time. A state lottery was created in 1991 through a constitutional referendum.

Casinos in Louisiana were legalized the same year as the lottery. Fifteen casino licenses were created where all but one, are required to be located on bodies of water. The other is in downtown New Orleans. Harrah’s New Orleans agreed to several restrictions to bypass the water-based requirement. It must employ 2,400 people. It was not permitted a hotel in its early years. This Louisiana casino had trouble reopening after the destruction of New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina. The casino was not damaged as it is built several feet above the streets and in an area not flooded due to its elevation. It was difficult to find the required number of employees.

Harrah’s New Orleans has another issue affecting its operation these days. The New Orleans City Council banned smoking at Harrah’s in 2015. This did not affect the other casinos in the metro area. Harrah’s saw an immediate drop in business of 20-25%.

Four Native American tribes negotiated gaming pacts with the state under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. There are six Native American casinos in Louisiana located on reservation lands.

Video poker started to appear in truck stops and bars in the 1980’s. The games were a problem and the state decided to legalize them in 1991 to generate tax revenue. This was met with opposition from conservative groups. The state permitted each parish to determine the legality of video poker in 1996. Voters approved video poker in 31 of the 66 parishes.

Louisiana Casinos & Gambling FAQ

Yes, there are currently 21 casinos in Louisiana.

The minimum Louisiana gambling age is 18 years for racing and charitable gambling, and 21 years for lotteries and casinos.

Slots, video poker, live poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Pai Gow Poker and baccarat are among the casino games available in the state.

No. There is one land-based casino in New Orleans and six reservation casinos.

Harrah’s agreed to keep 2,400 employees on the payroll in exchange for dropping the requirement of being on the Mississippi River. It also pays a $60 million per year licensing tax that does not apply to other casinos.

There is no statewide smoking ban in Louisiana. New Orleans passed a city ordinance banning smoking in all indoor areas, including casinos. Harrah’s is the only casino in the city limits.

Casino Laws In Louisiana

Yes. It sells scratch-off and lotto tickets.

Yes. This includes live races, race books, and mobile betting.

State law expressly forbids online gambling. State residents can be fined up to $500, although no player has ever been convicted. Off-track racing is exempted.

Daily fantasy sports sites like DraftKings and FanDuel are illegal in the state.

Louisiana is known for its food, music, and culture. You may think of New Orleans as the center of the state with its annual Mardi Gras celebration and packed cobblestone streets. But other hubs in the ‘Bayou State’ include the capitol Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport, and the city of Lake Charles.

Although gambling is legal to a degree in most of the state some of the casinos you’ll find on this list are in lesser known cities. Some of the best treasures are hidden among the states rice fields and blue highways.

A unique mix of French, Haitian, Spanish, Native American, and African cultures has led to Louisiana being one of the only states without an official language. This variety of culture has led to lasting impacts on the region. Old-world Roman Catholicism gave Louisiana its familiar celebrations of Mardi Gras, All Saint’s Day, and led to the parish system instead of counties.

Louisiana has over 53 casinos in its 64 parishes. This article will highlight 5 of its finest and discuss what makes these destinations unique.

1- L’Auberge du Lac

In the heel of the boot you’ll find the city of Lake Charles. This area of the state is known as ‘Cajun Country’ and his home to two casinos on this list. Both are conveniently located off of US Interstate 10 making the drive from New Orleans and Houston a simple trip.

Opened in May 2005 by Pinnacle Entertainment, the property was later acquired by Gaming and Leisure Properties. In an interesting twist the property was leased back to Pinnacle in 2016 who became Penn National Gaming. Along with L’Auberge, Penn National Gaming operates the Ameristar and Belterra casino lines as well as several racetracks.

The casino resort boasts an incredible 999 rooms. In addition to standard luxury rooms, the casino resort has a line of the themed suites including Royale, Marquis, Palais, Versialles, and Garden. The Big Dog and Cool Cat suite features custom lighting, a pool table, and a 110-inch media wall to go with your custom butler service.

Casino amenities include 6 restaurants hosted by resident chef Lyle Broussard. The resort also houses 3 clothing stores, a jeweler, and a florist. Visit Contraband Bayou Golf Pro Shop before you hit the links on L’Auberge’s 18 hole Tom Fazzio designed golf course.

Because of Louisiana’s riverboat gambling laws L’Auberge du Lac’s casino floor is built on a floating structure. Walking from the lobby into the casino you would never know that you were actually standing over water.

L’Auberge casino contains over 1,600 slots and video poker machines. The 2,100 square foot casino floor has 73 tables featuring your favorite games. Baccarat games include Baccarat, EZ Baccarat, and Mini Baccarat. Other table games include Blackjack, Craps, Fortune Pai Gow, Four Card Poker, High Card Flush, Mississippi Stud, Progressive 3 Card Poker, Roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold’Em, 21+3 (a combination game of Blackjack and 3 Card Poker).

2 – Golden Nugget Lake Charles

Also located in Lake Charles, the Golden Nugget neighbors L’Auberge du Lac. Sharing it’s name with the original location in downtown Las Vegas, the Golden Nugget Lake Charles completed construction in December 2013 and opened in December of 2014.

Like L’Auberge du Lac, the Golden Nugget went through several owners before being acquired by Landry’s, Inc. Eventually Landry’s, Inc. settled on adding the resort to it’s Golden Nugget line; Atlantic City, Laughlin, Las Vegas, and now Lake Charles. Previous names for the project included Mojito Pointe and Ameristar Lake Charles.

The 242 acre waterfront casino has 1038 guest rooms and suites housed in a 22-story tower. Stay in the standard Deluxe rooms or 1,000 square foot Suite options. The 1,500 square foot Presidential comes with a baby grand piano. The 2,000 square foot two-story Loft Suite includes fireplace and private patio with Jacuzzi.

The Golden Nugget contains an incredible 10 restaurants. Get your meat on at Vic & Anthony’s and Salt Grass Steakhouses. You’ll have two seafood options; Chart House and Landry’s Seafood House. There’s a wide selection at the California gold rush themed Claim Jumper restaurant. Other options include Grotto Italian Restaurant, Lillie’s Asian Cuisine, Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar, and the aptly named buffet, ‘The Buffet’. Bars include Blue Martini, Rush Lounge, Ice Bar, and Bar 46. Bill’s Bar and Burger faces Contraband Bayou, complete with a mini-white sand beach and marina to dock your yacht.

Other amenities you won’t want to miss include live entertainment from the nation’s top acts, spas, salon, and a barbershop. The casino resort includes 9 stores with everything from Aqua, for your pool gear to Riveted, for denim. Visit the Pro Shop for golf gear before you tee off at The 18-hole, par 72 golf course on the bayou; designed by California-based architect Todd Eckenrode.

The Golden Nugget’s Select program offers nationwide comps for it’s entire line of casinos. You’ll find over 60 tables and 1,650 machines. The Poker Room includes no-limit and pot-limit versions of Texas Hold ’Em, 7 Card Stud, and Omaha. Blackjack options include 6 deck shoe, double deck and 6:5 single deck games. Other tables you’ll find on the floor include Craps, Roulette, 3 Card Poker, Baccarat, Mississippi Stud, Pai Gow Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em.

3 – Margaritaville Resort Casino

Outside of Bossier City, Louisiana on the Red River is Margaritaville Resort Casino. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Penn National Gaming. It uses its name under license from Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. The hotel has 395 tropical themed rooms housed in an 18-story tower. The casino was built as a barge floating in a pool with 2 feet of water pumped in from the Red River, to comply with Louisiana’s riverboat casino laws.

Visit the Spa and Salon at Margaritaville or catch a touring musical act at the 7,000 square foot Paradise Theater. 5 restaurant options include the World Tour Buffet, Riverview Restaurant & Brew House, Jimmy’s Seafood & Steak, and the Bamboo Asian Cafe. Keeping with the Margaritaville theme there are 2 bars; The Busted Coconut and Its 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar.

Each month over $90 million is paid out. The casino has over 1,200 of the hottest and newest slot machines. The High Limits Area is Blackjack only with 21+3 and In-Bet games. Blackjack options include Single Deck, Double Deck Pitch, and 6-Deck Shoes. Other table options include Three Card Poker, High Card Flush, Cajun Stud, Craps, and Roulette. The Baccarat Room features 4 mini-bac and 2 midi-bac tables.

4 – Coushatta Casino Resort

Coushatta Casino resort in Kinder, Louisiana is owned by the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; one of three federally recognized tribes of the Koasati people. It is the largest private employer in Southwest Louisiana and 2nd largest in the state.

Coushatta offers 4 ways to stay. The Grand Hotel is an “adult-exclusive” property reserved for guests ages 21 and up. The Seven Clans Hotel has comfortable and modern rooms with spa style showers. The Coushatta Inn has more traditional design with 195 spacious rooms. The Red Shoes RV and Chalet Park has fully furnished 1 or 2 bedroom chalets with personal decks containing you’re own picnic table and grill.

The Dream Pool features a lazy river, two slides, swim-up bar for adults, and a splash pad area for kids. Ride the 184 ft. triple-loop slide and the 112 ft. speed slide that intertwine or swim in the 5,000 sq. ft. pool. The Koasati Pines, a dynamic 18-hole golf course has a par 72 championship layout; with six sets of tees and multiple approaches on three holes. Visit The Clubhouse while your on the links for some food and to rent the latest gear. Lucky Paws Dog Park has leash-free fun, agility equipment, and plenty of running room for dogs. There is also a fully supervised Kids Quest facility and Cyber Quest arcade with over 60 arcade machines. Coushatta has a fully-stocked lake for fishing if you’d like to try you’re luck another way.

Coushatta has thousands of slots with high limits and progressive jackpots. Electronic table games include Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, and video poker. Blackjack options include 6-Deck Blackjack, Double-Deck Pitch, 3-Card Blackjack, and 21+3 Blackjack. Other table games include Roulette, 20x Odds Craps Tables, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Dragon Bonus Mini-Baccarat, 3-Card Poker, 4-Card Poker, Mississippi Stud Poker, Flop Poker, and High Card Flush.

Fusion Blackjack/Roulette is a unique game that allows players to play 2 games at once in comfortable stadium seating. Coushatta also offers off-track betting at Saratoga, Del Mar, Gulf Greyhounds, Louisiana Downs, and Evangeline Downs racetracks.

5 – Delta Downs

Located in Vinton, Louisiana; Delta Downs is an American thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack. Owned by Boyd Gaming, this 200 room resort opened in September 1973 making it the oldest casino resort on the list.

Restaurant options include the Rosewater Grill & Tavern for mouth-watering steaks and delectable seafood. The Lookout Restaurant offers a bird’s eye view of the live horse racing action and food from Delta Downs award winning chefs. Enjoy the Triple Crown Buffet for Louisiana favorites and the diner-style Gator Grill for more casual dining. The racetrack resort also hosts national musical acts at their Delta Event Center. The intimate Gator Lounge provides a venue for local and regional acts.

The racetrack itself is a furlon furlong oval. There is a 550-yard Quarter-Horse chute, in addition to 0.62 mile and 1.062 mile thoroughbred chutes. The track surface is a mixture of sand (from the Sabine River and clay, with a limestone base. The Delta Downs grounds features horse pastures which are visible from the entrance. Draft, miniature horses, and thoroughbreds are on display. Resident Quarter Horse Red River Rebel is the leading money-winning quarter horse in Louisiana.

The casino has 1,600 of the most popular slots and video poker machines. The 24 B Connected perk program has locations nationwide to redeem your benefits. Like many casinos, Delta Downs Racetrack and Hotel makes it easy to apply for casino credit for worry-free gambling. One thing to be aware of is Delta Downs does not have table games.

Conclusion

Many of the land-based casinos on this list are in south-west Louisiana, with the exception of Bossier-City. This area of the state is where Louisiana gets its moniker ‘the Sportsman’s Paradise’ because of year-round hunting and fishing.

As with any of the casino resorts in Louisiana make sure you get your fill of the unique Cajun cuisine. If you’re lucky you might meet a local speaking the endangered French Creole dialect. Ask them about any events in the area and do as the locals do.