Louisiana Casinos: Legal Retail Gambling & Online Casinos in LA

Latest Updates on Louisiana Casinos

Real-money online casinos are not yet legal in Louisiana. In fact, online casino apps are scarce across the US in general as only seven states have passed legislation approving them. However, there are alternatives in the form of social casinos in Louisiana that can allow you to legally play online casino games for free. 

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Louisiana Online Casino Laws

As things stand, Louisiana state gaming laws do not permit online casinos to operate in the Bayou State. Despite there being more than 40 establishments across Louisiana offering in-person casino entertainment, online versions were not included as part of the legislative expansion that brought sports betting apps in Louisiana.

This is a state where online gambling is specifically prohibited by law. The only exceptions are daily fantasy sports and sports betting, which was legalized in 55 of the state's 64 parishes following a public vote in November 2020.

The success of the online sports betting market in Louisiana since it went live in January 2022 has given rise to hopes that efforts to legalize online casino gambling here might meet with more favor among state legislators. However, it seems unlikely that this particular change in the Louisiana state gaming laws might happen any time soon.

• It is not currently legal to play at real-money online casinos in Louisiana
• It remains to be seen whether any legislation designed to change that will be launched in 2024
• Louisiana is home to more than 40 in-person casino venues
• The success of legalized online sportsbooks like ClutchBet Louisiana may lead to efforts to allow online casino gaming

Can I Gamble Online in Louisiana?

Certain forms of online gambling are allowed in Louisiana. Betting on sports through sportsbooks like BetMGM Louisiana was legalized in 55 of the state's 64 parishes in 2020, and went live in January 2022.

You may also place horse racing bets on horse races in Louisiana and beyond through online websites, while Daily Fantasy Sports are permitted in 47 of the state's parishes.

All other forms of online gambling are outlawed by the state. Indeed, online casino gambling is specifically prohibited by law in Louisiana, and you could face prosecution if you place online wagers with any online casino operator now allowed to offer its services here.

Are Louisiana Online Casinos Legal?

Under the current Louisiana state gaming laws, online casinos are not permitted to operate here. There are hopes that this may change in the near future. 

In-person casinos are hugely popular in the Bayou State, while online sports betting at operators like Caesars Sportsbook LA have been successful since sports betting went live in early 2022.

However, there have been no suggestions so far that there are plans to launch any bills designed to legalize online Louisiana casinos in 2024. It may be some time before a state that is still home to considerable opposition to online gambling is ready to take this significant next step.

Who Would Offer Louisiana Online Casinos?

If Louisiana does decide to legalize online gambling sites, there are a host of operators including bet365 Louisiana that are ready and willing to offer its residents the chance to experience casino games in this way. 

The eight companies currently delivering online sports betting services to the majority of the state's parishes also offer top-quality online casino action to clients in other states.

Operators such as BetMGM and Caesars, which have extensive experience and profile in the casino world, run excellent online casinos. So do brands such as FanDuel and DraftKings, which are at the top of the sports betting tree in many states. BetRivers and bet365 would also be ready to swing into action quickly if they are given the opportunity in the Bayou State.

What Online Casino Games Would Be Available in Louisiana?

It's easy to work out which casino games will be available to play in Louisiana if online platforms such as the casino offered by FanDuel Louisiana are ever permitted to operate here, based on their selections in other states. 

Online Louisiana casinos will be able to offer the full range of casino games including slot machines, table games and live dealer games. 

The full list will likely include:

• Online slots
• Roulette
• Blackjack
• Baccarat
• Video poker
• Live dealer games

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Free To Play Online Casinos in Louisiana

While you may not play your favorite casino games online for real money in Louisiana, it is possible to find websites where you can enjoy the experience of trying out such games. 

These are social casinos such as the Wow Vegas Casino, which offers slots, table games and video poker. Technically, Wow Vegas is a sweepstakes casino for the reasons outlined below.

Social Casinos vs Sweepstakes Casinos

There is a small but crucial distinction between social and sweepstakes casinos. Such operators are allowed to work in states where online gambling sites are not permitted by law, because you cannot stake real money on the games there. You have to use online coins that are not withdrawable and that have no actual financial value.

However, sweepstakes casinos such as the one offered by BetRivers Louisiana exploit a loophole in the law. While you cannot wager real money, you can qualify for sweepstakes coins, which can in turn be used to enter competitions that have real-money prizes to be won.

Can I Play Free Online Casino Games in Louisiana?

It is possible to play online casino games at social and sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana. There are numerous operators offering the chance to play games without wagering your own money. 

Leading operators such as Wow Vegas, McLuck and Pulsz offer generous signup bonuses that give you stacks of online coins to play with. You can use them to enjoy slots, table games, video poker, and many more.

How Old Do I Need to Be to Play at a Free-to-Play Casino in Louisiana?

If you want to enjoy most forms of gambling in Louisiana, you will need to be at least 21 years old. However, most social casinos are able to allow you to wager from your 18th birthday onwards, because you are not staking real money on the games they host.

Can I Win Money at a Social Louisiana Casino?

If you play casino games at social Louisiana casinos, you will not be able to win real money. Even if you hit a jackpot, your prize will be paid out in the coins that can be used only to play games with that operator.

The situation is slightly different if you visit a sweepstakes casino in the state. Although you may not place real-money bets on any of the games, you can earn sweeps coins that allow you entry to competitions where real-money prizes may be on offer.

Are There Casinos in Louisiana?

The most significant year in the recent history of Louisiana's tempestuous relationship with gambling was 1993. That's when the modern version of the state lottery was established. It's also when riverboat casinos were legalized.

In the years since, other commercial casinos have joined the roster of locations where you can play casino games, and there are also four casinos operated by federally recognized tribes.

Details of the most popular riverboat casinos, tribal establishments, and racinos follow. The list begins with the state's only fully land-based casino, and the four tribal locations.

What is the Largest Casino in Louisiana?

The largest casino in Louisiana is Coushatta Casino Resort at over 100,000 square feet in gaming floor space. This Coushatta Tribe-owned casino resort also offers 3 hotels encompassing more than 800 hotel rooms.

Casinos in New Orleans

There are several casinos in New Orleans, the most populous city in Louisiana. The most well-known of these is Harrah's New Orleans, Louisiana's first and only land-based casino so far. Harrah's New Orleans is the premier destination for visitors to downtown New Orleans, being located just half a mile away from Bourbon Street. 

Another popular casino in the New Orleans area is the Boomtown Casino, located just across the Mississippi River. While a little further of a drive, Boomtown New Orleans is one of the popular riverboat casinos in the area, and even has a sister property Boomtown Bossier City located in the northwestern part of the state. 

In addition to the above New Orleans casinos, there are several smaller legal gambling venues labeled as casinos in and around the city:

• Carnival Club Casino
• Cash Magic Westbank
• Crescent City Casino
• Elmwood Fair Grounds OTB Casino
• Gretna Fair Grounds OTB Casino
• Lucky's Casino
• Metairie Fair Grounds OTB Casino
• Oasis Casino
• Palms Casino & Truck Stop

Casinos in Baton Rouge

Louisiana residents have a few legal gambling options in Baton Rouge. 

The Queen Baton Rouge casino is the closest Louisiana casino located to downtown Baton Rouge at less than a mile. This casino had previously been known as Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge prior to its acquisition by CQ Holding in 2021. Following an extensive overhaul of the casino, The Queen Baton Rouge opened in August 2023. 

The Belle of Baton Rouge is also owned by CQ Holding, having been sold to the company in May 2022. The Belle Baton Rouge is another Louisiana casino located close to downtown Baton Rouge, just a mile and a half away. 

The largest casino in Baton Rouge is L'Auberge Baton Rouge. With over 200 hotel rooms, 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games and more, L'Auberge Casino Baton Rouge is a top destination for the capital city of Louisiana. 

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Gambling Games at Casinos in Louisiana

Part of the attraction of visiting a Louisiana casino is the range of ways in which you can find some gambling entertainment. In the list below, we give you more detail of the types of games you can play when you attend in person. It's possible that all the following will be available on line too one day.

Slot Machines

The overwhelming majority of games you will come across at any in-person casino will be slot machines. Some establishments can boast thousands of slot machines, and for many visitors they are the main attraction. The Coushatta Casino Resort has the most in the state, with more than 2,900 slots. Start with small stakes on any machine while you check out how the paylines work.

Blackjack

Every casino worthy of the name will have a choice of tables where you can play blackjack. This is the most popular casino table game, helped by the fact that it's both simple to learn and difficult to master. The biggest choice of blackjack options in the state is at the Harrah's New Orleans, which is home to more than 50 tables.

Roulette

No casino would be complete without several roulette tables. This is another game loved by traditionalists who head to in-person establishments. The presence on the wheel of the zero, and in some cases a double zero, ensures the house always has the edge, but it's always a lot of fun trying to come up with the right number or color.

Craps

Many casinos in Louisiana will offer you the opportunity to roll the dice at a craps table. This is a game with a long history that's also benefited from featuring in numerous casino-based scenes in popular movies. If you have plans to take part in craps for the first time, it's worth watching for a while so that you pick up the nuances of the game.

Poker

The best Louisiana casinos offer you a couple of ways in which you can enjoy this perennially popular card game. You should find video poker options that enable you to play quickly and simply on a slot-style machine. However, there should also be poker tables hosted by a dealer where you can compete with fellow players. The Horseshoe Bossier City is particularly popular with poker fans because it hosts a leg of the World Series of Poker each year.

What Legal Gambling Options in Louisiana Are Available Now?

Under current Louisiana state gaming laws, you can't visit an online casino in the Bayou State. However, there are several other options for those who enjoy a wager.

Sports Betting

Placing bets on sports online has been possible in 55 of Louisiana's 64 parish since January 2022, when the legal market launched here. There are now eight online sportsbooks including ESPN BET Louisiana where you can wager on major professional and college games, as well as sports events around the world.

Horse Racing

Betting on horse racing was the first form of gambling legalized in Louisiana, back in 1940. The Bayou State is home to several tracks including Louisiana Downs, in Shreveport, and Fair Grounds, just outside New Orleans. You can wager on races there and further afield with various specialist online operators, while some sports betting companies such as FanDuel and BetMGM now carry racebooks too. allow you

Lottery

The first state lottery in Louisiana ran for 30 years in the late 1800s before collapsing in acrimony and controversy. It was revived almost 100 years later as the Louisiana Lottery Corporation, which now operates a range of daily draws and multi-state games. You cannot play lottery games online. Your only option is to visit one of the many retail outlets in the state that sell tickets.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Voters in 47 of the state's 64 parishes came out in favor of legalizing Daily Fantasy Sports in Louisiana in 2018. That made it legal to play DFS games in those areas, and leading firms like DraftKings Louisiana and FanDuel launched their offerings some three years later. You should check you are in one of the parishes where DFS are allowed before trying to play.

Bingo

Bingo is massively popular across the nation, but you cannot play it online in Louisiana. The good news is that there are more than 20 bingo halls across the Pelican State where you can play games in person.

Sweepstakes Casino

Social casinos, where you can play slot machines and other popular casino games without having to invest a dollar, have grown rapidly since the first one launched in 2011. Numerous operators offer this form of entertainment in Louisiana, with the attraction heightened by the knowledge that you cannot lose any of your own money while enjoying your play here.

What Will it Take to Get Legal Louisiana Online Casinos?

The only way that Louisiana online gambling will become legal is that a consensus grows among state legislators that this is a safe, desirable, and lucrative step to take for the Bayou State. The historic antipathy towards gambling is shown by the fact that voters in nine parishes held out against the legalization of sports betting.

The presence of dozens of in-person casinos in Louisiana, which attract thousands of visitors from across the state - and indeed from neighboring states such as Texas - suggest there is an appetite for playing slots, poker, and other table games. The successful launch of the online sports betting industry should be mark in favor too.

However, the launch of a legal online casino industry in Louisiana does not appear to be close. We wait with interest to see if anyone among the state's leaders makes a concerted effort to push a bill forward during the 2024 legislative session.

Who Would Regulate Louisiana Online Casinos?

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board administers all forms of gambling in the Bayou State. If and when online Louisiana casinos are legalized, this is the body that will be charge of regulating and monitoring the industry.

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Offshore Gambling vs Legal In-State Louisiana Casinos

You may find some companies offering you the chance to play real-money casino games in Louisiana. These operators are licensed outside the United States and are not authorized by any authorities within Louisiana. Some examples are Bovada, BetUS, and MyBookie.

While these companies may be licensed, the simple fact is that by patronizing them you are breaking the law. Louisiana explicitly forbids online gambling apart from those activities, such as sports betting and DFS, that have been legalized. You are at risk of prosecution if you play, and persist in playing, at offshore online gambling sites. In short, you should avoid them because:

• ❌ They are not licensed in Louisiana or the USA
• ❌ Their customer protection processes may be less stringent than you find at licensed operators
• ❌ In some instances, marketing messages may be misleading
• ❌ The standard of customer service is likely to be lower than at legal firms
• ❌ If you have a dispute, you have no legal recourse and are likely to lose your money

Responsible Gambling in Louisiana

All gambling operators in Louisiana should do everything in their power to ensure you gamble responsibly. They should offer extensive resources to help you stay in control of your wagering at all times.

At every gambling website or app, you should have access to information about measures such as limiting the time and money you spend there, and steps such as self-exclusion. There should also be links to expert agencies who can provide further support, such as:

• The National Problem Gambling Helpline
• The Louisiana Problem Gambling Helpline
• The Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling
• The National Council on Problem Gambling
• Gamblers Anonymous
• The Louisiana Gaming Control Board

What Does the Future Look Like for Online Gambling in Louisiana?

Online sports betting in Louisiana has generated impressive figures since it launched at the start of 2022. The monthly handle for December 2023 was $377 million, which generated revenue of nearly $56 million.

That compared to a handle of $218m for the previous December, a rise that suggests the appetite for wagering through your desktop or mobile device is strong. As the online sports betting market continues to generate tax dollars for the state, momentum may grow behind a drive to add online casino gaming to the list of legal activities. That may happen in 2024, or 2025 - but it will sure happen at some point in the near to medium future.

Author

Martin Booth

@MartinBooth_

Award-winning contributor covering sports betting and casino gaming around the world for decades, Martin Booth is one of the most trusted voices in online gambling. From delivering Louisiana legislative updates to breaking down the top betting apps in LA, Booth blankets LouisianaBets.com.