Louisiana Casinos and Gambling Laws

Bonnie Evans | November 13, 2020 | Updated on: September 19th, 2024

If you’re about to visit or you live in Louisiana, and you’re looking to do some gambling, then this is the guide for you. We’ve compiled the local laws, gambling types, and list of casinos you need to get started.

So, read our guide to Louisiana gambling below to get the most out of your experience or boost your general knowledge about the Pelican State.

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Louisiana Gambling & Casinos

• Gambling Revenue: $2.9 billion
• Estimated Tax: $670 million
• Legal Gambling Age: 18 for racing, bingo, and charitable; 21 for lotteries, video poker, and casinos
• Smoking Ban: only in Riverboat casinos
• Year Regulated Gambling: Lottery (1868-1893, 1990-), Racing (1852-1868, 1971-), Bingo (1987), Casinos (1991), Truck Stop/Tavern Video Poker (1991)

Lousiana Gambling Laws

In the state of Louisiana, gambling has a long and checkered history, beginning almost as soon as it was conquered by the French. However, gambling is now a deep-seated part of the region, which explains the 21 casinos.

At least 20 of those casinos are located near bodies of water, according to the law. These riverboat casinos are the most common site in many parishes. Only Harrah’s in New Orleans is exempt but has to pay more taxes as a result.

Besides that, the legal gambling age is unusual because you need to be 18 years and older for racing, bingo, and charitable gambling. But you need to be over 21 years old to enter casinos or play convenience-style video poker.

And Louisiana specifically bans all types of online gambling besides off-track betting. If you’re caught gambling online, you face a $500 fine, while the site will face felony charges.

As for taxes, games in bars are paying 26%, racetracks 22.5%, truck stops 32.5%, and at least two-thirds of all tax goes to the state.

Types of Gambling

Players in Louisiana are subject to their parish laws, so you might need to double-check those. For example, in 2018, only 47 of the 64 parishes decided to allow daily fantasy sports betting. So, only people in those areas can use daily fantasy sports betting sites.

Meanwhile, 31 parishes allow video poker machines, but the locations are determined by the parish. Throughout the Bayou State, these are the activities that are legalized:

• Slot Machines
• Blackjack
• Poker Table Games
• Craps/Roulette
• Horse Races
• State Lottery
• Video Poker

List of Casinos & Racetracks

So, here’s a list of the gambling destinations currently operating with a license in the state of Louisiana:

• Brick-and-Mortar Casinos: 21
• Poker Rooms: 13
• Native American Casinos: 6
• Racetracks: 4

Pelican State Casinos

Lousiana Racetracks

• Louisiana Downs in Bossier City
• Evangeline Downs in Opelousas
• Delta Downs in Vinton
• Fairgrounds Race Course in New Orleans