Louisiana Casinos and Gambling Laws
Louisiana gambling consists of commercial and tribal casinos, electronic VLT machines along with a state lottery which operates online as well. The Pelican State is one of the few states that allows the full scope of land-based casino gaming state wide. Louisiana has had a long and not always friendly history either gambling.
The state’s lottery was only launched in 1990 as a desperate measure to create revenue. That was the first form of gambling allowed in the state after Off track betting. Naturally it paved the way for so many of the gambling access we have in the Bayou State.
Soon after the first riverboat casinos would be launched. You can choose from a total of 25 casinos and racino in the state. If you would like to find out more about the best casinos in Louisiana keep reading as we look at what the Sugar State has to offer its gamblers.
If, however you are not in Louisiana or maybe you prefer to gamble online we have a list of the best online casinos accepting US Players listed below.
Play at the Best Online Casinos in USA
Does Louisiana Have Gambling?
Louisiana does indeed have gambling. There are a wide array of gambling options including the following:
- Horse Race Off Track Betting
- Lottery Games
- VLT machines
- Casinos (commercial, tribal and riverboat casinos)
- Charitable gambling (keno, bingo and raffles)
Casinos in Louisiana
Of the 25 gaming locations in Louisiana, only one is a land-based casino the rest are river boat casinos and racino. In addition, these there 1674 electronic VLT gaming machine locations. There are 20 commercial casinos all overseen by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board
The Pelican State is host to 5 tribal Casinos. One of the tribal casinos Coushatta Casino Resort, is in fact the largest casino in Louisiana. It is owned by the Koasati People. The other tribal casinos are
- Cypress Bayou owned by the Chitimacha Tribe.
- Jena Choctaw Pines owned by the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians
- Margaritaville Resort Casino owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians
- Paragon Casino Resort owned by the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe
What Cities in Louisiana have Casinos?
Bossier City and Baton Rouge have the most casinos in Louisiana
| Casino | City | type |
| Amelia Belle | Amelia | Riverboat |
| Belle of Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Riverboat |
| Boomtown Bossier City | Bossier City | Riverboat |
| Boomtown New Orleans | Harvey | Riverboat |
| Coushatta Casino Resort | Kinder | Tribal Casino |
| Cypress Bayou Casino | Charenton | Tribal Casino |
| Delta Downs | Vinton | Racino |
| Diamond Jacks Casino Bossier City | Bossier City | Riverboat |
| Eldorado Shreveport | Shreveport | Riverboat |
| Evangeline Downs | Opelousas | Racino |
| Fair Grounds Race Course | New Orleans | Racino |
| Golden Nugget Lake Charles | Lake Charles | Riverboat |
| Harrah’s Louisiana Downs | Bossier City | Racino |
| Harrah’s New Orleans | New Orleans | Land-based |
| Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Riverboat |
| Horseshoe Bossier City | Bossier City | Riverboat |
| Isle of Capri Casino Lake Charles | Westlake | Riverboat |
| Jena Choctaw Pines Casino | Dry Prong | Tribal Casino |
| L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles | Lake Charles | Riverboat |
| L’Auberge Casino Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Riverboat |
| Margaritaville Resort Casino | Bossier City | Riverboat |
| Paragon Casino Resort | Marksville | Tribal Casino |
| Sam’s Town Shreveport | Shreveport | Riverboat |
| Treasure Chest Casino | Kenner | Riverboat |
Can You Bet on Sports in Louisiana?
You currently cannot bet on sports in Louisiana although that may soon change. Take into account how most gambling in the Bayou State only came into being in the 90’s. Once the lottery was legalized it only took under two year for casinos to start operating. Now considering that Daily Fantasy sports betting was voted in and legalized in 2018, 2020 could be the year that sports betting and online gambling take off.
There has been talk of legalizing sports betting and online gambling operators to operate in the state for a while now. However, in 2020 there has been more than just talk. 11 June 2020 saw the state’s Governor John Bel Edwards sign off on a law that would see each parish vote on sports betting. During the November elections. If the bill is voted in and becomes law, the ball will officially start rolling in 2021 to get sports gambling up and running. The state is even nicknamed the Sportsman Paradise so it would be quite ironic if one cannot bet on sports in the Sportsman Paradise.
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