News has identified top casino hotels in Louisiana by taking into account amenities, reputation among professional travel experts, guest reviews and hotel class ratings. Oklahoma The entire state of Oklahoma is filled with land-based casinos from top to bottom, as you can see on my US casino locator map. Oklahoma City doesn’t have that many options in the city itself, but if you head south towards Newcastle Plaza, you will find state-of-the-art Newcastle Gaming Center.
- Lottery (1868-1893, 1990-present), Racing (1852-1868, 1971-present), Bingo (1987), Casinos (1991), Truck Stop/Tavern Video Poker (1991)
- $670 million
- $2.9 billion
- 18 for racing and charitable gambling, 21 for lotteries and casinos
- Louisiana permits smoking in casinos. New Orleans bans smoking at Harrah’s through city ordinance.
- Horse racing
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.
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.
Louisiana Gambling Casinos
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
- 21
- 13
- 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 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.
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.
Casino | Size | Address | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Amelia Belle Casino | 800 Slot Machines | 500 Lake Palourde Rd. | www.ameliabellecasino.com |
Belle of Baton Rouge Casino | 750 Slot Machines | 103 France St. | www.belleofbatonrouge.com |
Boomtown Casino – Bossier City | 1,100 Slot Machines | 300 Riverside Dr. | www.boomtownbossier.com |
Boomtown New Orleans | 1,250 Slot Machines | 4132 Peters Rd. | www.boomtownneworleans.com |
Coushatta Casino – Kinder | 2,800 Slot Machines | 777 Coushatta Dr. | www.coushattacasinoresort.com |
Cypress Bayou Casino – Charenton | 600 Slot Machines | 832 Martin Luther King Rd. | www.cypressbayou.com |
Delta Downs Casino – Vinton | 1,600 Slot Machines | 2717 Delta Downs Dr. | www.deltadowns.com |
Diamond Jacks Casino – Bossier City | 1,000 Slot Machines | 711 Diamondjacks Blvd. | www.diamondjacks.com |
Eldorado Casino – Shreveport | 1,500 Slot Machines | 451 Clyde Fant Pkwy | www.eldoradoshreveport.com |
Evangeline Downs – Opelousas | 1,400 Slot Machines | 2235 Cresswell Lane Extension | www.evangelinedowns.com |
Fair Grounds Race Course and Casino – New Orleans | 600 Slot Machines | 1751 Gentilly Blvd. | www.fairgroundsracecourse.com |
Golden Nugget – Lake Charles | 1,600 Slot Machines | 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. | www.goldennugget.com |
Harrah’s Louisiana Downs – Bossier City | 1,300 Slot Machines | 8000 E. Texas St. | www.caesars.com |
Harrah’s – New Orleans | 1,700 Slot Machines | 228 Poydras St. | www.caesars.com |
Hollywood Casino – Baton Rouge | 1,500 Slot Machines | North, 1717 River Rd. | www.hollywoodbr.com |
Horseshoe Casino – Bossier City | 1,500 Slot Machines | 711 Horseshoe Blvd. | www.caesars.com |
Isle of Capri – Lake Charles | 1,150 Slot Machines | 100 Westlake Ave. | www.isleofcapricasinos.com |
Choctaw Pines Casino – Dry Pong | 700 Slot Machines | 149 149 Chahta Trails | www.jenachoctawpinescasino.com |
L’Auberge Casino – Baton Rouge | 1,500 Slot Machines | 777 L’Auberge Ave. | www.lbatonrouge.com |
L’Auberge Casino – Lake Charles | 1,600 Slot Machines | 777 Ave. L’Auberge | www.llakecharles.com |
Margaritaville Casino – Bossier City | 1,200 Slot Machines | 777 Margaritaville Way | www.margaritavillebossiercity.com |
Paragon Casino – Marksville | 2,000 Slot Machines | 711 Paragon Place | www.paragoncasinoresort.com |
Sam’s Town – Shreveport | 1,000 Slot Machines | 315 Clyde Fant Pkwy | www.samstownshreveport.com |
Treasure Chest Casino – Kenner | 1,000 Slot Machines | 5050 Williams Blvd. | www.treasurechest.com |
Louisiana Racetracks
- 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.
Louisiana Casinos are Legalized
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.
Why is smoking banned at Harrah’s New Orleans and not other Louisiana 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.
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.
Are daily fantasy sports sites legal in Louisiana?
Daily fantasy sports sites like DraftKings and FanDuel are illegal in the state.
Paragon Casino Resort is located on on LA Highway 1 in Marksville, Louisiana, within a short drive of New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Alexandria.
From Baton Rouge
From Baton Rouge take I-10 West to the Lobdell Exit (Exit 151), onto LA Hwy. 415. Follow 415 to merge onto U.S. 190W. Take the New Roads/Marksville Exit onto LA Hwy. 1 to New Roads. Take a left onto Hwy. 3131 (Hospital Road). Follow Hwy. 3131 to LA Hwy.1 North (left). After taking a left onto LA Hwy. 1 North, follow approximately 50 miles to Paragon Casino Resort. Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.
From Lafayette
List All Casinos In Louisiana
From Lafayette take I-49 North for approximately 50 miles. Take Exit 46 for LA 106 toward St. Landry, merge right. Follow LA-106 approx. 1 mile. Turn left onto LA Hwy. 29 and follow it for approx. 6 miles. You will now be in the town of Bunkie, LA. Turn left onto U.S. Hwy. 71/SW Main St. Then take 3rd right at traffic signal onto E. Church St./LA Hwy. 115. Follow Hwy. 115 for approx. 2 miles and take left onto LA Hwy. 115 North. Continue on 115 North for approx. 20 miles to Marksville. Turn right at traffic signal onto LA Hwy.1 South; travel three miles to Paragon Casino Resort. Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Top Casinos In Louisiana
From Shreveport
Casinos In La
From Shreveport take LA I-49 South for approximately 110 miles. Take LSUA exit (Exit 80) to merge onto U.S. Hwy. 71. Take U.S. Hwy. 71 South to LA Hwy. 3170 (LSUA cutoff). Follow LA Hwy. 3170 to LA Hwy. 1. Turn right onto Hwy. 1 and go south for approximately 35 miles to Paragon Casino Resort. Estimated travel time: 3 hours.
From Alexandria Int’l Airport (AEX)
Go toward the Airport exit. Bear right on Arnold Drive. Turn left on England Drive. Bear slight left onto Airbase Road, then continue about 1.3 miles. Bear right onto I-49. Travel South on I-49 for 9.5 miles. Exit onto U.S. Hwy. 71S. Travel 4.5 miles, then left at LA Hwy. 3170. Travel 5.5 miles, then turn right at LA Hwy.1. Travel approximately 20 minutes. Estimated travel time: 45 minutes.