Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Casino / iGaming
State Lottery
Horse Racing / Racetracks
Louisiana has a long and deeply embedded gambling culture, centered on New Orleans but extending across the state. There are 15 commercial casinos in Louisiana, including Caesars New Orleans downtown, plus numerous riverboat casinos along the Red River and elsewhere. The state has allowed video poker terminals in bars and restaurants since 1992, which makes gambling visible in daily life in a way that is unusual in most states. Sports betting launched in January 2022 for mobile and retail, with all major operators active.
The lottery has operated since 1991. Horse racing at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans has operated since 1872. The racing calendar is active and the track hosts the Louisiana Derby among other stakes races. Charitable gaming in the form of bingo and pull-tabs is also widely permitted.
For residents, Louisiana is one of the most gambling-permissive states in the country. You can walk into most bars and find video poker. A casino is accessible throughout the state. Mobile sports betting works statewide. The one area Louisiana has not moved into is online casino gambling beyond video poker, but the sheer density of in-person options makes that gap less noticeable. The cultural normalization of gambling here is different from most other Southern states.
New Orleans casino culture is iconic. Sports betting legal since 2021. One of the more gambling-friendly cultures in the South.
Finding nearby venues...
Similar States
People Also Ask
How is gambling legal in Louisiana?
Casinos are permitted in certain jurisdictions in the Bayou State. And Louisiana, like Missouri and Illinois, also allows gambling on riverboats. A riverboat refers to anything floating in the water, which results in many riverboats consisting of large structures on anchored barges near the shore.
Do you have to be 18 or 21 to gamble in Louisiana?
You must be 21 years old to enter and/or gamble as at a casino or video poker machine in Louisiana. However, you can bet at the horse race or buy a lottery ticket if you are 18 and older.
What two states can you not gamble in?
National Collegiate Athletic Association). If state-run lotteries are included, then 48 states allow some form of gambling. The exceptions are Hawaii, where gambling was outlawed prior to statehood, and Utah, which bans gambling in its state constitution.
What are the new rules for gambling?
You can take a gambling loss deduction against your gambling winnings. However, as of tax year 2026, taxpayers can only deduct up to 90% of their gambling losses against gambling winnings. Prior to 2026, gamblers could deduct up to 100% of their winnings based on losses.
From r/gambling
- Is Louisiana the new Las Vegas? : r/gambling
- Best casino in Louisiana? : r/gambling
- Shreveport Casinos : r/gambling
- State that doesn't allow online casinos what to do
- Sports Betting VPN : r/gambling
- Check your states lowest legally allowed RTP before ...
- Best casino apps : r/gambling
- Why are people opposed to legalizing gambling in states ...
- How are so many people using Rainbet? : r/gambling
- Newbie to gambling, bringing $600 (what I can afford to lose)
In the News
- Louisiana Sports Betting: LA Sportsbooks, Apps, and Promos - FOX SportsMay 4
- Louisiana Sports Betting 2026 - Best LA Sportsbook Bonuses Up To $5,400+ - Covers.comMay 12
- Louisiana Sports Betting 2026: Best LA Sportsbooks - CBS SportsMay 5
- Louisiana casino revenue growing faster than national average, thanks to expansions - The AdvocateMay 15
- Otter Locks: Two plays for Thursday night - Louisiana SportsMay 14
Full Louisiana profile
Taxes, cost of living, gun laws, nudism, nightlife and more.
Sources: American Gaming Association 2024, Legal Sports Report, NCSL. Gambling laws change frequently — verify current status before wagering.