Louisiana Gambling
Louisiana permits numerous in person and online gambling activities:
- State lottery (retailers)
- Sports Betting: online sportsbooks and in-person sports betting
- Horse racing (live, off-track, and online betting)
- Casinos (land, water, and reservation-based)
- Video poker (taverns and truck stops, most parishes)
- Daily fantasy sports
- Bingo and raffles (charities)
Louisiana gambling laws allow parishes to opt out of gaming through local referendums. This includes sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and video poker. Typically, about three-quarters of parishes approve gaming expansion.
Legal Louisiana Gambling Sites
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER. 21+ and present in LA (permitted parishes only). If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-877-770-STOP.
Louisiana Online Gambling
Louisiana online gambling options include sports betting, pari-mutuel horse racing wagering, and daily fantasy sports contests.
Online Gambling Laws in Louisiana
Mobile horse racing is legal through approval by state regulators as it pertains to the Horseracing Act of 1978. Daily fantasy sports contests were approved by voters in 2018 in 47 of 64 parishes. In 2020, legal sports betting enjoyed the same success in 55 of 64 parishes. Neither form of online gambling is live in Louisiana yet. Both require regulations to be written. All online gambling players must be at least 21 years old in Louisiana.
Any form of online gambling that is not explicitly legal and licensed is illegal in Louisiana. It is one of the few states that makes it a crime for residents to play on unlicensed offshore poker, casino, and sports betting sites. The fine is up to $500, per state law 14:90.3.
Louisiana Casinos
There are three types of casinos in Louisiana. A majority are based on water along the Gulf of Mexico or on rivers or lakes. There are also reservation casinos and a land-based commercial one in downtown New Orleans.
There are no bet or game limits at Louisiana casinos. Craps, roulette, blackjack, poker, slots and video poker are all available.
Casino Laws in Louisiana
Casino gambling was created by a 1996 state constitutional amendment. Amendment One allowed for a local referendum at the parish level. It passed by nearly a three-to-one level. It permitted casinos on water.
Louisiana casinos pay a 26% tax rate. Of that, 4.5% goes to the local jurisdiction. Harrah’s in New Orleans has a separate set of rules, including employment requirements, as an exception to it being on land. Tribal casinos were created through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Casino players must be at least 21 years old.
Louisiana Sports Betting
Online sports betting is legal in Louisiana. The first Louisiana sports betting apps launched on Friday, January 28, 2022.
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) approved emergency rules in August 2021 as part of efforts to bring legal sports betting to the state sooner than residents anticipated. The board agreed to publish more permanent rules surrounding sports betting in Louisiana in January 2022. Consequently, online wagering is now available.
Louisiana Sports Betting Timeline
June 2019: The first try at a gambling law, including sports betting, fails. After creating a bill for daily fantasy sports contests, legislators tried to sneak sports betting on there, which failed.
March 2020: New sports betting bill is put forward to the House.
May 2020: House votes to approve the sports betting bill, and the Senate passes it two weeks later. This allows there to be a ballot put forward asking each parish if they would like to legalize sports betting.
November 2020: 55 out of 64 parishes move to approve sports wagering, meaning it can launch in those locations. The vote also means the Louisiana Gaming Control Board will oversee sports betting.
June 2021: The legislation to tax sports wagering gains approval. This legislation allows for up to 41 online sportsbooks go live in the state. Gov. John Bel Edwards signs the three enacting bills.
August 2021:The Louisiana Gaming Control Board passes emergency rules which allow for the start of the licensing process.
September 2021: Sports betting delayed because of Hurricane Ida, meaning a temporary postponement of its legalization.
January 2022: Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chair Ronnie Johns confirms six operators can launch a sportsbook app on January 28. The sportsbooks that have stated they will go live on launch day are: BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetRivers.
Sports Betting Laws in Louisiana
Louisiana voters approved sports betting in most parishes in 2020. Until the regulations are written, and operators licensed, it is illegal to bet on sports in the state. A fine of up to $500 can be set for online sports bettors that place wagers on unlicensed sites. When sports betting becomes legal, the minimum age will be 21.
Louisiana Poker
Louisiana casinos may offer live poker. There are no bet or game limits. Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven card Stud and mixed games may be dealt. Cash games and tournaments are legal at Louisiana poker rooms.
Poker Laws in Louisiana
Poker was legalized in Louisiana through the casino regulations. Poker is only legal in casinos. Players must be at least 21 years old. The tax rate on rake is 26%, of which 4.5% stays in the local jurisdiction.
Louisiana Daily Fantasy Sports
Louisiana fantasy sports contests are up in the air right now. Voters approved the legalization of the games in 2018. However, no regulations have been written yet so there are no licensed sites. Currently, online fantasy sports contests for money are illegal in the state. Social ones are permitted.
Fantasy Sports Laws in Louisiana
There was a parish referendum on fantasy sports contests in November 2018. It passed in 47 of 64 parishes. The state legislature must create regulations for these contests. That has not yet happened. Until it does, commercial fantasy sports contests remain illegal.
Louisiana Lottery
The Louisiana State Lottery offers typical instant games and lotto drawings. There are dozens of scratch-off tickets ranging from $1 to $10. There are interstate and intrastate lotto drawings. Lottery tickets must be purchased at retailers like convenience stores and taverns. There are no online Louisiana Lottery ticket sales.
Intrastate Lotto Drawings
- Lotto
- Pick 3
- Pick 4
- Easy 5
Interstate Lotto Drawings
- Mega Millions
- Powerball
Louisiana Lottery Laws
The Louisiana Lottery was created through an October 1990 constitutional referendum. It prevailed by a 69 to 31 margin. In October 2003, voters passed a requirement that earmarked lottery revenues towards education. Louisiana Lottery players must be at least 21 years old. This was raised from 18 in 1998.
Louisiana Horse Racing Betting
Louisiana permits horse racing. It is legal to bet on live races, in simulcast off-track betting parlors and on mobile devices. TVG and TwinSpires accept horse bettors in Louisiana.
Louisiana Horse Racing Laws
Louisiana horse racing dates through its entire existence as a state. It became formally regulated in the 1920’s. It expanded to simulcast betting after the federal Interstate Horseracing Act became law in 1978. This later permitted mobile betting. Horse bettors must be at least 21 years old.
Louisiana Esports Betting
Betting on eSports is illegal in Louisiana if it is done commercially, including at offshore sites. It is legal in a social environment.
Louisiana Skill Games
Louisiana does not permit online skill games. This means that Worldwinner and other skill game sites and mobile apps with cash entries refuse players from the state.
Skill-based gaming machines may be operated for money in casinos, taverns and truck stops in parishes that have approved the activity. Machines in casinos may return up to 99.9%. Video gaming operators away from casinos may only return up to 94%. The minimum for each is 80%.
Louisiana Charity Gambling Law
Louisiana charities may operate bingo games and raffles. Bingo may be automated. An organization must be educational, charitable, patriotic or religious to host these games. Video bingo players must be at least 18 years old. Paper bingo and raffle players may be any age.
Louisiana Gambling Regulators
- Louisiana Lottery
- Office of Charitable Gaming
- Louisiana Racing Commission
- Louisiana Gaming Control Board