Louisiana
Gambling Laws 2026

Sports betting is legal in Louisiana, one of 36 states where it is, as of May 2026. Commercial casinos are legal, as they are in 24 states, and online casino gambling is illegal. Louisiana has a state lottery, and horse racing is legal.

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

More on Louisiana

Also on Louisiana: the full Louisiana profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the Louisiana sex laws guide and the Louisiana country music guide.