Best Louisiana Online Casinos in 2026

Top Online Casino Sites in Louisiana for Real Money February, 2026 

Are Online Casinos Legal in Louisiana?

Online casinos are not currently legal or regulated in Louisiana. While the state permits land-based casino gambling and has authorized online sports betting through licensed operators, Louisiana law does not provide a framework for real money online casino games such as slots, table games, or live dealer casinos. 

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board oversees casino and sports wagering activity within the state, but its authority does not extend to licensing online casino platforms. As a result, there are no Louisiana-approved online casino apps or websites operating under state law, and any future legalization would require new legislation passed by the state legislature.

The Path to Casino Legislation

Louisiana’s modern casino landscape was built through deliberate legislative design rather than sweeping voter initiatives. The first major milestone came in July 1991 with the enactment of the Louisiana Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Control Act, which authorized up to 15 riverboat casino licenses statewide and established a regulatory framework for riverboat gaming under state law. That act also helped position Louisiana as one of the earliest states to embrace casino-style gaming outside Nevada and Atlantic City.

Throughout the early 1990s, riverboat casinos began operating in key markets including Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans, and Shreveport, collectively fostering gaming-related jobs and tax revenue while shaping local tourism economies. The regulatory authority over these operations was further centralized with subsequent codifications under Title 27 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, which formalized the role of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board in licensing and enforcement.

A significant structural change occurred in May 2018, when the legislature passed Senate Bill 316, signed by the governor, permitting licensed riverboat casinos to relocate up to 1,200 feet onshore. This legislation responded to market demands for more land-based amenities and effectively blurred the line between traditional riverboat gaming and conventional casinos without increasing the total number of licenses.

Louisiana’s move into regulated online gambling arrived through a different path. In November 2020, voters across the state approved parish-by-parish sports betting referendums, creating a patchwork model where wagering is legal only in parishes that opted in. The legislature then adopted implementing statutes to regulate retail and mobile wagering through the Louisiana Sports Wagering Act, with the first mobile platforms going live in January 2022.

Despite this expansion, lawmakers stopped short of authorizing real-money online casino games. That boundary was reinforced in July 2025, when the Louisiana Attorney General issued a formal legal opinion classifying online sweepstakes-style casinos as illegal gambling under state law. This opinion clarified enforcement authority and signaled that, absent new legislation, licensed online casinos remain outside Louisiana’s statutory framework.

What’s Next For Louisiana 

As of early 2026, Louisiana shows no immediate signs of moving toward regulated online casino gaming or online poker. Legislative attention remains focused on maintaining the existing riverboat and land-based casino framework and overseeing the state’s mobile sports betting market. Recent developments, including the Attorney General’s 2025 opinion classifying sweepstakes-style casinos as illegal gambling, suggest a priority on enforcement rather than expansion. 

While online casino legislation is occasionally discussed in policy circles, no active bill has advanced toward passage. Any future shift would likely require a clear legislative proposal, renewed political support, and alignment with Louisiana’s historically cautious approach to gambling expansion.

Offshore Options and The Key Advantages 

Because Louisiana does not license real-money online casinos, players who want to gamble online typically use offshore platforms regulated by bodies such as the Curaçao Gaming Control Board and the Anjouan Gaming Commission. While these regulators operate outside the US, they provide a structured framework for licensing, auditing, and dispute handling that Louisiana players rely on in the absence of local iGaming options.

Key advantages for Louisiana players include:

• No parish-based restrictions: Unlike sports betting in Louisiana, offshore casinos are not limited by parish opt-ins. Players can access casino games online regardless of location within the state, without encountering boundary or eligibility issues.
• Broader game selection than riverboat casinos: Louisiana’s casino scene is still rooted in riverboat licensing, which limits floor space and game variety. Offshore casinos offer thousands of slots, multiple blackjack and roulette variants, and live dealer tables that exceed what most local venues can support.
• Access to online poker: Louisiana allows live poker rooms but does not regulate online poker. Offshore platforms remain the only way for Louisiana players to access cash games and tournaments online.
• Faster withdrawal options through crypto: Many Louisiana players use cryptocurrency to avoid delays associated with cross-border banking. Crypto withdrawals are often processed within 24–48 hours, compared to longer timelines for traditional methods.
• Promotions that reward ongoing play: Offshore casinos often emphasize weekly rebates and reload bonuses rather than one-time sign-up offers. This suits Louisiana players who play regularly rather than chasing short-term promotions.
• Consistent access while traveling: Because offshore platforms are not tied to state geolocation systems, accounts remain accessible when traveling between parishes or across state lines, avoiding interruptions common with regulated betting apps.

An Overview of Legal Casino Options

Louisiana offers a wide range of legal gambling options, but not all casino formats are treated equally under state law. The table below outlines which types of casino gambling are currently permitted for Louisiana players and where clear legal restrictions apply.

Casino Options	Is it Legal in the State?
Commercial Casinos	✅
Tribal Casinos	❌
Licensed Online Casinos	❌
Offshore Casinos	✅
Sweepstakes Casinos	❌
Social Casinos	✅
Online Poker	✅ (Offshore only)
Eight-Liners	✅(No cash winnings allowed, for entertainment only)
Bingo	✅
Lottery	✅

About Louisiana’s Riverboat Casinos 

Riverboat casinos form the backbone of Louisiana’s commercial gambling industry. The state legalized riverboat gaming in the early 1990s, allowing casinos to operate on navigable waterways as a way to limit expansion while still generating tax revenue and tourism. For many years, these casinos were required to operate on water, which shaped how gaming developed across the state.

In 2018, Louisiana modernized this framework by allowing licensed riverboat casinos to relocate up to 1,200 feet inland. This change enabled operators to build permanent, land-based facilities while retaining their original riverboat licenses. Today, many “riverboat” casinos in Louisiana function much like traditional casinos, offering slots, table games, poker rooms, and on-site entertainment. Despite this evolution, riverboat licensing remains central to how casino gambling is regulated in the state, and it does not extend to real-money online casino gaming

Casino	Location	Key Notes
L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles	Lake Charles	Large-scale resort casino serving Southwest Louisiana and East Texas
Horseshoe Bossier City	Bossier City	High-traffic riverboat casino in the Shreveport–Bossier market
Bally’s Shreveport	Shreveport	Long-running riverboat casino with a central downtown location

L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles

L’Auberge Lake Charles is one of the largest and most visited casino properties in Louisiana. Operating under a riverboat license, the resort functions as a full-scale destination casino with extensive slot floors, table games, poker, and resort amenities. Its location near the Texas border makes it a major draw for out-of-state visitors, contributing significantly to Louisiana’s gaming revenue.

Horseshoe Bossier City

Horseshoe Bossier City is a prominent riverboat casino serving the Shreveport–Bossier City gaming market. The property offers a wide range of slot machines, table games, and a dedicated poker room, and it benefits from steady regional traffic. Like many Louisiana riverboat casinos, it now operates primarily from a permanent structure following changes to state law.

Bally’s Shreveport

Bally’s Shreveport is one of Louisiana’s longest-operating riverboat casinos, originally opening as Hollywood Casino Shreveport in 2000. Located along the Red River, it remains a key part of the downtown Shreveport casino cluster. The casino offers slots, table games, and hotel accommodations, operating under the state’s riverboat licensing framework.

Does Louisiana Have Tribal Casinos?

Yes. Louisiana has a small number of tribal casinos operating under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). These casinos are run by federally recognized tribes through negotiated compacts with the state and are regulated separately from Louisiana’s commercial riverboat casinos. 

Tribal gaming plays a more limited role in Louisiana than in some neighboring states, but it remains a distinct part of the state’s gambling landscape. Like commercial casinos, tribal operators are not authorized to offer real-money online casino games to players within Louisiana.

Casino	Location	Key Highlights
Coushatta Casino Resort	Kinder	Largest land-based tribal casino in the state with slots, table games, and poker
Paragon Casino Resort	Marksville	Full-service tribal casino offering slots, table games, and hotel amenities

Is Online Poker Legal? 

Online poker is not legal or regulated in Louisiana, despite poker being widely available at riverboat and tribal casinos across the state. Louisiana’s gambling laws authorize in-person poker rooms but stop short of permitting internet-based poker platforms. Unlike sports betting, which was approved through parish referendums and later implemented statewide online, poker has never been included in Louisiana’s digital wagering framework. 

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board does not license or oversee online poker sites, meaning there are no state-approved platforms available to residents. Any future legalization would require new legislation specifically addressing online poker and player liquidity.

What About Sweepstakes? 

Sweepstakes casinos have drawn attention in Louisiana because they attempt to replicate casino-style gaming without directly accepting wagers. These platforms use a dual-currency system, where players receive promotional credits that can sometimes be redeemed for prizes. However, Louisiana has taken a firm stance on this model. 

In 2025, the Louisiana Attorney General issued a formal legal opinion classifying sweepstakes-style casino platforms as illegal gambling under state law, clarifying that the structure does not bypass Louisiana’s gambling statutes.

As a result, sweepstakes casinos are not licensed, regulated, or endorsed in Louisiana, and enforcement actions have focused on restricting their operation within the state.

Popular Casino Games in the Pelican State 

Louisiana’s brick-and-mortar and riverboat casinos provide reliable insight into what casino games resonate with local players. According to state revenue reports, games with the deepest engagement are clearly reflected in gross gaming revenue patterns, with slots and related electronic games forming the largest share of total proceeds. 

Table games and poker contribute meaningfully, especially in key markets, but they do not match the volume of slot play captured through revenue data.

Responsible Gambling

Responsible gambling is especially important in Louisiana, where casino gaming is widely available through riverboat casinos and online sports betting. Players should approach gambling as a form of entertainment, not a way to generate income, and set clear limits on spending and time before they begin playing. 

Taking regular breaks, avoiding chasing losses, and knowing when to stop are essential habits. Louisiana players also have access to confidential support through organizations like: 

• Louisiana Problem Gambling Resources 
• Voluntary Exclusions – Louisiana Gaming Control Board 
• Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling  

A Louisiana Online Casino Summary 

Louisiana’s gambling landscape reflects a mix of long-standing riverboat casino traditions and a more recent embrace of online sports betting. While players can legally gamble at physical casinos and place wagers through licensed sportsbooks, the state has not extended its framework to real money online casino games or online poker. 

For now, Louisiana players who want to play slots, table games, or live dealer games online typically use offshore platforms licensed outside the US. These sites fill a practical gap rather than replacing local casinos. Until lawmakers take further action, Louisiana remains a land-based–first market with limited online casino options.