Louisiana 18+ Casinos
Louisiana’s colonial governor opened a government-run casino in 1753, yet no casino in the modern state will let an 18-year-old gamble. Tribal, commercial, riverboat and slot-only casinos, casino cruises and the casino games at racetracks all require players to be 21, and so does buying a lottery ticket.
At 18 the legal options come down to two. You can bet on horse races, at the track or on simulcast races at off-track betting sites, and you can play charitable keno, bingo and raffles. That leaves out the whole range of local Louisiana casino gambling, from Harrah’s and Coushatta Casino Resort to the three riverboat casinos in Lake Charles.
Much of what exists today dates from 1991, when Louisiana created its current lottery, legalized video poker and permitted 15 riverboat casinos, becoming the fourth state to allow riverboat gambling. No Louisiana law forbids residents from using licensed offshore online casinos, which is where anyone under 21 can play slots, blackjack or roulette.
Louisiana's Short List for Players Under 21:
- Legal at 18: horse race betting and charitable keno, bingo and raffles.
- Lottery tickets require you to be 21, the same as the casinos.
- 1992: one land-based casino permitted in New Orleans.
- 1993: three tribes sign compacts to run casinos on their land.
- 1997: slot machines legalized at racetracks.
Can You Gamble At 18 In Louisiana?
Players who turn 18 are seen as young adults in the eyes of the law and are permitted to participate in limited forms of gaming. These types of gaming include pari-mutuel betting on horse races either on track or simulcasted inter-state or international races at off-track betting facilities and participating in charitable gambling in the form of keno, bingo games, and raffles.
Young adults, however, are restricted from accessing advanced levels of gambling, such as purchasing lottery tickets and casino gambling, and are not permitted to gamble at tribal casinos, slot-only casinos, commercial casinos, casino cruises, riverboat casinos, and casino games found at racetracks as players must be 21. This usually causes many young adults to seek out legal 18+ casinos found in other states and online.
Is It Legal To Gamble Online In Louisiana?
Yes. However, it is only considered lawful to participate at licensed offshore 18+ online casinos. This means that casinos must be legally licensed by an authoritative jurisdiction and hosted from a location outside of the United States. Alternatively, a casino that is owned and operated by a parent company that holds licensing credentials can also operate legally within the industry.
Louisiana has no law to date that forbids its residents from participating in legal and internationally-based gaming sites. Even more so, the Federal Government does not forbid such participation either. Rather, players who participate in illegal (meaning unregulated and unlicensed) Louisiana-based or offshore sites are breaking state and federal law.
Most Reputable 18+ Online Casinos For Louisiana Players In 2026
Here we offer a simple guide for Bayou State players, they can easily find legal online sources to participate on below. These international online gaming brands meet all US gaming requirements and are legitimately licensed, as well as, verified for strong security standards by our leading industry experts.
These platforms utilize military-grade technology to certify player safety through intensely strict policies, security measures, and protocols.
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Site Name |
Rating |
Bonus Offer |
USA |
Ages |
PLAY NOW |
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1
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★★★★★★ |
300% Max $2,000 |
✓ |
18+ |
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2
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★★★★★★ |
200% Max $3,000 |
✓ |
18+ |
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3
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★★★★★★ |
150% Max $1,500 |
✓ |
18+ |
What Louisiana Casinos Are 18 and Up?
Louisiana does not allow young adults to enter and gamble within land-based casinos regulated and licensed by the state. However, Louisiana 18-year-olds can use offshore online casinos to gamble with no restriction on the types of games they can play at.
Some of Louisiana’s Casinos and Race Tracks
- Amelia Belle Casino
- Belle of Baton Rouge
- Boomtown Casino & Hotel
- Coushatta Casino Resort
- Cypress Bayou Casino
- Cash Magic Casino
- Lucky’s Casino
- Cottons Corner Bingo
- Bingo Center
- Azalea Hall
- Veteran’s Bingo Parlor
- Bingo Ranch
- Galliano Truck Plaza & Casino
- Whispering Pines Casino
- Rebecca Plantation Casino
- Grand Point Grand Casino
- Longhorn Tuck and Car Plaza
- Quarters Casino & Travel Plaza
- Rainbow Daiquiris Casino
- Choctaw Pines Casino
- Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel & Casino
- DiamondJacks Casino
- Eldorado Resort Casino
- Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino
- Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots
- Golden Nugget
- Harrah’s
- Hollywood Casino
- Isle of Capri Casino
- Jena Choctaw
- L’Auberge Casino & Hotel
- Margaritaville Resort Casino
- Paragon Casino Resort
- Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino
- Treasure Chest Casino
Brief History Of Louisiana’s Gambling Laws
French settlers were responsible for Louisiana’s love affair with gaming. They even built cabarets and billiard halls before building a single church. During the 1700s colonial era of LA, many ordinances were created to curb gambling, including outlawing gaming activities during religious services and limits to games of chance pots. Eventually, Louisiana banned gambling altogether. However, this attempt to curb gaming did not have the effect officials desired. Rather, this ban created more want for gaming and sent players underground to seek out their vices.
Eventually, in 1753, officials tried to reverse their stance and simply control illicit gaming by opening the first government-run casino. This was done by the then-Governor Louis Billouart de Kerrlerec.
After the French and Indian War that lasted between 1754 and 1763, Spain took control of the Louisiana-French territory.
By 1803, the US had control of Louisiana as a territory. The city of New Orleans had more gambling establishments than major towns in the colonies combined.
In 1812, New Orleans was exempt from the federal ban on gaming. This was the same year LA received its state-ship.
By the 1860s, lotteries became prevalent in southern states usually to fund public works projects and war - but were often corrupt. Many states banned lotteries to protect their resident’s money.
In 1866, LA decided to create a state lottery which became popular in the southern region and eventually was shut down in 1895 due to corruption.
In the 1920s, pari-mutuel betting on horse races was only legal at fairground tracks.
In 1991, LA created a new state lottery which was overseen by an authoritative regulatory commission. This same year 15 riverboat casinos were permitted to operate within the state making LA the 4th state to permit riverboat gambling. LA also allowed for video poker machines to operate in the state.
By 1992, one casino was permitted on dry land in New Orleans.
In 1993, three tribes negotiated and signed gaming compacts with the state to open and operate their own casinos on their land.
In 1997, slot machines were legalized and able to be placed on racetracks.
In 2013, a committee was formed to look into the viability of legalizing online gaming.
In 2017, video poker machines were permitted to accept $100 bills and transferable vouchers worth an unlimited amount of money.
18+ Online Casinos For LA Residents
Louisiana players who are at least eighteen are welcome to enjoy the wide array of available gaming types and titles to be found on the list of legal online casino brands we provide. Young players from the Bayou State, in particular, may access various games, each with their own variations, such as video poker, blackjack, dice games, table games, roulette, bingo, keno, slots, and more. Usually, these casino games are restricted to players in the Bayou State who are 21 and over, as LA casinos do not permit young gamblers to participate in their games.