Louisiana gambling laws

Louisiana gambling laws in one view

Louisiana has one of the widest ranges of legal gambling in the South, but nearly all of it happens in person or through state-licensed apps for sports and fantasy. Online slots and table games for real money have no state license, and the state's main criminal law on internet gambling covers them.

The table below sums up each form, the age and the authority behind it. Later sections cover the statutes, penalties and recent bills in more detail, and the Louisiana online casinos hub puts the law next to the options players actually see.

The casino age of 21 comes from the AGA's 2026 survey (third-party). The sports betting and fantasy ages come from the LGCB's own annual report. Lottery rules aren't covered here; check the state lottery's own terms.

Who enforces Louisiana gambling laws: the Gaming Control Board

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (opens in a new tab) licenses and oversees the riverboats, the New Orleans land-based casino, racino slot floors, sports wagering and fantasy contests. Its 30th annual report to the Legislature (opens in a new tab) sets out its work for the year, including enforcement against unlicensed operators.

The same report notes $500,000 a year routed to the state's Compulsive and Problem Gaming Fund. It doesn't name a state helpline number, so the national line is listed in the help section below. For how the LGCB compares with other boards, see our page on state gambling regulators.

La. R.S. 14:90.3: Louisiana's gambling by computer law

The key Louisiana statute for anyone online is R.S. 14:90.3, titled gambling by computer. The LGCB cites it as the law behind its action against offshore wagering. It's the provision that makes casino-style play over the internet a criminal matter in the state, outside the licensed sports and fantasy apps.

In 2026 the Legislature amended R.S. 14:90.3 through Act 182 and added R.S. 27:19.1 and 27:19.2 to the gaming title. The bill digest says the changes define dual-currency casino-style games as illegal gambling by computer and raise the maximum penalty.

The statute and the regulator speak for themselves. This page doesn't tell any reader that they personally will or won't be charged; it records what the law and the board say. For the federal layer, read our explainers on the Wire Act and the Illegal Gambling Business Act, both aimed at operators.

Act 182 of 2026: the Louisiana sweepstakes casino ban

Louisiana's sweepstakes ban took two tries. The Legislature passed SB 181 in 2025, but Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed it; a third-party tracker dates the veto June 12, 2025. In 2026 lawmakers passed HB 883 (opens in a new tab), signed May 15, 2026 as Act 182, and it took effect August 1, 2026.

For players, the practical effect is that Gold Coin and Sweeps Coin sites should no longer serve Louisiana. Our page on sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana tracks which brands have left, and the national sweepstakes casino bans page lists the other states that acted.

Louisiana's position on offshore online casinos

On June 17, 2025, the LGCB announced what it called decisive enforcement actions (opens in a new tab) to combat illegal offshore wagering and unauthorized online sweepstakes. Its annual report says the board sent more than 40 cease-and-desist letters to offshore and illegal sweepstakes operators in fiscal year 2024–2025.

That makes Louisiana one of the states whose regulator has spoken directly about offshore sites. Offshore casinos, including the partners named at the end of this page, aren't licensed by Louisiana or any other US state. If a dispute arises, there's no LGCB complaint route for an offshore account, and balances have no state-backed protection. Our guide to offshore versus state-licensed casinos explains what that means day to day.

Louisiana sports betting and daily fantasy laws

Sports betting is legal in most Louisiana parishes, which voted on it individually. Retail books opened in October 2021 and mobile apps launched on January 28, 2022. Act 298 of 2025 raised the tax on online sports betting revenue to 21.5% from August 1, 2025, according to the LGCB report.

Daily fantasy contests went live on July 15, 2021, for players 21 and over, with an 8% tax on net revenue. Read our page on Louisiana sports betting for the app picture and parish rules, and our national sports betting laws overview for context.

Riverboat, racino and tribal casino rules in Louisiana

Riverboats are the backbone of the commercial market: 15 licensed boats, plus one land-based casino, Caesars New Orleans, and four racinos. The AGA counts 20 commercial casinos in the state. Players in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport all live within reach of at least one.

Three tribes, the Chitimacha, Coushatta and Tunica-Biloxi, run casinos under compacts made under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Under IGRA, casino-style Class III games are lawful only under an approved tribal ordinance and a tribal-state compact in effect, which is why tribal gaming sits outside the LGCB's day-to-day licensing.

Timeline of recent Louisiana gambling laws and bills

No bill to license online casinos in Louisiana is on record for 2026. If that changes, the states with legal online casinos page will show it.

How to check Louisiana gambling laws yourself

Laws in this area change fast, so it's worth knowing where to look rather than relying on any one summary.

1. Search the Louisiana Legislature's bill pages for the bill number, for example HB 883 of the 2026 session, and read the digest.
2. Check the LGCB's news page for enforcement releases and its annual report for licensee counts.
3. Read R.S. 14:90.3 in the current statutes, noting any amendments with a recent effective date.
4. For federal law, read the statute text on Cornell's Legal Information Institute, for example the UIGEA payment rule.
5. If you're still unsure how a law applies to you, ask a Louisiana attorney.

Taxes are a separate question from legality. Winnings are taxable federal income whatever their source; see gambling taxes.

Problem gambling help for Louisiana residents

The National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), free and confidential at any hour, with call, text and chat through NCPG's help and treatment page (opens in a new tab). In a crisis, call or text 988.

Gamblers Anonymous runs in-person and online meetings, and blocking tools such as Gamban stop access to gambling sites on your devices. Our help and support page lists every option.

Offshore casino offers and Louisiana gambling law

We show offers on this page, so here is the plain version. Royal Ace and Slot Madness are offshore casinos, not licensed by Louisiana or any US state, and the LGCB treats offshore wagering as illegal under R.S. 14:90.3. Read the sections above and decide for yourself; if you play, you do so without state protection. Offers are for new players, 21+ (18+ where allowed), and terms apply.

• Royal Ace: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's own site couldn't be read, so terms come from third-party reviews: one reports a 200% match up to $4,000 at 30x (deposit + bonus) on slots with a max cashout of 10x the deposit, another a 250% match up to $2,500 plus 35 spins. The terms shown at sign-up apply.
• Slot Madness: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report a 275% match with a $30 minimum deposit and 30x (deposit + bonus) on slots; one says up to $2,750, another says unlimited. The terms shown at sign-up apply.

Third-party reviews report weekly withdrawal caps of $2,500 and monthly caps of $5,000 at both casinos, and pending periods of 7 to 10 days. Operators and licenses are disputed: reviewers name different companies and give Costa Rica, Anjouan or no license at all. The Michigan Gaming Control Board's August 14, 2025 release (opens in a new tab) names Slot Madness among illegal offshore operators; Royal Ace appears in none of the board's releases cited here. Read the Royal Ace review and Slot Madness review first.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).