If you’re sitting in a booth at a diner in Baton Rouge or hanging out in New Orleans, you might be wondering if you can legally pull out your phone and place a bet. The short answer is: sort of. It really depends on what exactly you’re trying to do.
Louisiana is a weird place for gambling. We love it, historically speaking. We’ve got riverboats, a massive land-based casino in the Big Easy, and video poker machines at truck stops. But when it comes to the internet? That’s where things get a bit messy.
Can you gamble online in Louisiana right now?
Yes, but only for specific things. If you want to bet on the Saints or the Pelicans, you’re in luck. Online sports betting is fully legal and regulated in Louisiana. It launched back in early 2022 and it has been a huge hit.
But here is the catch—and it’s a very "Louisiana" catch. It’s not legal everywhere in the state.
When the vote happened in 2020, it was done parish-by-parish. Out of 64 parishes, 55 said "yes" and 9 said "no." So, if you are physically standing in one of the "no" parishes, your betting apps won’t work. Your phone's GPS will literally block you.
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The parishes where you CANNOT bet:
- Caldwell
- Catahoula
- Franklin
- Jackson
- La Salle
- Sabine
- Union
- West Carroll
- Winn
Basically, if you’re driving through North Louisiana and you hit one of these spots, don't be surprised if FanDuel or DraftKings tells you to keep driving.
What about online casinos and poker?
This is where the news gets a little more "meh." Honestly, if you're looking for a legal, state-regulated online casino where you can play blackjack or slots for real money, it doesn't exist here yet.
The state legislature has looked at it. In late 2024 and early 2025, there was some buzz around Senate Resolution 149, which basically asked a committee to study if iGaming (online casinos) would be a good idea. They were looking at a $500 million budget hole that needs fixing, and gambling taxes are a tempting way to fill it.
As of early 2026, though, there's no law on the books allowing online slots or poker.
The "Grey Area" of Social and Sweepstakes Casinos
Since "real" online casinos aren't licensed here, a lot of people use sweepstakes sites. You've probably seen ads for things like Stake.us or RealPrize.
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These aren't technically "gambling" under the law because you don't always have to buy in to play. They use "Gold Coins" for fun and "Sweepstakes Coins" that can eventually be traded for prizes. They are legal in Louisiana for now, mostly because the state hasn't moved to ban them specifically, though the Louisiana Gaming Control Board did issue some cease-and-desist letters to certain offshore sites recently.
Why you should be careful with offshore sites
You’ll find plenty of websites—think Bovada or BetOnline—that claim they accept Louisiana players for poker and casino games.
Be careful.
These sites are "offshore," meaning they aren't regulated by the LGCB. If the site decides to freeze your account or "forget" to pay out your $2,000 heater at the poker table, you have zero legal recourse. In June 2025, the LGCB chairman, Christopher Hebert, made it pretty clear that the state is cracking down on these guys to protect the regulated market.
They even sent a cease-and-desist to Harp Media (Bovada). The state wants you using the apps that actually pay taxes into the Louisiana treasury.
The specifics of sports betting
If you are sticking to the legal stuff, the sports betting scene is actually pretty great. You've got the big names like BetMGM, Caesars, FanDuel, and DraftKings.
The rules you need to know:
- The Age Limit: You must be 21. No exceptions.
- The Geofence: You have to be in a "Yes" parish.
- College Sports: You can bet on college games (Geaux Tigers!), but Louisiana actually banned "proposition bets" on individual college athletes in 2024. So, you can bet on LSU to win, but you can't bet on how many yards the quarterback will throw for. They did this to protect players from harassment.
- The "Tether": Every online app in the state has to be partnered with a real, physical casino. For example, FanDuel is tied to Treasure Chest.
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
DFS is also a thing here. It actually became legal before sports betting did. If you like building a lineup on DraftKings or FanDuel for the weekend's games, you're totally fine to do that in most parishes. It follows the same "parish-by-parish" map as sports betting, so just keep an eye on your location.
Is online poker coming soon?
Probably not "soon-soon."
While online casinos are being studied because of the potential tax revenue, poker is often a secondary thought for lawmakers. Most states that have legal online poker (like Michigan or New Jersey) share players across state lines to keep the games busy. Louisiana hasn't even started those conversations yet.
If you're a poker player, your best bet is still heading to a live room at places like Harrah's New Orleans or the rooms in Bossier City.
Actionable steps for Louisiana bettors
If you want to get started legally and safely, here is the smartest way to do it:
- Check your location: Make sure you aren't in one of the 9 "no" parishes. If you are, a short 15-minute drive will usually put you in a legal zone.
- Stick to the "White List": Only download apps that are licensed by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. If the app isn't on the App Store or Google Play Store and asks you to download a weird file from a website, stay away.
- Watch the promos: Most Louisiana books offer a "no sweat bet" or a deposit match. These are great, but read the fine print. Usually, if you lose your first bet, they give you "Bonus Bets" which aren't the same as cash—you have to bet them again to turn them into withdrawable money.
- Know your limits: Louisiana is strict about responsible gaming. Every legal app has tools where you can set a "deposit limit" for the month. Use them. If you feel like you're getting in too deep, the state has a 24/7 hotline at 1-877-770-STOP.
The landscape is changing fast. By the end of 2026, we might see the first bills for online blackjack actually passing, but for now, keep your betting to the gridiron and the hardwood.
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To stay compliant with current regulations, always verify that your chosen platform displays the LGCB permit logo, which confirms they are operating within the 15% tax framework established by Act 80. Betting through these channels ensures that a portion of your wager supports the state's Early Childhood Education Fund and various local infrastructure projects. Over $50 million in tax revenue is expected to be generated from these activities this year alone, making the "legal" route the only one that actually benefits the Pelican State.