When we think about Louisiana casinos might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but in the modern day most large cities in the US have some kind of gambling culture.
Casinos are very much home to gambling culture in these cities and are architectural and hospitality centers as well as being a center for gambling.
In today’s article we are going to discuss the best casinos in The Pelican State. The state is pretty large so it can be good to look at recommendations so that you know which areas you want to visit and which aren’t for you.
Moreover, online casinos aren’t legal in the state of Louisiana just yet, so you might have to physically get your chips on the table at one of these casinos.
Keep reading to learn more about casinos and the great state of Louisiana, and read below to find the best casinos in this area.
The Margaritaville Resort and Casino is only 30 minutes across the border from Texas and as a result it is a pretty coveted area for gambling in Louisiana and the US generally.
They take a Vegas-style gaming approach but also take the high-end hospitality that keeps people there.
So not only is the gambling great but when you need a bite to eat, or a bed to rest your head on, you won’t be disappointed. It has even been voted the ‘luckiest casino’ in the state, but you’ll have to be the judge of that.
This single level casino of 30,000 square feet has over 1200 slot machines, 54 table games including the classics such as craps, blackjack, roulette, poker, and more.
It’s a great casino and is a great hotel separately but they come together to make something unique.
L’Auberge Casino Resort is owned by PInnacle Entertainment, a company that was originally into horse racing in California back in 1938.
In the 90s this company started entering the casino market with their first foreé being the Belterra Casino Resort in Indiana, which was modestly sized.
They learnt lessons from this when they entered their second endeavor the L’Auberge at Lake Charles, circa 2005. Since their success here in Louisiana they have opened around 14 more casinos across the country.
Lake Charles itself is a city of respectable size so this casino does get a lot of traffic from the cosmopolitan community here. Why wouldn’t the casino get all this attention with such great amenities in addition to the gambling itself.
L’Auberge knows they have a great hotel and hospitality here so they aren’t afraid to charge for it but it certainly is worth the money.
In terms of gaming, L’Auberge can boast a 2100 square foot floor that contains 1600 slot machines, and 83 game tables to play Blackjack, Baccarat, Craps, Roulette, Four Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Texas Holdem, and Three Card Poker.
As we mentioned Lake Charles is a bustling city in the midst of Louisiana and is also close enough to the Texas border to attract traffic from those looking for getaways from Houston and further afield.
Being in the same city as the L’Auberge you think there could be some competition and rivalry between the two, but in fact both the L’Auberge and the Golden Nugget are owned by Pinnacle Entertainment.
Golden Nugget on its own has won awards for their gambling and hospitality offerings and is considered by many to be the best in the state. The hospitality here, like L’auberge, is pretty stellar.
There are 11 restaurants and 740 hotel rooms in their 25 story hotel tower. They go all the way from entry level rooms that are still pretty decent, to some incredible sweet for high rollers and high net worth individuals.
You can also expect plenty of bars and other live evening entertainment.
In terms of the gaming offers, there are 1600 slot machines ranging from penny slots to high roller slots, as well as luxury rooms with around 100 machines where the high stakes machines live as well as the stellar VIP on-hand treatment.
They also have some pretty swell table games with 77 tables to play Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Three Card Poker, Baccarat, Mississippi Stud, Pai Gow Poker, Let It Ride, Ultimate Texas Holdem, and Blackjack Switch.
Plus there are some smaller six table poker rooms for low limit games and high rollers. If you are a frequent player here the 24K Select membership will really pay off and open certain doors for you.
Boomtown Casino is a really interesting one on the list and is a worthwhile trip for those who like a smaller and more unique casino.
The cool thing about the Boomtown hotel and casino is that it sits on a boat in the water, and is the largest riverboat casino in Southeast Louisiana.
One thing that is popular here is video poker which is becoming more popular. Additionally, an on-site Barstool Sports Book provides an ideal alternative for those who enjoy sports betting as well as gaming.
For your regular gambling needs that have over 1500 slot machines of varying stake plus 30 table games where you can play Blackjack, Craps, roulette, baccarat, Three-Card Poker, Pai Gow, video poker, and Cajun Stud.
In terms of their hospitality they don’t scrimp on this either, and it’s worth saying you stayed on a boat casino, right? They have four dining options at the casino and a nightclub to feed you and sort any needs you may have, plus plenty of good seafood.
What’s also cool is that the casino and hotel is 24 hours so that you can enjoy the tables all night.
New Orleans is one of the most vibrant scenes in the US, let alone in the state of Louisiana. In this buzzing city we now get to sample one of the most famous casinos in the US as well as sampling the city’s culture.
When the casino was being planned and built there actually was no land based casino gambling in the state of Louisiana yet, but the proprietor of the initial property development, Christopher Hemmeter, was influential enough to get his license approved so they could open in 1999 just as the new century was dawning.
So all the casinos in the list have Hemmeter and Harrah’s to thank for their casino licenses. The 26 story stately hotel has a pretty expensive room rate, but can be sure that their hospitality is certainly up to scratch.
It’s a fine hotel that is rated four diamonds by the prestigious AAA. The rooms are large and luxurious.
This said, they are teamed with many of the hotels in the area so if you didn’t want to pay the price to stay here then there are other options should you just be looking to play the slots or tables.
Teh casino itself is very large and has 115,000 ft of gaming spaces for you to frequent. Over 1700 slot machines makes for plenty of choice of stake, with at least 700 one and two cent slots.
Their slots are rumored to give out close to half a million dollars per week which is good news to those who love slots.
Over 100 gaming tables offer a whole bunch of different card and table games from Mini Baccarat, Midi Baccarat, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Craps, Blackjack, Roulette, High Card Flush, and Criss Cross Poker.
Plus 20 tables in their upscale poker room for high stakes and rollers as well as other games.
If you are going to be in New Orleans and want to go somewhere that really offers some of the largest and highest quality gambling offerings, as well as some stellar, if expensive, hospitality, there really is no better place that Harrah’s
Final Thoughts
What should be clear is that while Louisiana might not seem like a gambling state, there are a huge amount of offerings from amazing hospitality and settings, to some really great and varied slots as well as all sorts of different tables and table games for the totally mundane and domestic gamblers all the way to the high rollers and high stakes players who want that VIP treatment.
Frequently Asked Question
When Was Gambling Made Legal in Louisiana?
Louisiana legalized the lottery, the riverboats, and video poker in 1990 and 1991 under Governor Buddy Roemer, whereas the land casino was made legal in 1992 under Governor Edwin Edwards.
This was mainly due to the fact that other states had legalized this kind of gambling at the time and without legality in the state of Louisiana they can’t compete with the financial precedent in these other states.
Hi, my name is Alex Kallen and I love to travel. Ever since I could afford the ticket, I hopped on a plane and never looked back. I’ve made a living writing travel guides and blogging my experience all over the world.
I want to encourage and inspire others to travel around the US like I am. There’s no need to go on vacation overseas when there is an amazing land of opportunity right on your doorstep. Enjoy my website, I hope to see you out here one day.
