Online Gambling Illegal In Louisiana

However, even a drive of just an hour or two can feel restrictive to a bona fide hobby one wishes to partake in a little bit every day. This is why many Louisiana residents who understand Louisiana gambling laws have turned to legal online casinos in hopes of delivering an exciting gambling experience right to their living rooms. Illegal Gambling in Louisiana. Dogfighting and gambling related to dogfighting: La. 14:102.5 makes it illegal to own, possess, keep or train a dog for the purpose of dogfighting or to possess any paraphernalia used in training dogs to fight. Violation for a first conviction results in a fine of up to $3000 and/or imprisonment of not more.

• Is Online Gambling Illegal In Louisiana
• Is Online Gambling Illegal In Louisiana

Louisiana residents have plenty of land-based gambling options from which to choose.

They can engage in pari-mutuel betting at the local racetracks, enjoy slots or table games at the local casinos, or even play video poker in taverns or convenience stores in select parishes.

Unfortunately, the Bayou State has not regulated sports betting or paid-entry DFS contests yet, which means that state-sanctioned Internet gambling is limited to horse race betting on online OTB platforms.

Louisiana Gambling Law Summary

Louisiana Criminal Law defines gambling as “intentionally conducting a game or contest in which a person risks the loss of anything of value to realize a profit.” Also, the relevant regulations contain provisions that directly criminalize Internet gambling. The crime of “gambling by computer” is punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail. If that weren’t deterrent enough, the authorities are required to destroy any devices seized as the instrument of said crime after conviction.

Most gambling-related matters are covered by Louisiana Revised Statutes, section 14:90 et seq. and 27:201 et seq. The minimum gambling age is 18 for pari-mutuel betting and charitable gambling and 21 for lottery games and casino-style games.

Online Gambling in Louisiana

Louisiana gambling laws are all about catching illegal gambling operators. It’d be hard to find any laws that have anything to do with individual players. Section 90 of Louisiana statutes list the offenses related to hosting unlicensed real money games online. According to most Louisiana lawyers, the local authorities simply aren’t allowed to go after gambling enthusiasts that frequent offshore sites under the current regulations.

Louisiana Casinos

Louisiana is home to 20 commercial casinos, which are allowed to offer electronic gambling machines such as slots and video poker terminals, as well as traditional table games. Nineteen of those operations are based on riverboats due to local gambling regulations. Harrah’s New Orleans is the only exception to this rule, as it was granted ‘special status’ in exchange for providing at least 2,400 jobs for the local community. Casino games are also available at the local racetracks, which operate under slightly different regulations. Moreover, the local Native American tribes operate four casino facilities, which are located on Indian reservations in Allen, St. Mary, Grant, and Avoyelles.

Also, 31 out of 64 Louisiana parishes allow local businesses to operate video poker machines. These are usually found in bars, restaurants, convenience stores, and truck stops.

However, Louisiana-based companies are prohibited from operating online casino sites. Playing on offshore sites is also illegal and constitutes a criminal offense.

Louisiana Poker

There are 12 poker rooms in Louisiana, which are operated by the local casinos. The largest venues are located in New Orleans (Harrah’s New Orleans, 20 tables), Kinder (Coushatta Casino, 20 tables), Bossier City (Horseshoe Casino Bossier City, 14 tables), and Westlake (Isle of Capri Casino Lake Charles, 13 tables). The remaining facilities operate only eight tables or less. The cash game action is predominantly about medium-stakes Hold ’em, although Harrah’s New Orleans also offers Pot-Limit Omaha on the weekends and evenings. Tournament action is generally limited to No-Limit Hold ’em, with the buy-ins ranging from $80 to $240 at the largest venues.

Louisiana residents do not have access to any state-sanctioned online poker platforms, and playing on offshore sites is a criminal offense.

Louisiana Sports Betting

Betting on traditional sports is still illegal in Louisiana. During the 2019 legislative session, there were three attempts to challenge this status quo, but all efforts failed. The Senate approved the dedicated sports betting bill sponsored by Danny Martiny, but it was met by resistance in a House committee, members determined to add amendments making the bill unpassable. Martiny and gaming stakeholders persisted, trying to inject sports betting provisions into H 459 and H 600, the two House bills that were designed to create a regulatory framework for paid-entry DFS contests. This resulted in both bills being moved to a conference committee consisting of three House members and three senators. Both sides failed to reach an agreement before the end of the legislative session, and thus, no new regulations were passed.

Pari-mutuel horse race betting is legal in Louisiana. Local racing enthusiasts are free to engage in this form of gambling at the local racetracks, which are located in Bossier City (Louisiana Downs), Vinton (Delta Downs), Opelousas (Evangeline Downs), and New Orleans (Fairgrounds Race Course). Off-track betting is also legal and includes provisions allowing for online OTB platforms, such as TVG, BetAmerica, and TwinSpires.

Dog racing is prohibited.

Louisiana Daily Fantasy Sports

At one time, DFS contests were illegal in Louisiana, as the general gambling regulations forbade all real-money games with an element of chance, no matter how minuscule. Also, the state had a blanket ban on all forms of Internet gambling that had not been explicitly legalized.

The situation changed in November 2018, when fantasy sports were approved in 47 out of the 64 Louisiana parishes following a statewide referendum. DFS operators are required to utilize geolocation technology to block the residents of parishes that voted “no” from accessing paid-entry contests.

During the 2019 legislative session, Louisiana lawmakers were expected to establish tax rates and DFS-specific regulations that would allow DFS operators to enter the local market, but unfortunately, they failed to reach a consensus because of the standoff mentioned above between the House and the Senate regarding the legalization of traditional sports betting.

Thus, despite the results of the referendum, Louisiana residents will not be able to participate in DFS contests on any online platforms this year.

Louisiana Lotteries

Louisiana Lottery operates six draw games: Mega Millions, Powerball, Louisiana Lotto, Easy 5, Pick 4 and Pick 3. It also offers scratch game tickets, with the prices ranging from $1 to $10. The Lottery is not allowed to provide its products over the Internet, so all tickets must be purchased from licensed land-based retailers or automated WinStations.

Louisiana Bingo

Louisiana bingo halls are operated by registered charitable organizations and can be found across the entire state. Regrettably, even these charities are not allowed to offer their games online. Playing on offshore bingo sites violates the general ban on Internet gambling and constitutes a criminal offense.

Louisiana Online Gambling FAQ

What types of gambling are available in Louisiana?

Gambling used to be a part of day to day life in Louisiana, so it shouldn’t be all that surprising that land-based gambling enthusiasts have plenty of options to choose from these days. Like most states, Louisiana has a state-controlled lottery, but serious gamblers tend to prefer playing slots or table games in Indian or commercial casinos, such as Harrah’s New Orleans or Coushatta Casino Resort. Most of the commercial casinos are based on riverboats, but some of them are land-based venues. Nevertheless, Lousiana doesn’t have a regulated online gambling market.

What laws cover online gambling in Louisiana?

Section 90 of the Louisiana code lists all the laws that have anything to do with real money gambling. Louisiana regulations focus on illegal gambling operators instead of individual players, so the locals are free to play on any offshore site they want.

Is real money online gambling legal in Louisiana?

Real money online gambling isn’t forbidden by the local regulations, which means that playing on offshore sites is perfectly safe.

Which offshore gambling sites accept Louisiana residents?

Major offshore operators accept all Louisiana residents. A few small sites don’t, but we wouldn’t recommend playing there anyway.

What are the most popular banking options supported by Louisiana -facing sites?

Visa payments are the most popular deposit method, but many quality sites also support AMEX and MasterCard. Withdrawals, on the other hand, are almost always handled via a bank wire transfer, particularly when it comes to lower amounts of money. If you want to go through with a massive cash out, you could also go for a check by courier.

Does Louisiana offer any intrastate online gambling?

No. As opposed to Nevada and New Jersey, Louisiana doesn’t have a local iGaming market as Louisiana-based companies aren’t allowed to offer any real money iGaming services.

Is it likely for Louisiana to regulate online gambling?

The local politicians are interested in protecting the land-based casino industry, so they have no motivation to introduce an iGaming bill that could threaten their dominant position on the local market.

Louisiana gambling law specifically addresses the issue of online gambling and online poker. Anyone who intentionally conducts or assists others in conducting as a business any contest, game, lottery or contrivance where individual risks the loss of something of value to realize a profit using the internet will be charged with gambling by computer. The law does not specifically make playing online poker or casino games illegal. It is aimed at persons and businesses who conduct or operate online poker games and gambling activities with LA state lines.

Alternatively, there are Louisiana online gambling sites which are legally licensed and are regulated and located outside of the United States. These online gambling operations legally accept US players, including those from Louisiana, and because they are not located within the state boundaries, they do not violate state laws. Participation at these legal offshore gambling sites does not constitute participating in illegal online gambling as defined by Louisiana state law. Legal online gambling options at licensed offshore gambling sites include Louisiana online casinos, poker rooms and sports betting sites, as well as online bingo halls that accept LA players.

While the state has one of the stiffest penalties for online gambling, it continues to be a gambling-friendly state with many accessible offshore casinos and other forms of legalized gambling.

Other Louisiana Gambling Pages

Louisiana Gambling Laws Concerning Poker

Poker games are legal if they meet certain conditions. The objective of Louisiana gambling laws is to ensure that residents are not running an illegal gambling business. So as long as a game of poker is not run like a business, it is legal. To make sure that a home game of poker is not considered an illegal gambling business, the host must not rake the pot or charge any fee. In Louisiana gambling in public is illegal. The game of poker must be held in a private setting behind closed doors.

The players must not make a public nuisance of themselves. In most states, the legal age for gambling is 18 but in Louisiana, it is 21. So all players must be aged 21 or more. Playing a game of poker with those under the legal gambling age can result in a fine of five hundred dollars and a prison term of 6 months or more. At this time it is not legal to operate an online poker site within the state of Louisiana. Players looking for online poker options are best to restrict their playing to legally licensed Louisiana online poker rooms that are regulated and located outside of the USA.

Is Online Gambling Illegal In Louisiana

Social Gambling Laws in Louisiana

Social gambling in the form of personal bets, pool games and betting on sports is legal as long as no one charges a fee or makes a profit for managing the transaction. Non-profit organizations can conduct bingo, raffles, and keno for fundraising purposes.

Federal Online Gambling Laws That Affect Louisiana Players

Currently, there are not any federal laws which prohibit US players from participating in legally licensed and certified online gambling sites which are regulated and located outside of the United States. The 2011 Black Friday events have confused many players into thinking that it is illegal for USA players to participate in online gambling. This, however, is not the case.

That investigation was targeting online poker operations which were suspected of violating the regulations set forth in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act which places strict regulatory oversight concerning how online gambling transactions are to be processed. The law does not target or affect players in any way, and the Black Friday investigation did not include players on any level.

Legally licensed Louisiana sports betting, casino gaming, poker play and bingo that is regulated outside of the United States remain untouched by this law. The DOJ has also declared that the legality of online gambling can be decided on a state by state basis; hence state-based online gambling is a possibility for the state of Louisiana in the future.

History of Land Based Gambling In Louisiana

Is Online Gambling Illegal In Louisiana

Louisiana has a long history of gambling. It was amongst the first major areas for gambling in the United States. When Louisiana became a part of the United States in 1803, there were more gambling centers in New Orleans than New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore put together. In 1812 when the federal government banned gambling, it exempted New Orleans. After statehood, Louisiana legalized casinos only to ban them later and again legalize them.

In 1991 the state approved 15 riverboat casinos and also legalized video poker machines. Later on, when Edwin Edwards became the governor of Louisiana, he guided legislation authorizing construction of a casino in the Crescent City. After Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988, many Indian tribes in the state negotiated compacts with the state and opened land-based casinos on Indian reservations.

Today there are numerous licensed casinos in the state – from small traditional riverboat casinos to large resort-style casinos. These casinos offer almost all the games one can find at a large casino in Atlantic City or Las Vegas. Many of these casinos in the state offer real money poker. Video poker machines can be found at casinos, gas stations, bars, restaurants and truck stops. Any business with a liquor license in Louisiana can have up to three video gaming machines.

Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing is legal in the state. It first legalized pari-mutuel betting on horse races at the New Orleans Fair Grounds in 1920. Gambling on cockfighting and dogfighting are illegal in the state. The state gambling law makes a specific mention about cockfighting and dogfighting.

While the modern-day state lottery was started in 1991, Louisiana created its first Louisiana lottery way back in 1866. Two years later the Louisiana State Lottery Company, a private company was authorized to operate it. In 1879 when the state legislature abolished all lotteries, the company appealed and won the legal battle against the government. However in the mid-1890s when the company’s charter came up for renewal, the legislature prohibited its renewal. Since then there was no lottery in the state until the Louisiana state lottery started in 1991.

Louisiana Online Gambling Laws FAQS

What Are The Consequences For Illegal Gambling Activity In The State Of Louisiana?

The state of Louisiana charges its offenders based on the crime and not by the more common class system in misdemeanor crimes like these. Gambling misdemeanors carry a stiff fine and the possibility of jail time. The harsher penalties fall on those operating illegal gambling establishments rather than just the casual patrons.

What Types Of Gambling Are Legal In Louisiana?

There are numerous legal gambling venues in the state of Louisiana. There are state-regulated casinos, horse tracks, and riverboats. Louisiana has a state-run lottery and there are exceptions in the Louisiana gambling law for social and charitable gambling.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Gamble In Louisiana?

In the state of Louisiana, you must be at least 18 years old to participate in the lottery or horse track gambling. If you would like to gamble in any of the various casinos or on a video poker machine located at one of the horse tracks, you must be at least 21 years old.

What is Pari-Mutuel Wagering?

Pari-mutuel gambling is the primary system of placing and receiving bets at horse tracks and similar gambling venues. In this system of gambling, the bettors place their bets before the races have begun into a pot where all the other bets are also placed. The race is conducted and the winners of the bets split the winnings between them while everyone else loses their bet.

What Is Charitable Gambling?

Charitable gambling is a provision written in most states gambling laws that make an exception to non-profit organizations that meet certain criteria. Organizations like veteran’s services, churches, and public kids programs are legally allowed to conduct raffles, bingo, keno, and other games for fundraising uses only.

Is Louisiana Looking At New Gambling Legislation?

Louisiana legislators have put out an array of legislative pieces over the last year tackling issues including domestic online casinos and sports betting. As recently as spring 2018, the Senate Committee on Judiciary heard testimony on several gambling bills and decided to pump the brakes on them due to more work being needed. It is possible these bills are revisited in the next legislative session.

Louisiana Legal Resources

We have included some links to resources which will provide those interested with access to the laws in their original legislative context and language. You will be directed to the actual documents on the official LA state legislature website.

**This page is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended or qualified to serve as our substitute for professional legal advice, services, or interpretation of any law or statute. If you are seeking legal services of any type, we recommend you contact a lawyer. We are not lawyers and cannot provide any type of legal service.