Currently, it is illegal for online casinos to operate in Louisiana. Recently state regulators have begun taking escalating measures against both illegal offshore gambling and online sweepstakes operators. You can still play at free social casinos with virtual coins, however no cash prizes are offered. Read on to learn more about what online games you can play in Louisiana and understand the recent laws in the Bayou State.
One of the safest legal ways to enjoy online casino games in Louisiana is free-to-play slots at Gambino Slots. While some sweepstakes casinos currently operate in the state, Louisiana regulators have begun to treat them as unauthorized or illegal gambling activity already prohibited under the existing laws.
Land-based casinos in Louisiana offer all the most popular slots and table games. There are 23 venues that offer legal casino games; this includes 14 riverboat casinos, one fully land-based casino, four tribal casinos, and four racinos. These establishments offer players the chance to play their favorite slots and table games, as well as golf and water parks for those looking for adventure.
Louisiana has several legal gambling options, however online gaming is still fairly restricted. Riverboat and land-based casinos have expanded in the state since the early 1990s, and online sports betting went live in 2022.
Currently, real-money online casinos are not legal in Louisiana, though state lawmakers have seen some debate over the future of this area. Free-to-play or social casinos with casino-style games are still available online.
While some sweepstakes casinos still operate in the state, they have come under major fire from state regulators. By the end of 2025, over 40 cease-and-desist letters were sent out to offshore casinos and sweepstakes casinos by the Louisiana Attorney General’s office.
Further to this, Governor Jeff Landry vetoed an anti-sweepstakes bill (SB 181) in June 2025, arguing that sweeps casinos were already illegal under existing state laws.
If you want to play free online slots in Louisiana, here’s how to get started:
Gambino Slots offers a variety of online casino bonuses, such as the no deposit bonus, which rewards you with coins and free spins just for signing up! Once you sign up, you can find many regular promotions, such as a daily wheel spin, social media giveaways, and a refer-a-friend offer.
Our top recommended free online slots site offers a dedicated mobile app for players. While the site is optimized for all browsers, the mobile app will offer a more streamlined slots experience.
Currently, none of our recommended Louisiana online casinos offer an Android app.
Gambling in Louisiana has a long history dating back hundreds of years. New Orleans was a hub of casino gambling in the early nineteenth century before government regulations shuttered the legal casino industry in the 1830s.
More than a century later, the casino industry in Louisiana re-emerged with the legalization of land-based and riverboat casinos. Louisiana also recently legalized sports betting, but online casino gambling has yet to be legalized.
The Louisiana Assembly charters the Louisiana State Lottery Company. It became the largest state lottery in the country before losing its charter in 1893 amid controversy.
Louisiana legalizes pari-mutuel horse racing betting.
Louisiana Lottery is approved by voters.
First riverboat casino opens.
First land-based casino opens.
Louisiana bans online gambling.
Following a vote, voters in 55 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes approve sports betting.
Governor John Bel Edwards signed three bills into law to legalize sports betting.
Retail sports betting launched. Online sports betting launches three months later.
The Senate Judiciary B and Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee meet to discuss expanding online casino gambling.
Landry vetoes SB181, AG begins taking actions against sweepstakes casinos.
With no legal real-money online casinos in Louisiana, it might be tempting for players to play at offshore casinos. As offshore casinos are illegal in the US, we highly recommend players do not play at them. They don’t have to follow US gambling laws, and are not governed by US regulating bodies. This means that players do not have any legal protections from fraudulent practices, issues withdrawing money, or any other difficulties they may encounter.
Treasure Chest Casino is one of the newest land-based casinos in the state, opening in June 2024. The casino was built for about $100 million. There are more than 900 games across slots and table games. There are several restaurants to choose from, including Alder & Birch Steakhouse, Infusion, Lakeside Cafe, and more.
Golden Nugget Lake Charles opened in 2014 and is one of the most impressive casinos in the state. Featuring 1,600 slots, 87 gaming tables, a DraftKings sportsbook, an 18-hole golf course, and multiple world-class restaurants, it is a top casino destination in Louisiana.
With over 100,000 square feet of gaming space, Coushatta Casino Resort offers thousands of slots and dozens of table games. It also has multiple restaurants and even a water park on-site!
No. There are no legal online casinos in Louisiana. However, you can play at free-to-play online slots sites.
Our top recommended online site is Gambino Slots, which offers free slots games with no download required.
No. Sweepstakes casinos are considered by state regulators to fall under existing Louisiana laws around running a business where players risk “anything of value” for profit. In 2025, Louisiana’s AG issued cease-and-desist orders to 40+ sweepstake and offshore online casinos.