USA casino guides Index
Louisiana was the fourth US state to approve riverboat casino gambling and its 1991 gambling law allows a maximum of 15 riverboats statewide with a limit of six in any one parish. In 1992 a provision was made for one land-based casino in New Orleans. The state also has three land-based Native Indian casinos.
The law requires that all riverboats must be paddle-wheel driven and replicas of old-fashioned turn-of-the-century models. All of the boats were originally required to cruise (except those located along the Red River), however, the law was changed in mid-2001 to allow 24-hour dockside gaming at all casinos.
As of August 2000 there were 14 riverboat casinos in operation in 12 different locations (the two Lake Charles locations each have two boats). The state’s only non-Indian land-based casino, Harrah’s New Orleans, closed its temporary casino in November 1995 and re-opened again in 1999.
Louisiana’s gaming regulations require that gaming machines in casinos be programmed to pay back no less than 80% and no more than 99.9%.
Other gambling activity is limited to Video poker machines, which are permitted at Louisiana truck stops, racetracks/OTB’s and bars/taverns in 31 of the state’s 64 parishes (counties). There is no limit to the number of machines permitted at racetracks and off-track betting locations, however, truck stops are allowed no more than 50, while bars and taverns are permitted a maximum of three.
For video gaming machines at locations other than casinos the law requires a minimum return of 80% and a maximum return of 94%.
All riverboat casinos are open 24 hours and the normal games offered are: blackjack, craps, roulette, slots, and video poker. Some casinos also offer: baccarat, mini baccarat, poker, caribbean stud poker, pai gow poker, let it ride, casino war, three-card poker, big 6 wheel, keno, and bingo. The minimum gambling age is 21.
For more information on Louisiana call the state’s Tourism Department on (800) 633-6970.
[Jun 2003 last update]
Land Casinos Directory (Main Index) . USA Index |
