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. Louisiana Online Poker Law. With 22 casinos, Louisiana is a major player is the United States casino industry, and if everything continues to go in the right direction, online poker players who live here will be able to access online poker rooms sooner rather than later. 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. Louisiana is home to plenty of riverboat casinos and great card rooms in New Orleans. These legal forms of gambling — as well as illegal ones– are covered in the Louisiana State Statute. The most essential element when it comes to gambling legalese is to define what gambling actually is.
The Bayou State has a rich multicultural history, a vibrant culture, beautiful varied geography and a nice broad spread of casinos and gambling options. One of the first states to legalize riverboat casinos, Louisiana contains many of these as well as several land-based venues and tribal casinos as well. While it is one of a handful of states to expressly forbid online gambling, there has nonetheless been some recent talk on the subject amongst lawmakers.
Louisiana actually started legalizing gambling way back in 1823, after existing as a state for just eleven years, licensing six “temples of chance” for gambling action. Although the licenses were repealed just twelve years later amidst fears of their having prompted rising crime levels, the trend in gambling continued unabated, with an estimated 500 gambling establishments in New Orleans by 1840.
For a full account of the early, shifty days of Louisiana’s gambling history consult this historical account [1]. For more on what’s happening right now, read on.
The Letter of the Law
Louisiana state law defines any game involving an element of chance as a form of gambling, and hence as illegal except where regulated by the state. The emphasis of the law is focused on prosecuting those who organize and run illegal games, but nonetheless participants can be charged as well.
As far as poker is concerned, it is firmly regarded as a game of chance, as expressed in the following precedent court statement quoted in this excellent guide to Louisiana gambling laws from Gaming Law Masters [2]“[I]t is a matter of common knowledge concerning which there can be no doubt or dispute that draw poker is a gambling game, pure and simple, more widely recognized as such than any other game known to the American people”.
Room is made under the law for charity gaming using raffles, bingo and keno, and charities licensed to run such games channel some of the proceeds back to the state. Horseracing and a state lottery are allowed and regulated by state law, and social gambling seems to be tolerated provided the game occurs in private premises, and not in public, and also crucially that no rake or consideration is gained by the host, otherwise the private premises would qualify as a gambling house, making it firmly illegal.
Punishments are quite strict in Louisiana if you do break the gambling laws, and interestingly, anyone living from gambling is considered a vagrant under state law, which is punishable by a fine of $200 and six months in prison!
Other punishments include six months in prison and a $500 fine for gambling in public, 5 – 20 years in prison for forging lottery tickets, and up to 10 years in prison for cheating in a wager whose value exceeds $500.
Finally, online gambling is expressly prohibited in Louisiana, with stiff penalties especially for designers of gambling sites or providers of online gambling, who are liable for up to 5 years in jail and a $20,000 fine. Read more on this particular issue below.
Legal Online Gambling Laws in Louisiana
Louisiana is one of a very few states to specifically forbid online gambling by statute, making illegal “the intentional conducting, as a business, of any game, contest, lottery, or contrivance whereby a person risks the loss of anything of value in order to realize a profit when accessing the Internet”.
While the phrase “as a business” might lead some to conclude that this ruling was concerned only with providing online gambling to others, this seems most unlikely given that breaking this law is punishable by 6 months in prison and a $500 fine, whereas “whoever designs, develops, manages, supervises, maintains, provides, or produces any computer services related to internet gambling may be punished by up to 5 years and $20,000”. These quotes are courtesy of the Gaming Law Masters document referenced above.
While there may be some room to legally scrutinize the meaning of the term “as a business” in the statute quoted above, it would certainly take a legal mind and not a web researcher to advise on this, and without such advice I would suggest assuming that any online gambling conducted within the state qualifies as strictly illegal at the current time.
Now, this may all seem pretty gloomy as regards the future prospects for online gambling in the state, but it ain’t necessarily so. There has been a little bit of movement on this issue in recent months, with Louisiana state representative Mike Huval reportedly encouraging his fellow legislators to review state law on Internet gaming. Huval was speaking out in favor of legislating for intra-state online gambling. While this is merely a legislative whisper of a possibility at this time, it’s a little bit more than nothing.
What Forms of Gambling are Legal in Louisiana
Louisiana has a great range of options for folk who want to have a gamble, including of course a state lottery [3], and pari-mutuel horseracing tracks. The lottery has supplied the state with millions and millions of dollars in revenue over the years, much of which has been channeled into education.
As for horseracing, this helpful guide [4] will see you straight, listing the best options across all regions of Louisiana, including one of the reputed best thoroughbred racetracks in the nation, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs. A really top notch guide, this page includes full contact detail, listings of all amenities featured at each track, and of course links to the tracks’ own websites.
The state allows charity gaming including keno, raffles and bingos. These are always an option if you’re looking for a game of pure luck that doesn’t require a visit to a casino. Home games are apparently tolerated under the law if run in private with no consideration, so that’s always a viable option as well.
But if you’re really after a full blown gambling experience, there really are plenty of good venues out there. With over a dozen riverboat casinos, tribal offerings and several land-based casinos as well, there’s really no shortage of locations for a good old wager in Louisiana.
Casinos and Poker Games
There are a bewildering array of options in the Bayou State as regards casino gambling, including some very fine riverboat establishments, and some land-based ventures.
Harrah’s New Orleans features over 1,800 slot machines, as well as a mammoth 100 table games running through the night. They offer “high-tech” electronic betting on live dealer roulette tables, several varieties of baccarat and poker, as well as pai gow. There are 20 dedicated poker tables, running No Limit, Omaha and Stud as well as poker tournaments on a weekly schedule.
L’Auberge Casino Resort is a fully fledged and very swanky presence in the state, looking somewhat like a castle from the outside. They run almost as many slots as Harrah’s, and over 70 table games, as well as providing golf facilities, a spa and much else besides. Their poker room is all of 2,100 square feet, and boasts tableside food service and in-chair massages. Tournaments run several times a week, and there is a monthly $550 entry on a Saturday. The card room also provides a special incentive of cash back for hours played, offering $200 for 125 hours logged at the tables.
Boomtown Casino on the Gulf Coast offers a more intimate atmosphere, the riverboat casino / hotel only provides 200 exclusive guest rooms. A more intimate venue means more attention to each client, with a reputation of very high caliber customer service. Table games include blackjack, craps and roulette.
With so many venues on offer you might want to consult one of several guides to the state’s action.
If you’re a poker player, we have just what you need. The Cardplayer Louisiana page offers a full breakdown of the tournaments on offer across the state’s casinos, and Poker On Earth provide a very detailed guide to all the poker action, including specifying which venues offer Sit and Go games, which run cash games, and which tournaments, listing twelve resorts in all.
![Online Gambling Illegal In Louisiana Online Gambling Illegal In Louisiana](https://www.playusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/017-Bet.png)
For a more general and very detailed guide to all the casino action, you might want to revisit Louisiana Travel [5], who provided the very helpful guide to horseracing given above. The 500 nations site [6] also provides a full listing.
If you’re still keen to know more about the poker games running, several people have taken it upon themselves to do road trips across the state, taking in as much poker action as possible.
Recent Developments
For all that Louisiana is fairly teeming with casinos already, there are moves being made to kick start yet another one. The Golden Nugget chain plans to create their fifth US casino in the state. Predicted to cost around $600 million to build, it promises a Vegas type experience complete with a marina, numerous restaurants and a huge gaming floor. Read more about the new venture in this ReviewJournal.com report [7].
Busts and Arrests
Many of the busts in Louisiana concerning gambling revolve around online activity, specifically arrests of those attempting to run online gambling services.
![Louisiana Louisiana](https://pnimg.net/w/usamap-attachments/0/5f4/ce7db8484f.png)
A man from Bossier City was recently sentenced to three years of probation and a $50,000 fine after operating an illegal sports gambling website. The man pleaded guilty to the felony offence in a federal case. He was caught when he took bets from an undercover FBI agent, according to the FBI website [8].
Earlier arrests of a similar nature from back in 2006. In that same year, some major international incidents were provoked by Louisiana’s attempts to prosecute a British Executive for offences relating to allowing residents of the state to wager on a gambling website. The man in question was arrested in New York, as detailed in this post by Global Ethics [9]. Of course this event gained attention in the UK, with the prominent British newspaper The Guardian running this story on the affair [10].
This issue is far too weighty to give it comprehensive treatment here, but the same state law has affected local figures as well, with the notorious Betcha.com scandal running over several years, and for those of you who’d like a little more information on that specific story, you can find a rather sad but very informative post by the man himself, Nick Jenkins, on his blog here [11].
Summary
In summary, first off, don’t try to run any online betting or betting-related service from within, or facing clients in Louisiana. History has shown that this will not only be received very badly, but in all likelihood lead to serious criminal charges. Online gambling of any kind within the state is also a major no-no at this time.
Now, if you’re looking for a gamble in the Bayou State, you’re in luck. There are wagering options aplenty. Take your pick from the state lottery, numerous horseracing tracks, home poker games, charity bingo, keno and raffles, or of course just head on over to one of the state’s many, many casinos.
As far as the casinos go, you have choices to make (see the guides above for help with that!), between tribal casinos, some major land-based resorts and a veritable flotilla of riverboat casinos. Just remember to play within your means, and take some time out to soak up the sights and sounds of this mixing pot of cultures that is the state of Louisiana.
Sources for this article
- GamblingLawMasters.com: Louisiana
- LouisianaTravel.com: Horse racing thrills await at tracks around Louisiana
- LouisianaTravel.com: Casinos across Louisiana welcome fun-seeking travelers
- FBI.Gov: Bossier City Man Sentenced for Running an Internet Gambling Operation
- GlobalEthics.org: British Internet Gambling Exec Arrested, Awaits Extradition to Louisiana
- JenkinsFamilyBlog.wp.com: The Final Death Throes of Betcha.com — and a Recap of “Justice,” Washington Style
As one of the few states with laws on internet betting, legal online gambling for Louisiana residents is hard to come by. The state legislature has imposed fairly strict limitations on those who would participate in online betting. This includes sports betting, horse racing betting, casino games, and bingo cards. If you live in the state, you have come to the right place to learn about the legalities of online gambling in Louisiana. Those who are aiming to enjoy this form of gambling will find that there are a number of different complications that can arise from gambling on the Internet, all because the legislature has decided to impose restrictions on personal freedoms in the name of safety. We have decided to explore the laws in order to see if there is anything that can be done, and whether or not Louisiana residents are afforded the luxury of legal online gambling for USA players.
Online Gambling Age For Louisiana Residents
We have taken it upon ourselves to first document the age requirements of gambling in the state of Louisiana. The legislature has imposed strict gambling ages of 21 on casinos and poker games, both online and offline. Even the lottery requires you to be 21 years of age. Those who are 18 can play bingo, both online and in the real world, and also bet on horses and dogs. The online sportsbooks then require you to be 21 in order to play.
Louisiana Online Gambling Laws
Few states have such a comprehensive code of laws related to online gambling as Louisiana does. When we started looking into the state's laws, we found that there are strict bans imposed on the games. LA Rev Stat § 14:90.3 is appropriately titled “Gambling by computer”. The law states that gambling is a crime in Louisiana if it is done with a venue unlicensed by the state, which could be interpreted to include offshore books. The state is very clear about this - whoever commits the crime of gambling by computer shall be fined not more than $500, while there can also be an imprisonment of up to six months - or both. This should be clear cut enough that online gambling is a crime when done in the borders of the state of Louisiana. We do not condone breaking the law, nor do we recommend you do so.
Gambling Sites That Accept Louisiana Residents
In spite of the laws pertaining to online gambling in the state of Louisiana, you will still find a number of sites that accept residents from the state. We have come to the conclusion that while we do not want you to break the law, we are sure that some of you are going to do so regardless. If you are going to gamble online, you may as well do so safely. Failure to choose the right gambling sites could end up sending you to a jail cell. We do not want this, as we are law-abiding citizens, but we can tell you that there are safe havens for you to gamble if you decide it is worth the risk.
Bovada: Online Casino Betting and More!
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BetOnline: Live Betting On LSU Football Games
Even if you’re sitting in the bayou, it’s easy to connect to the best overall gambling site in Louisiana. BetOnline offers its players the best way to look over the sportsbook online and make great wagers. This site has many different ways for people to make their wagers. This online casino offers a wide assortment of online casino games and poker rooms with weekly tournaments and high payouts. Signing up is always free for anyone over the age of 21. After an easy sign-up process, log into the football sportsbooks and see the schedule for upcoming games and all the different lines that BetOnline has to offer for NFL, NCAA, or CFL games.
Signing up is easy. Simply click the “Join Now” button at the top of the page and enter your contact info. Once you create an account, a confirmation will be sent in minutes. Deposits can be made in any number of methods that include but aren’t limited to debit/credit cards, money orders, bank wire transfers, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The fees are always as low as the processing times and new players can be making their first bets and wagers within minutes of joining. Go To BetOnline!
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Online Casinos That Accept Louisiana Residents
There are many online casinos accepting Louisiana residents, all of which utilize the latest technology and software. We have made it our point to root out the quality sites, and we have been steadfast in bringing our readers only the best gaming sites around. Lucky Red, Slots.lv, and Aladdin’s Gold have slots, blackjack, roulette, and more. Quite a few casinos have made the cut, and we are sure you will find one of the more generous options out there.
Online Sports Betting Sites That Accept Louisiana Residents
Sports bettors in the state of Louisiana will find that a trip to Las Vegas or another gambling hub is no longer required. Players can turn to the Internet to find various betting options online. Bovada and 5Dimes are just two of the available options that feature the latest odds on the New Orleans Saints and other popular teams. These sportsbooks have been individually tested and we can tell you that some solid options are available.
Online Poker Sites That Accept Louisiana Residents
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Louisiana
In spite of the changes to the online poker world, there are still many options available for poker players. We have tested the remaining poker rooms on the market, and we can tell you that there are various options available for legitimate, safe poker play. While still not permitted by law, sites like BetOnline and SportsBetting are two of the main online poker sites that accept Louisiana residents.
Online Bingo Sites That Accept Louisiana Players
Those who want to hit the bingo cards will find that several options exist. While local bingo halls will not make you a wealthy person, online bingo rooms offer a chance for some earnings and, more importantly, a lot of fun. Downtown Bingo is the most popular of the online bingo sites that accept Louisiana players, with huge bonuses and cash prizes. Should you stick to the options we have found, you will be able to enjoy the game of bingo in a trusted environment.
Is Online Gambling Legal In Louisiana?
Unfortunately, Louisiana has some very strict laws when it comes to gambling, some of them specifically targeting online gambling. In this state, if you gamble at a location, either land-based or via the internet or another telecommunication method, that is not licensed by the state you are in violation of the law. The laws listed in Louisiana’s state code actually specifically target the bettor, which is different from many laws of this nature. With that being said, you may still attempt to use online, offshore gambling sites. There are just more risks associated with the activity in the state of Louisiana. No one in the state has ever been arrested or charged after betting at an online, offshore gambling site in the state of Louisiana to date. That being said, we do not condone any activity that violates state law. We are just stating facts.
Are Online Casinos Legal In Louisiana?
Online casinos are a form of online gambling and are therefore illegal. You simply do not have the ability to play these casinos without the risk of being arrested. In the event that you wish to participate, you will not be able to do so without running the risk of being fined or imprisoned. As unfortunate as it may be, it does not change the fact that online casinos are illegal in Louisiana.
Is It Safe For Louisiana Residents To Play At Online Casinos?
While the state of Louisiana has laws in place against online gambling, they have no way of enforcing these laws on the end user, the Louisiana resident. Rather, Louisiana goes after anyone that owns or operates an online casino on Louisiana soil because they are cutting into the profits of the state-regulated casinos from which the state gets a cut of the revenue. Louisiana prefers its residents to travel to its gaming centers, however, residents have nothing stopping them from joining an online casino and playing games for real cash from the comfort of their home. We recommend several casinos for Louisiana residents on this page that can be trusted for fair gaming as well as for having a payout level as good as or better than those found in the casinos in New Orleans, Shreveport, etc if you choose to take the risk.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Louisiana?
Online gambling is not something that we can recommend to anyone living in Louisiana. While the repeal of PASPA has cleared the way for Louisiana and other states to legalize sports gambling, state legislators have yet to take the plunge. Without land-based sportsbooks, it would seem that the Internet is your only option to wager on sports. Sadly, this is simply not viable for those who do not wish to violate the laws. We can tell you that you can still access to reputable sites like Bovada and BetOnline, but you could potentially face criminal charges. We do not advocate breaking the law. Proceed at your own risk.
Is Online Poker Legal In Louisiana?
Residents of Louisiana will also find that problems can arise by playing online poker. Even if it is something of a game of skill, it is essentially bound to the same foolish laws that have made it a crime to gamble online in the state of Louisiana. Poker players will have to find another way to play, unfortunately, as online poker is a criminal activity in the state of Louisiana.
Can I Bet On Horse Racing In Louisiana?
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Louisiana
Louisiana has a number of racetracks in the state available to its residents. These racetracks will offer horse racing betting on races taking place at the track or at other tracks in the state, through simulcast wagering. You can also bet on horse racing online. Using a racebook that is regulated by the state is best, but you can access online, offshore racebooks from Louisiana if you want. The safest ones are those that are licensed and regulated by gaming commissions in their countries.
Best Funding Methods For Louisiana Gambling Sites
The best funding methods for Louisiana gambling sites are wholly dependent on what you’re looking for. Some are designed for speed but have low deposit limits by certain standards. Others have very high or nonexistent deposit standards, but take a little while to fund your account. Below are the top three funding methods for Louisiana gambling sites.
Checks – This method takes a few days to credit your account but usually has a high deposit limit of up to $10,000. Sending a check requires that you use a courier service like FedEx and supply the gambling site with your tracking number.
Credit/Debit Cards – Cards are known for fast deposits. But their limits tap out around a few thousand dollars at most, sometimes coming in lower than that. Credit cards are also subject to declination from time to time. If this happens, we recommend using a prepaid card. They work in the same way that credit cards do, but don’t have to go through a bank so don’t get declined. They have the same limits.
Bitcoin – This is a digital currency that is both fast and has a high deposit limit. You can deposit up to $25,000 to your account in a single transaction. Because it is an independent currency, it is not subject to the same restrictions as credit cards. Bitcoin combines speed with high limits (and zero fees) for the best deposit method for Louisiana gamblers.
Louisiana Legal Gambling FAQ’s
![Louisiana Louisiana](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/db/0b/3d/db0b3d27d9b39181ad6dadb227fc1940.jpg)
Does The Wire Act Make Sports Betting Online Illegal?
The Wire Act was written with the intention of keeping wagers from crossing state lines. So the verbiage used makes the act of taking a bet unlawful unless licensed by both states. But when you use an online, offshore sportsbook, you are using a company that is based in another country. When it comes to using a foreign company for sports betting, the Wire Act does not have any authority. US federal laws can only control the actions of those within the state, and therefore does not make sports betting online illegal.
What Does The UIGEA Do?
The UIGEA is a banking regulation that gives financial institutions the ability to decline transactions between US residents and online gambling sites. It was given this authority under false claims made in the 1999 national gambling study, which stated that banks were having trouble processing these payments (they weren’t but that’s another matter entirely). Regardless of the validity of these claims, the UIGEA allows for transactions to be canceled when you’re using a credit card or bank wire transfer to fund your online gambling account.
These declined payments only happen occasionally, so you won’t have to permanently change your deposit methods if you don’t want to. But it does happen from time to time. So when it does occur, you can use alternative measures. You’re not in any legal trouble under the UIGEA. It just makes banking a little more troublesome every now and then.
Can I Play Poker For Real Money Online In Louisiana?
Yes, you can play poker for real money online in Louisiana if you want to. Online, offshore poker rooms accept Louisiana residents without restraint. We do caution you that this is at your own risk, as there are online gambling laws in Louisiana that restrict online gambling activity.
Will I go to jail for online gambling in Louisiana?
If you are asking 'will I go to jail for online gambling in the state of Louisiana,' the answer is potentially yes. You can face up to six months imprisonment if you decide to gamble online in the state of Louisiana. We do not encourage breaking the law to gamble online.