The Short Answer
Louisiana does not have legal, regulated online poker. Louisiana has one of the most developed gambling industries in the US: 15 commercial riverboat casinos, four tribal casinos, Harrah's New Orleans (the only land-based casino), video poker terminals in bars and restaurants, and legal mobile sports betting since 2022.
Louisiana players who want to play online poker access offshore operators. The PokerSites.org review team's top picks for Louisiana players in May 2026 are BetOnline Poker and Bovada Poker.
Best Offshore Poker Sites for Louisiana Players (May 2026)
1. BetOnline Poker — Best Overall for LA Players
- 100% deposit match up to $1,000 on first crypto deposit
- Crypto withdrawals in 18–36 hours
- Daily tournaments and 24/7 cash games
Visit: Read our full BetOnline review
2. Bovada Poker — Best for Recreational LA Players
- 100% deposit match up to $500
- Anonymous tables prevent HUD tracking
- Zone Poker (fast-fold) available
Visit: Read our full Bovada review
3. Americas Cardroom — Best Tournaments
- Venom tournament: $10M guaranteed
- 100% deposit match up to $2,000
Visit: Read our full Americas Cardroom review
Louisiana Online Poker Legal Status
Current Law
Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 27 governs gambling. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) oversees casino and sports betting regulation. RS 14:90 covers gambling offenses. Louisiana uniquely allows video poker terminals in bars, truck stops, and restaurants. No statute addresses online poker for individual players.
Legislative Outlook
Louisiana has the infrastructure for igaming — a mature casino industry, sports betting, and an experienced regulator. However, Louisiana's parish-by-parish gambling approval system (each parish votes on whether to allow each type of gambling) creates a structural barrier for statewide online gaming. iGaming bills have been discussed but not introduced. Most analysts consider 2029–2030 plausible if a statewide framework can be crafted.
Banking for Louisiana Players
| Method | Availability | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin / crypto | All 3 recommended sites | Deposit: instant. Withdrawal: 18–72 hours |
| Voucher / P2P | Bovada, ACR | Deposit: 1–4 hours. Withdrawal: 24–48 hours |
| Credit/debit card | Limited success | Most bank issuers block transactions |
Cryptocurrency is the recommended method for Louisiana players using offshore sites.
Live Poker in Louisiana
- Harrah's New Orleans — The only land-based (non-riverboat) casino in Louisiana. Active poker room with cash games and tournaments.
- L'Auberge Casino Resort (Lake Charles) — Major poker room in western Louisiana.
- Horseshoe Casino Bossier City — Northern Louisiana's largest poker room. Hosts WSOP Circuit events.
- Boomtown Casino Bossier City — Additional poker room in the Shreveport/Bossier area.
Louisiana's poker scene is strong, particularly in New Orleans and the Shreveport/Bossier City corridor.
Responsible Gambling — Louisiana Resources
- Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling — 1-877-770-STOP (1-877-770-7867)
- National Council on Problem Gambling — 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
- Gamblers Anonymous — gamblersanonymous.org
For the full PokerSites.org responsible-gambling policy, see our Responsible Gambling page.
Last reviewed: 14 May 2026 by Jason Murphy, Senior Editor. Next scheduled review: 14 August 2026.
Affiliate disclosure: PokerSites.org receives a referral commission when readers register with operators we link to. Our ratings are set before any commercial relationship and are not negotiable. See our editorial policy for the full disclosure.