Is it legal to play at online casinos in Louisiana?
If you have been holding out hope for a real money online casino in Louisiana with no deposit bonuses, you’ll unfortunately be disappointed. Online casinos, at least real money online casinos, are currently not legal in Louisiana. The Louisiana Revised Statutes § 14:90.3 (1997) made “gambling by computer” a criminal offense in 1997.
Take a look at Louisiana’s online gambling history below:
The boom of online casinos in Louisiana from 1995 to 2006
Between the years 1995 and 2006, there was a big boom in online gambling across the United States. The lack of regulations allowed several offshore operators to make billions from online casinos. Although Louisiana already had a ban on online gambling at the time, it was hard to enforce.
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) (2006)
In 2006, federal legislation was introduced, that prohibited credit card companies from authorizing payments related to illegal online gambling. It was at this point that Louisiana saw a decline in offshore casino activity from within state lines.
Gambling by Computer Prohibition
As mentioned above, Louisiana enacted the ban on “gambling by computer” back in 1997. The law criminalizes online casino operators and their employees for any violations. It even takes it a step further by going after online casino software designers, and developers. Pretty much anyone “who enables and maintains the computer network that allows the games to be played” will be considered a party to the crime.
So it is a clear message from Louisiana lawmakers to steer clear of any online casinos. Even if you come across an illegal real money online casino in Louisiana with
no deposit bonuses, do not make any transactions or wager on these sites, as you can get into serious trouble with the law
History of gambling laws in Louisiana
Are you interested in learning about the gambling laws in Louisiana and how it has evolved over the years? Take a look below at a comprehensive timeline of gambling laws in the state.
- Early 1800s:
New Orleans, one of the most well-known cities in Louisiana, was one of the first cities to boast a lively gambling scene and it already had six licensed casinos by 1823. In fact, there is a street named “Craps” (now Burgundy Street) in the city to memorialize the love for the game.
- 1835:
In 1835, the Louisiana legislature repealed all the authorizations for casino licensing. However, several casinos continued to thrive illegally. Gambling became very much an underground activity at this time.
- 20th Century: After the Civil War, Louisiana reversed its stance on gambling by introducing the state lottery and setting up the private corporation, Louisiana State Lottery Company, to oversee it. However, it went under by 1892, owing to corruption and public opposition.
- Riverboat Renaissance:
The 1990s witnessed a revival of legal gambling in the state of Louisiana. It was the era of the riverboat casinos. These floating casinos are currently available legally in New Orleans and have become a major tourist attraction.
Is it legal to play at sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana?
From our review of
sweepstakes casino laws
in Louisiana, we have gathered that sweepstakes is considered different than traditional gambling. This has given a unique legal nature to sweepstakes casinos, which are not regulated in the same manner as traditional online casinos.
If you reside in Louisiana, you can play at online sweepstakes casinos without breaking any explicit law. So in that sense, it is indeed legal to play at Louisiana sweepstakes casinos. If you are wondering how sweepstakes casinos are different than real money online casinos in the eyes of the law, here’s our explanation below:
- No Risking of Anything Valuable:
Online gambling is illegal in the state of Louisiana and this includes “gambling by computer”. According to the Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 14, Section 97- ‘"Gambling" means the risking of anything of value for gain upon the result of a contest of chance or upon the happening of a future event not under the control of the person risking.’
Since sweepstakes casinos do not require players to risk anything of value, or make any wagers and deposits, they are not considered gambling hubs and are tolerated in the state.
- Prizes and Promotions:
You can typically redeem prizes with your SC coins on most sweepstakes casinos. However, the prizes you do redeem are not tied to any mandatory payment or transactions, since SC coins cannot be purchased and are given as rewards. Hence, your prizes cannot be tied to the gaming activity, making it different than traditional gambling.
As long as Louisiana sweepstakes casinos continue to adhere to these laws, they will be considered legal and in compliance with sweepstakes laws in Louisiana.
Are sweepstakes casinos a good alternative to online casinos in Louisiana?
Given the illegal status of online casinos in Louisiana, many residents have turned to
sweepstakes casinos, which offer a free and fun alternative. Here are some of the main reasons why these sweepstakes casinos are growing in popularity:
- Free-to-play: If you are someone who enjoys playing slots, card games and other online casino games, you can do so for free on different sweepstakes casinos. From the moment you sign up to a good sweepstakes casino, you will have access to a catalog of games for free!
- You can win real prizes: If you play sweepstakes games in Louisiana on online sweepstakes casinos, you will receive SC coins. These coins can be redeemed for actual prizes like cash prizes and gift cards, as long as you fulfill the eligibility criteria.
Naturally, these factors have made sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana a great alternative to illegal real money online casinos.
How do you identify which sweepstakes casinos are legit?
To identify the good from the bad, the reputed from the scam, we highly encourage you to use the resources we have on our website. Every sweepstakes casino worths its salt has been reviewed and rated by us. You can information on their legal status, games, security, and reputation in our detailed sweepstakes casino reviews.
Besides our reviews, here’s a quick checklist of tips that can help you assess the quality of a sweepstakes site and whether it is trustworthy:
- Check for compliance with laws:
Now that you know what makes sweepstakes casinos different than traditional online casinos, make sure that the site you are signing up on is compliant. If you are being made to purchase something or deposit mandatorily to access the site, run the other way.
- Check players reviews:
Use forums like Reddit, TrustPilot and Facebook Groups to check player reviews about sites you are considering signing up on. Look for information on redemption policy, customer support and other factors that matter to you, before making a decision about the legitimacy of the site.
The more you know, the safer you’ll be. So always do your research before signing up to a
new sweeps cash casino
site.
What potential future updates on online casinos in Louisiana can the state expect?
There is some very exciting movement in the Louisiana State Senate committees, which are planning to meet in October 2024 to discuss the feasibility of legalizing online casino gaming in the state.
It looks like lawmakers in the state have realized the immense revenue potential of online gambling sites, and are considering legalizing it in the future.
Detailed study in progress
Members of the Louisiana State Senate committees sent a resolution to Louisiana Secretary of State, Nancy Landryare, in June. The resolution detailed a plan to study the impact of online gambling legalization in the state.
A lot of details such as taxation rates, measures for controlling gambling and specific regulatory framework are yet to be discussed and finalized. One can imagine that these will be top of mind for lawmakers.
The sport betting legalization effect
Online sportsbooks were legalized and launched in Louisiana in 2022. They have contributed close to $108,041,895 to Louisiana’s treasury, since
legal sports betting online
started. We think that lawmakers are surely looking at the revenue stream from sports betting as a model to emulate and hoping to earn similar revenues in the future from online gambling legalization.
While there is no clarity on when exactly online casinos will become legal in the state, there are some positive indicators about the possibility of legalization.
No-deposit bonus wagering requirements in Louisiana
According to our review of Louisiana sweepstakes casinos, there are plenty of no-deposit bonuses for players that are up for grabs. These bonuses include welcome bonuses, daily login bonuses, VIP schemes, contests and other daily rewards.
However, remember that according to Louisiana sweepstakes rules, material prizes cannot be tied to any payment. So if you are hoping to redeem your SC coins for prizes, you will have to win them as rewards and play them at least once, before they become eligible for redemption.
For example, if you sign up on High 5 Casino, you will receive 5 SC which you will need to play with, before they can become eligible for redemption. Additionally, you will have to have a minimum of 50 SC to redeem a gift card or 100 SC to redeem cash prizes.
Below we have listed the no-deposit bonus
playthrough requirements
for Louisiana sweepstakes casinos.
| Sweepstakes Casino |
No-deposit bonus |
Playthrough requirements |
| Stake US |
$55 Stake Cash + 250,000 GC |
Must play through 3x before redemption |
| Hello Millions |
2.5 SC +15,000 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
| McLuck |
27.5 Free SC + Up to 57.500 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption: 75 SC for cash, 100 SC for gift cards |
| Zula Casino |
Get 10 SC Sign-up Bonus + 100K GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC is the minimum required for redemption |
| WOW Vegas |
35 SC Free and 1.75M WOW Coins |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Sportzino |
SC 7 Welcome Bonus + Up to GC 170,000 |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming |
| High 5 Casino |
5 SC Free + 250 Game Coins and 600 Diamonds |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption; 50 SC for a gift card, 100 SC for cash prizes |
| Sweeptastic |
50% First Purchase Discount: Get 40K Lucky Coins + 40 SC Free |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming; 100 SC minimum for redemption |
| Fortune Coins |
1,400 Fortune Coins+ Free 650,000 GC |
SC must be played through 1x before redemption |
| Vegas Gems |
1K Gems + 50% Extra Gems On First Purchase |
SC must be played through 1x before redeeming: 100 SC required at the minimum for a redemption |
What are users saying about playing sweepstakes casinos online in Louisiana?
We went to Reddit to see what other players are saying about sweepstakes casinos or online casino gaming in general, in Louisiana. It seems that there has been a wave of sweepstakes casinos discontinuing their services in Louisiana.
One Redditor claimed that they had received an email from McLuck Casino, saying that the sweepstakes casinos will no longer be accessible in Louisiana, due to regulatory changes.
We also found a similar Reddit post about Pulsz. It seems that starting November 2024, Pulsz will no longer be available in Louisiana. These announcements have caused considerable confusion and disappointment among fans of these sweepstakes casinos. People in the comments are upset and annoyed at these regulatory changes, especially given sports betting is legalized and permitted in the state.
Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly what regulatory change has triggered these announcements. Our guess is that these sweepstakes casinos may have received cease-and-desist orders from Louisiana government. Many brick and mortar casinos see sweepstakes casinos as a threat to their business and it is possible that mounting pressure from those stakeholders is forcing the government to look closely into these sweepstakes casinos.
If you live in Louisiana and want to play at sweepstakes casinos, it is perhaps best to always check beforehand, whether the site is available in the state. Some
sites like Stake.us, Chumba Casino and High 5 Casino are well reputed and currently running in Louisiana bu there are others that have stopped offering services. So make sure to check in advance.
Final thoughts on sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana
Although online casinos are currently illegal in Louisiana, there is a high chance that they might be legalized in the future. The lawmakers in the state are looking into potential legalization and there are some strong indicators that the state Senate will discuss and consider legalization soon.
Meanwhile, sweepstakes casinos are growing in popularity due to many factors. You can play sweepstakes games in Louisiana without having to place any wagers and you can also redeem tangible prizes with SC coins. Until online gambling is legalized, sweepstakes casinos offer a free and legal alternative for Louisiana gaming enthusiasts.
Louisiana Legal Sweepstakes Casino FAQ
⚖️ Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Louisiana?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are not considered traditional online gambling, and hence, they are legal in the state of Louisiana.
🧑⚖️ Will online casinos be legal in Louisiana?
Louisiana lawmakers are studying the impact of online casinos in October 2024 and will likely present a resolution in 2025. There might be a move made to legalize online casinos in Louisiana pretty soon, but there is no set date as of yet.
🚏 What type of gambling is legal in Louisiana?
There are many different forms of legal gambling in Louisiana such as riverboat casinos, sports betting, fantasy sports betting, state lottery and so on.
😅 Do casinos have to be on water in Louisiana?
According to Louisiana laws, casinos do not have to be on water to be considered legal. There are many riverboat casinos in the state but there are also land-based casinos on state or private-owned lands.
🏅 Which are the top sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana?
Some of the best Louisiana sweepstakes casinos include Stake.us, HelloMillions, High 5 Casino, Sportzino, and more.
🎯 Is Bingo legal in Louisiana?
Yes, Bingo is legal in Louisiana as long as it is charitable in nature. Only certified non-profit organization can host Bingo games to raise funds.
🎰 Can you build a casino on land in Louisiana?
Land-based casinos are permitted in Louisiana and anyone can build a new casino as long as they have a license and prior authorization from the state.
🤑 Which is the best sweepstakes casino for Louisiana residents?
There are many top sweepstakes casinos available to Louisiana residents and each of them have different pros and cons. While it is difficult to select the best since that can differ from one person’s opinion to another, some of the best sweepstakes casinos in Louisiana include Stake.us, Sweeptastic Casino and High 5 Casino.
⚖️ Are sweepstakes legal in the U.S.?
Besides some states where sweepstakes casinos are explicitly illegal like Washington D.C, they are widely tolerated in most places across the U.S. Most states differentiate sweepstakes casinos from real money online casinos and do not classify the former as gambling, which has paved the way for its legal status.
💵 Do I need to pay to play at a sweepstakes casino?
You do not have to pay to play at a sweepstakes casinos since they offer free games to all. You can always purchase additional coins on the site but you will never be required to make a deposit or wager on these sites to play games.
Disclaimer:
Kindly note that we are not legal or tax experts. While we always strive to present the most accurate information, this is not binding legal advice. Always reach out to a licensed lawyer or tax advisor when in doubt.
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