New Orleans has always been a tourist hotspot, and it’s easy to see why. The city has so much history to be explored. With diverse cultural heritage, you can visit a grand plantation, roam the French Quarter, check out the iconic jazz scene, and here tales of ghosts and spirits which still haunt the swamps. Every street you walk down is lined with beautiful buildings, packed restaurants. The aromas of gumbo and beignets spills out onto the sidewalks tempting all who pass. At night, the city comes alive with music as partygoers move from legendary bar to bar, bringing Bourbon Street to life.
The history of gambling in New Orleans
A relatively recent addition to the city’s entertainment experiences are gambling establishments. Gambling was only legalized in New Orleans in the 1990s, and the rules remain pretty tight. Players must be 21 in order to enter one of the casinos, although the age limit is lowered to 18 at the racetrack and for buying a lottery ticket. Gambling has always been a popular pastime, even when it had to happen underground. But betting on the horse races has been legal for a hundred years, with many of New Orleans’ high society members regularly turning out for a day at the races. The Fair Grounds Racecourse is the third-oldest track in the country and can cater for thousands of visitors in its ultra-modern stands and boxes. A more recent addition at the racetrack is the casino. Boasting 600 of the newest slot machines available, alongside a huge selection of video poker machines, the track aims to cater to a wider variety of gamblers.
Harrah’s Casino
Harrah’s casino is one of New Orleans’s most popular and loved gambling establishments.
If table games are more your thing, then the fabulous Harrah’s casino in the beautiful French Quarter has everything you are looking for. New Orleans’ ‘official gambling establishment’, Harrah’s aims to bring its customers all the glamour and fun of Las Vegas to the casinos in New Orleans. Alongside its incredible line up of 2000 slot machines are a dedicated poker room and over 100 hundred table games including all your favorites: Blackjack, Craps, Fortune Pai Gow, Baccarat, and many more. Home to serious gamblers and casual players, everyone will find something here to enjoy.
Harrah’s casino also has its own hotel and more than a dozen eating options, including everything from fine dining to casual food carts. Live evening shows and energetic nightclubs round off the entertainment at a complex that makes it hard to find a reason to leave. If it wasn’t for the beautiful city outside, with its own temptations, many people might be tempted to spend their entire vacation at Harrah’s casino.
Riverboat Casinos
True to its individual and quirky nature, New Orleans is also home to two riverboat casinos. The riverboat casinos don’t cruise up and down the Mississippi like they used to, but they are still a sight to behold. It’s definitely well worth a visit to soak up the atmosphere and drop a few pennies in the slot machines. There’s a real nostalgia to these floating casinos, and with their classic riverboat décor,, giving a feel of going back in time.
Treasure Chest Casino
Moored on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain is the magnificent Treasure Chest casino, home to over 900 slot machines, 36 tables, a buffet and a café. It’s a great place to spend an evening and a and more low-key than Harrah’s. Of course that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy to walk away with a jackpot. Treasure Chest offers different variations of poker, as well as blackjack, craps and roulette. Before you go, why not brush up on your gambling skills by visiting a trusted site like 888 Casino? Here you’ll find top tips from gambling experts on all things from winning slots tips, to this excellent roulette strategy guide, which might give you an edge over the other players at your table.
Boomtown Hotel and Casino
With so many great venues in such stunning locations, it can be hard to decide where to gamble in New Orleans with so much choice.
Another great place for some more low-key action is Boomtown Hotel and Casino situated on the west bank of the Mississippi. Looking to deliver the whole package, Boomtown has five outstanding restaurants, nightly shows, and a whole casino floor jam-packed with your favorite games. You can take a break from the 1500 slot machines to indulge in some fresh local seafood, and then wander back to one of more than 30 table games, including seven dedicated just to poker. If you’re a poker novice, it’s probably worth brushing up on some basic tips before sitting down, or at least knowing the hand rankings so you know whether your cards are any good.
Summary
If you’re looking to do some gambling while in New Orleans, there might not be dozens of places to choose from, but the city has always dealt in quality over quantity. There’s no reason its gambling offerings should be any different. Whether you’re after some glamour and high-end entertainment or a more relaxed evening, there is a venue here for you. Make sure you know how much you are willing to spend at the start of the night, brush up on the rules, and learn some strategies for the games you’re planning on playing. It’s unlikely that you’ll walk out a millionaire, but if you play carefully you’ll definitely have a lot of fun, and possibly even walk out with a little more change than you went in with.
*Disclaimer: If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
