New Orleans is known as a party town thanks to the Mardi Gras festival that is renowned around the world for it’s street partying and rowdiness. Sports and partying go hand in hand, and New Orleans is also a great sports town with two big time professional teams in the Saints (NFL) and Pelicans (NBA). The Saints especially are the love of the city with the team bringing the Super Bowl home back in 2009.
Whenever there is a successful NFL team located in the city you can be sure that sports betting is a major part of the culture. On this page I will answer the popular questions surrounding the legality of sports betting in New Orleans, give a couple online sportsbook recommendations and look at the offline betting options available in the city.
Is Sports Betting Legal in New Orleans?
Yes, sports betting is legal in New Orleans. Sports betting became legal in 55 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana (including New Orleans) after those parishes approved a ballot measure legalizing sports betting in November of 2020, and the Governor proceeded to sign a trio of sports betting bills into law in June of 2021.
Retail sports betting launched in the state in October of 2021 and regulated online sports betting began in January of 2022. There are currently 9 regulated online betting sites operating in the state.
New Orleans residents also have the option to bet with offshore sportsbooks, like the two I recommend below, that are licensed and regulated outside of the United States, while accepting American bettors.
Best Sportsbooks for New Orleans Residents
- Accepts players worldwide
- Competitive betting lines
- Fast & easy deposits and withdrawals (including Bitcoin)
These are our two top rated offshore betting sites for New Orleans residents. Both of these online sportsbooks are popular across the country and provide a trusted platform to place your bets. Check out either of the reviews above for a further breakdown of each site.
Offline Sports Betting in New Orleans
New Orleans has two retail sportsbooks and a top quality horse racing track available in the city.
Boomtown Casino & Hotel
Boomtown New Orleans is a riverboat casino in New Orleans located on the West Bank of the city. The Sportsbook on location is open 7 days a week from 9am to 10/11pm depending on the day.
Caesars New Orleans
Caesars New Orleans is located at the bottom of Canal Street in New Orleans. The casino includes a Caesars Sportsbook with 4 betting windows, 12 betting kiosks, a massive video screen, and a large bar area. If you’re looking for a Vegas-style sportsbook experience in New Orleans then Harrah’s Casino is your best bet.
Fair Grounds Race Course
Fairgrounds Race Course & Slots is located directly downtown in New Orleans, right across from the New Orleans Museum of Art. This is one of the top tracks in the United States and easily the best horse racing track in the region. The track was originally called the Louisiana Race Course and held races as far back as 1839, making it the second oldest horse racing site in the country.
The biggest race of the year at the track is the Louisiana Derby, which is a popular preparation race for the Kentucky Derby.
On top of wagering on the live races, you are able to bet on races from all of the top tracks across the country at Fair Grounds Race Course.
If you aren’t able to head to the track to bet on the live races, you can also place bets on the Fair Grounds races at either BetOnline or MyBookie. Both sportsbooks take bets on all of the races run at Fair Grounds throughout the year.
Major Sports Teams in New Orleans
- New Orleans Pelicans (Basketball – NBA)
- New Orleans Saints (Football – NFL)