Louisiana Horse Racing Betting

Louisiana horse racing law allows pari-mutuel wagering at race tracks, off-track betting facilities (OTBs), and licensed horse racing betting sites (ADWs) for patrons 18 or older.

Licensed OTBs may also host video poker machines and historical horse racing machines, which look like slots but generate results from past races. The Louisiana Racing Commission regulates, governs, and supervises all horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering throughout the state.

Louisiana Horse Racing Betting Sites

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Louisiana horse racing betting sites offer legal pari-mutuel wagering to customers 18 or older and physically located within state lines.

The Louisiana Racing Commission regulates advance deposit wagering and requires operators to comply with regulations concerning consumer protection, financial security, and technical operating standards.

As a result, BettingUSA encourages readers to bet on horse races with licensed operators only. Legal Louisiana horse racing betting apps and websites offer enhanced security, guaranteed withdrawals, and access to each track’s pari-mutuel wagering pools.

Louisiana Horse Racing Betting Sites

TwinSpires Louisiana
AmWager Louisiana
DRF Bets Louisiana
TVG Louisiana
BetMGM Horse Racing Louisiana
FanDuel Racing Louisiana
Caesars Racebook Louisiana
DK Horse Louisiana

Louisiana Horse Racetracks

Louisiana is home to four active racetracks that may host thoroughbred and quarter-horse races year-round.

Licensed racetracks may also offer onsite casinos, retail sportsbooks, and online sports betting regulated by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Although the minimum age to bet on horse races in Louisiana is 18, patrons must be 21 or older to participate in slots, video poker, and sports betting at Louisiana race tracks.

Delta Downs

2717 Delta Downs Dr
Vinton, LA 70668

Delta Downs is a Boyd Gaming property that hosts live thoroughbred races from October through February and quarter horse races from May through early September. The property also hosts an off-track betting room featuring live simulcasts from tracks nationwide.

The attached casino offers 1,500 slots and a 2,000-square-foot FanDuel Sportsbook with seating for 40+ fans. The property also has three restaurants and more than 350 hotel rooms.

Evangeline Downs

2235 Creswell Lane Extension
Opelousas, LA 70570

Evangeline Downs offers live thoroughbred races from April through August and quarter horse races from October through December.

Standard race days are Wednesday through Saturday, while Grand Stands offers year-round simulcast wagering. Patrons must be 18 or older and commit to a minimum food and beverage spend for entry to the Clubhouse.

In addition to horse racing, this Boyd property has a casino with 1,100+ slots, a FanDuel Sportsbook, two restaurants, and a four-story hotel. The pet-friendly hotel has 117 rooms and an indoor pool.

Fair Grounds Race Course

1751 Gentilly Blvd
New Orleans, LA 70119

Fair Grounds hosts live thoroughbred racing from mid-November through March. Standard race days are Thursday through Sunday, and general admission is free most days.

Guests can also enter the Clubhouse for $10, but reservations are recommended for anyone wanting to dine while watching the races. Note – the Clubhouse Dining Room has a dress code that requires men to wear collared shirts. Men may not enter the Clubhouse in shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops, or sweatsuits. Accompanied minors are welcome to watch live races but may not enter gaming or off-track betting areas.

This Churchill Downs property also has a casino with 600 slots and a TwinSpires Sportsbook. Smoking is prohibited inside the casino, but there is an outdoor smoking gaming patio.

Louisiana Downs

8000 East Texas St
Bossier City, LA 71111

Louisiana Downs offers live thoroughbred racing from May through September and quarter horse racing from January through early April. Standard race days for thoroughbred meets are Saturday through Tuesday, while race days for quarter horse races are Thursday through Saturday.

The property also hosts a casino with slots, video poker, multiple restaurants, and a combined sportsbook/sports bar. Rubico Acquisition Corporation purchased Louisiana Downs from Harrah’s for $22 million in November 2021 and has since upgraded 100 of its slot machines and added 50 historical horse racing machines.

Louisiana Off-Track Betting Locations

Off-track betting facilities licensed by the Louisiana Racing Commission may offer pari-mutuel wagering, live simulcasting, video poker, and up to 50 historical horse racing machines apiece.

Additionally, LA Rev Stat § 4:213 allows OTBs to advertise their wares, issue promotional offers, and sell food and beverages.

Off-Track Betting Locations by Parish

Evangeline Downs has three Races & Aces off-track betting locations, while Louisiana Downs has one off-track betting parlor. Each location offers video poker, food, and drinks.

Madison Parish OTBs

St. Landry Parish OTBs

St. Martin Parish OTBs

The remaining 15 OTBs in the state are Fair Grounds locations. Fair Grounds OTB & Casino locations have video poker, historical horse racing machines, and simulcast wagering. The one exception is the Covington Fair Grounds OTB location, which only offers simulcast wagering.

Jefferson Parish OTBs

Lafourche Parish OTBs

St. Bernard Parish OTBs

St. Charles Parish OTBs

St. John the Baptist Parish OTBs

St. Tammany Parish OTBs

Terrebonne Parish OTBs

Major Louisiana Horse Racing Events

The Louisiana horse racing market does not feature any Grade 1 thoroughbred races. However, Fair Grounds hosts multiple Grade II and Grade III stakes.

  • Fair Grounds Oaks (G2): $400,000 purse, open to 3yo fillies, held in March
  • Fair Grounds Stakes (G3): $150,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in February
  • Lecomte Stakes (G3): $200,000 purse, open to 3yo thoroughbreds, held in January
  • Louisiana Derby (G2): $1,000,000 purse, open to 3yo thoroughbreds, held in March
  • Louisiana Stakes (G3): $150,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in January
  • Mineshaft Stakes (G3): $250,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in February
  • Muniz Memorial Classic (G2): $300,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in March
  • New Orleans Classic (G2): $500,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in March
  • Rachel Alexandria Stakes (G2): $300,000 purse, open to 3yo fillies, held in February
  • Risen Star Stakes (G2): $400,000 purse, open to 3yo thoroughbreds, held in February

Louisiana Horse Racing Betting Laws

Title 4 (Amusement and Sports) of the Louisiana Revised Statutes covers horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the state level.

However, voters in each parish choose whether to allow off-track betting establishments and slots at live racing facilities within its boundaries via local referendums.

Accompanied minors may attend live horse racing events, but guests must be 18 or older to enter designated wagering areas or bet on horse races in Louisiana.

Louisiana Online Horse Racing Betting Rules

Louisiana law authorizes advance deposit wagering and gives the Racing Commission regulatory oversight powers.

Together, Louisiana law and the account wagering regulations describe bettors’ obligations and the rules governing horse racing betting sites. Some of the more noteworthy laws follow.

Prohibited Participants

Individuals in the following categories may not bet on horse races online in Louisiana:

  • Anyone under 18 years of age
  • Officers, directors, and employees of entities contracted by licensed horse racing betting sites
  • ADWs have the right to refuse to open an account for anyone if it deems it has a “good and sufficient reason”

Bettors’ Obligations

Louisiana’s horse racing betting regulations state that bettors:

  • May not share their online wagering accounts with others
  • May not place bets on behalf of others
  • Are responsible for all wagers placed through their accounts by other individuals
  • Are responsible for keeping their account login information private
  • Are responsible for providing accurate and up-to-date mailing addresses for the purposes of payouts and private communications

Authorized ADW Deposit and Withdrawal Methods

Licensed Louisiana horse racing betting sites may offer the following betting deposit options to customers who want to fund their wagering accounts:

  • Cash at any racetrack, OTB, or account wagering center designated by the horse racing betting site
  • Check or money order via mail*
  • Credit card
  • Debit card
  • “Any other means of electronic funds transfer”

*Individuals who wish to deposit via personal checks should note that state law prohibits licensed ADWs from crediting their wagering accounts until a hold period established by the ADW has elapsed.

Additionally, §12029 authorizes Louisiana horse racing betting sites to pay withdrawals to customers in person, via check by mail, or through an electronic funds transfer.

Further, §12035 requires licensed advance deposit wagering sites to credit winnings to customers’ accounts “as soon as practicable after the race is declared official.”

Consumer Protection Rules

  • The Louisiana Racing Commission may review and audit a licensed operator’s equipment and account wagering center at any time
  • Licensed operators must maintain complete records of customers’ deposits, withdrawals, wagers, refunds, and payouts and make them available to the Racing Commission upon request
  • Louisiana horse racing betting apps may not extend credit to customers
  • Licensed operators must provide a unique identification number to customers for use as further identification when placing wagers

Louisiana Horse Racing Betting FAQ

Fans must be 18 or older to bet on horse races in Louisiana.

Fans can visit Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs, Fair Grounds, and Louisiana Downs race tracks to watch and wager on live thoroughbred races. In addition, licensed off-track betting facilities also offer live simulcasting and wagering on races held around the country.

Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs, and Louisiana Downs offer live quarter horse races and pari-mutuel wagering.

Louisiana horse racing fans wanting to bet on the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Preakness Stakes Triple Crown races have two main options to get in on the action. They can bet with advance deposit wagering sites (ADWs) and apps or visit race tracks and OTBs with simulcast wagering.

TwinSpires.com is the officially endorsed Kentucky Derby betting app. However, BetMGM Racebook and FanDuel Racebook also accept Louisiana residents and will offer wagers on this year’s race.