New Orleans is one of the most famous cities in America,
with a history that is as full of color as the beautiful flowers adorning the
houses of the Garden District. A melting pot of American, African, and French
cultures, the city has a unique flavor, not just in its signature dishes, but
also in its architecture, music, and culture. It earned its nickname of the Big
Easy because of the laid-back and easy-going way of life there, although anyone
who thinks this means that the city is quiet is sorely mistaken. New Orleans is
known for its vibrant nightlife, both in the center of the
city and in its surrounding areas. The Carnival atmosphere of Mardi Gras is
known all over the world, and it embodies the spirit of the city like nothing
else.
Casino Culture
It's not just parties and music that can be found in New
Orleans after dark; the city is home to half a dozen casinos that are always as
busy as the clubs and bars. While most people would associate New Orleans with
jazz, the macabre, and delicious Creole and Cajun cuisine, the gambling scene
there is flourishing and provides a very different experience to the bright
lights of casino cities.
New Orleans has a long history with gambling. Some of the
first American casinos were opened in the city, although the games played
within them had been around for much longer. When gambling was made illegal in
the state, players simply went underground, hosting games at home and in the
backrooms of local establishments. It wasn't until the 1990s that Louisiana
once again legalized the practice, and several new casinos sprang up around the
state. Hoping to add some local flavor to what was on offer, the state
government also legalized riverboat gambling. Riverboats used to take tourists
up and down the Mississippi River and were an iconic sight in the 19th and
early 20th centuries. Now, many of them have been repurposed into beautiful
floating casinos, such as the Treasure Chest Casino which moors up on Lake
Pontchartrain.
Where to Gamble in New Orleans
Vegas favorite Harrah's Casino has a branch in New Orleans, which is
hugely popular.
New Orleans has a casino for everyone. If you want the traditional
casino experience—glamorous settings, luxurious décor—then Harrah's Hotel and
Casino on Poydras Street is the one for you. Bringing the flavour of Las Vegas
into Louisiana, Harrah's offers all your favorite games, including craps,
slots, video poker, and their unique take on blackjack. Adding an extra bet
called 21+3 extreme, you can win a payout of 30 to one if your hand plus the
dealer's up card make the best three-card poker hand. Of course, you don't need
to take the side bet, and can enjoy traditional blackjack if that's what you
know. 888 Casino, winners of the "Casino Operator of
the Year 2019" award, have created a comprehensive guide filled with top
tipson how to play blackjack, to make sure
that you can get the best out of your game.
To add more of a New Orleans flavor to your gambling
experience, you might want to try Boomtown New Orleans Casino on the Westbank
of the Mississippi. A little more low-key than Harrah's but no less fun, Boomtown offers all the same great
casinos games, as well as food, drinks, and amazing nightly entertainment.
There's also a hotel on site, so you can comfortably spend the weekend there without
having to leave.
Another historic New Orleans venue is the Fair Grounds Race
Course & Slots. The legal age for placing a bet on the races in New Orleans
is only 18, lower than the age of gambling at 21, so the Fair Grounds offers
alternative fun for those who are a little bit younger. The race course has
been open since 1872 and is the third-oldest race course still in operation in
the U.S. The casino is a rather newer addition, offering state-of-the-art slot
machines and video poker machines with promotions every day.
The Future of Gambling in New Orleans
Legalizing online gambling could revolutionize the gambling scene in
New Orleans
As for the future of gambling in New Orleans, there are
some big decisions to be made. Currently, state legislation limits the number
of casinos that can operate within state limits, with more riverboat casinos
being licensed than land-based venues. While the riverboat casinos don't move,
they are still required to have certain features, such as a functioning paddlewheel,
although there have been discussions around removing some of these limitations
and allowing them to build adjacent venues on the riverbanks.
One of the biggest changes that Louisiana could make in order to ensure that its
gambling economy continues to thrive is to legalize online gambling. Currently,
most forms of online wagering are illegal in the state, with the exception of
pari-mutuel betting. However, other states are beginning to legalize online
gambling, with Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania among those who are leading
the way.
Summary
Allowing New Orleans residents to gamble online, legally
and without having to resort to using offshore sites, would raise more taxes
for the state, which could be reinvested in the communities. In other states,
online casinos have partnered with land-based casinos to bring their services
online and build an established customer base. An alternative to the
controversial expansion planned by Harrah's Casino would be to allow the business
to expand online, providing increased facilities for their players, without
having to take up more space in the iconic city.
