Guide to Casinos & Racetracks in New Orleans
Use this guide to discover all your options for gaming and racing in the New Orleans area.
When you’re not dusting powdered sugar off your shirt from beignets or learning about the diverse cultures that influenced the Crescent City, stop by these casinos to get your gaming on. From pulling the lever at the hottest slots to picking a color in roulette, these gaming houses have something for everyone, plus mouthwatering dining options and comfortable hotel rooms.
Caears New Orleans Hotel and Casino
Located just steps off of Canal Street and the Mississippi River, Caesars New Orleans is a place to duck your head inside to hear the whirring of slot machines and excited squeals as patrons try their hand at various table games. The walls are done up like the French Quarter streets that surround the casino, with wrought-iron balconies and brightly colored masks adding accents. Stay in this AAA Four Diamond award-winning hotel and dine on tender Angus filet tenderloin at The Steakhouse before sitting down for blackjack, baccarat, poker or craps. If you want to start on the night on a high note before heading into the Quarter, check out the Hoodoo Lounge, where you can grab a frozen concoction before gambling on Hoodoo Roulette while jamming to the DJ’s latest selection. Headed to a convention? The casino is a 10-minute walk from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
Boomtown New Orleans
Boomtown is all about letting the good times roll — or laissez les bons temps rouler since we’re in New Orleans — in its 30,000 square feet of gaming space located on a riverboat. That’s right, you can bet the night away from the decks of a steamboat! But before you head down to the water for the evening, check into their 150-room hotel, where the beds come equipped with angel-soft pillow-top mattresses. Have dinner at one of their restaurants — might we suggest Pier 4’s decadent lobster tails? After dinner play on a slot or video-poker machine. Or take up three-card poker, blackjack, baccarat, craps or pai gow poker. The casino is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so you’ll never miss the action. Plus, the riverboat is a 15-minute drive from downtown New Orleans and offers meeting and event space.
Treasure Chest Casino
This decked-out steamboat, with a blazing, blinking neon sign will call to your gamer dreams. Step aboard the Treasure Chest Casino, located about 30 minutes from New Orleans in Kenner, to play almost 1,000 of the most popular slot titles as well as many table games. Sit in a comfortable red-and-gold chair while you take a chance at minibaccarat, fortune pai gow, Mississippi stud and flop poker. Feeling a little famished after winning? Try Cafe Pontchartrain, where they serve up po’boys, salads, hamburgers and daily specials.
Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots
The Fair Grounds is one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, in operation since 1872. Here, visitors are welcome to play the slot machines or bet on races using off-track betting options. At the Fair Grounds Race Course, you’ll hear the thudding of horse hooves and see the reflection of the bright jockey uniforms as you test your luck on the 600 slot machines. After a big win at the slots, parade around the winner’s circle like a racehorse. Be sure to pop by the Gentilly Grill for gumbo. Taking in an early-morning race? The course is also welcoming of events and meetings, plus they host the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival each spring.