riverboat casinos louisiana

Top Five Riverboat Casinos in Louisiana

Riverboat casinos are kind of a funny thing. Casino gaming isn’t allowed in certain locales and jurisdictions, so one creative workaround has been to hop on a boat for a “cruise”. The boat sails out into neutral territory where the laws no longer apply and, voila, you’re now free to play at a casino.

Louisiana has seen a lot of their gambling laws get altered over the past few years and they happen to be right next to a body of water, so that’s why they’ve been the perfect hub for riverboat casinos. More recent changes to the rules might render some of these cruises a thing of the past, but for now, they’re still riding strong. 
Louisiana offers you a ton of gaming variety when you visit a place like this. And plus, how often can you say you played blackjack on the high seas?

Let’s dive into a review of the best riverboat casinos in Louisiana, giving you the best possible trip if you’re looking to game on the water.

Sam’s Town

The first casino to cover is Sam’s Hotel and Casino, which can be found in downtown Shreveport. It’s currently run and operated by Boyd Gaming, which is a brand that’s become quite well-known around the United States. It’s got a type of Old West theme that really adds its own shine to it.

The riverboat style allows boats to dock near the property, so you don’t have to go far. This particular casino is located next to the dock at Shreveport, which is incredibly close to Sam’s Town.

When you get inside, there are a variety of options when it comes to what to play there. There is blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, Mississippi Stud, progressive slots, Let It Ride and many more. The best part about this venue is that they don’t ever close. It’s a casino that’s open 24 hours a day, which means that you can literally go ahead and gamble until the sun comes up and beyond.

Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that they offer a lot of good eating options. You might want to try eating at William B’s Steakhouse or maybe Smokey Joe’s Café if you would like something different.

Treasure Chest Casino

The Treasure Chest Casino is right alongside the shores of Lake Pontchartrain in Kenner, Louisiana. However, the lake they are located on is right next to New Orleans, so if you’re flying into the big city, it’s not far.

This is a casino with a lot of southern charm, yet it still makes it feel like you’re in New Orleans. They have live jazz and dance bands there, which really adds to the scene. Some people just go for a drink and the entertainment.

The betting boat will stay open all the way until 5 o’clock in the morning, so it’s not as if they’re closed all that often. When you’re inside, they offer a good number of gaming options. There are a total of 36 table games available, like blackjack, Mississippi Stud, roulette, craps, Fortune Pai Gow and many more. Then, just to top it all off, you can dine in the Vista Buffet when you need to give yourself a break.

Isle of Capri Casino Lake Charles

A good portion of the riverboats in the area of the Isle of Capri Casino don’t float down the same path as they used to, considering a change in gambling laws. Instead of just floating down the waterways in the state, these riverboats are docked in certain places and just mosey into the water. However, this doesn’t mean that these casinos are any less special to visit.

In regards to the Isle of Capri Casino, there is a very large hotel complex that’s right next door. They have decks that are replete with gaming floors featuring 34 available table games. You also dive into 11 poker tables and 1,175 total slot machines, so there’s plenty of action to be had on this boat.

The Louisiana culture can be found everywhere on board as well, with their cuisine available all over the boat. They have fantastic seafood on the menu. You can visit Henry’s Bar and Grill along with the Lone Wolf Express if you ever choose to take a break. There is a small bump in the road for this particular casino as it has been bumped off its moorings a few times in the past due to hurricanes that pass through the area. As long as you’re not going during hurricane season, you should be fine.

Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge

You can go to Hollywood in California or Hollywood in Louisiana.

The Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge riverboat is located exactly in – you guessed it – Baton Rouge. That makes it a good spot to visit if you’re going to watch the LSU Tigers play, as their campus is located in Baton Rouge.

This boat is docked on the Mississippi River and has tremendous opportunities for surf and turf gambling. Similar to a few other properties, there are a load of gaming options available. You have 1,100 slot machines to choose from and tons of classic casino table games to keep yourself occupied. Some of the featured games are blackjack, 3-card poker, craps, roulette and Cajun Stud. The style of this casino relies more so on the glamor of a place like Hollywood while making you feel like you’re in Las Vegas.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat, check out the Take Two Deli and Celebrity Grill. If you show up on a Sunday, then you can participate in their weekly champagne brunch as well. Once a month, they have a jazz brunch that is over the top in a good way.

Amelia Belle

The Amelia Belle is an older riverboat that’s built to look like that. It’s a style that you can see from what feels like miles away. All of their four storeys showcase their excellent designs and just reel you in further. Even if you don’t gamble, it calls you in to come have a look at what the olden days were like.

It’s currently docked in the Bayou over in Amelia, Louisiana. This is a casino that is owned and operated by Boyd Gaming, the second time that they’ve popped up on this list.

They offer a strong variety of games as well such as Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Mississippi Stud and 3-card poker, to name just a few of them. The promotions are excellent there as well. When you’re visiting, you might be lucky enough to get involved in their $10,000 cash giveaway or maybe even the $777 lucky slot jackpot that they offer. You’ll have trouble finding these sorts of promotions anywhere else. When you’re all done with the gambling portion of your visit, head over to the Bayou Café for some delicious creole cooking, or if you want to indulge, get a taste of the Cajun Buffet.

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