Louisiana off track betting is available through a network of licensed OTB parlors alongside the state's four active racetracks and online wagering options.
Whether you’re looking for the thrill of a live race, an OTB location nearby or a guide to the best online sportsbooks available in LA, we bring you a complete resource for horse betting in Louisiana.
Top online OTB sites in Louisiana
-
EXCLUSIVE BONUS
50% up to $250Play NowT&C apply, 18+, Play responsibly
-
EXCLUSIVE BONUS
125% up to $1,250Play Now
T&C apply, 18+, Play responsibly
-
EXCLUSIVE BONUS
225% up to $3,625Play Now
T&C apply, 18+, Play responsibly
-
50% up to $250Play Now
T&C apply, 18+, Play responsibly
-
125% up to $2,500Play Now
T&C apply, 18+, Play responsibly
Louisiana OTB locations
Louisiana state has around two dozen licensed off track betting locations spread across the state. These are licensed under the Louisiana Racing Commission and operate under two main networks - Fair Grounds OTB Casinos and Races & Aces.
All the locations offer simulcast wagering alongside video poker and food and beverage service.
See our breakdown below:
Races & Aces OTB locations
The Races & Aces network is affiliated with Evangeline Downs, currently operating two locations in the Acadiana region:
| Races & Aces Henderson | 2825 A Grand Point Hwy #1, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517 |
| Races & Aces St. Martinville | 2308 North Main St., St. Martinville, LA 70582 |
Louisiana Downs OTB
Louisiana Downs OTB Parlour is a standalone wagering facility affiliated with the Bossier City track, covering races from across the US and major international tracks.
Louisiana horse racing tracks
Louisiana operates four active race tracks, all of which host both thoroughbred and quarter horse racing. These are spread across the state, from New Orleans to Bossier City.
We have profiled these below:
Fair Grounds Race Course
Fair Grounds Race Course is the historic anchor of Louisiana racing, located in New Orleans with a racing history stretching back to 1852.
It is one of the oldest active racing sites in North America, with its thoroughbred meet running from November through March across a one-mile dirt track and seven-furlong turf course.
Slot machines were added in 2007, turning the venue into a modern racino.
The headline event is the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, one of the biggest Kentucky Derby preps on the spring calendar.
| Location |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Opended |
1852 |
| Surface | Dirt & Turf |
| Racing Type |
Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse |
| Website |
fairgroundsracecourse.com |
Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs is Louisiana's central venue for thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, located in Opelousas.
The one-mile oval hosts its thoroughbred season from April into early September, followed by quarter horse racing from October through December.
Legendary gelding John Henry won the first stakes race of his career there in 1977, capturing the Lafayette Futurity before becoming a two-time Horse of the Year.
| Location |
Opelousas, Louisiana |
| Opended |
1966 |
| Surface |
Dirt |
| Racing Type |
Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse |
| Website |
evangelinedowns.com |
Delta Downs
Delta Downs is southwestern Louisiana’s main racing venue, located near Vinton and owned by Boyd Gaming.
Its thoroughbred season currently runs from October through February, followed by quarter horse racing from April through July.
The track’s former headline event was the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot, which was discontinued after its 2016 running.
Delta Downs underwent major reconstruction and capital improvements after Hurricane Rita badly damaged the property in 2005.
| Location |
Vinton, Louisiana |
| Opened |
September 1973 |
| Surface |
Dirt |
| Racing Type |
Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse |
| Website |
deltadowns.com |
Play Online NowBetOnline Review BONUS $250 Play Now in BetOnline
Louisiana Downs
Louisiana Downs is northwestern Louisiana’s main racing venue, located in Bossier City and open since 1974.
The track runs its quarter horse meet from January through March before thoroughbred racing takes over from May through September.
The Super Derby is its flagship contest for three-year-old thoroughbreds, but it is no longer a Grade 2 race.
It now holds Black Type status, with the 2026 edition run on dirt for an estimated $250,000 purse.
| Location |
8000 East Texas Avenue, Bossier City, LA 71111 |
| Opended |
1974 |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Racing Type |
Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse |
| Website |
ladowns.com |
Major Louisiana horse races
Louisiana has four race tracks, and therefore a very busy calendar of headline races for thoroughbreds and quarter horses.
Some serve as major stepping stones toward the Kentucky Derby, while others showcase leading juveniles and Louisiana-bred talent.
We take a closer look at the key races below:
Louisiana Derby
Super Derby
Delta Downs
The Louisiana Derby is Fair Grounds’ headline race and one of the most valuable stops on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Held in late March, the Grade 2 contest offers a $1 million purse and covers 1 3/16 miles on dirt.
It has also produced two Kentucky Derby winners, with Black Gold completing the double in 1924 before Grindstone repeated the achievement in 1996.
The Super Derby is Louisiana Downs’ premier race for three-year-old thoroughbreds, held in September during the track’s summer meet.
Once a Grade 2 contest worth $400,000 over 1.25 miles, it now holds Black Type status and runs over 1 1/8 miles on dirt for an estimated $250,000.
Historically, the race attracts winners and leading finishers from that season’s American Classics.
The Delta Downs Jackpot was once one of Louisiana’s biggest races for two-year-olds.
Held in November, the Grade 3 contest offered a huge $1 million purse and attracted leading juveniles from across the country.
It was not a Breeders’ Cup prep because it generally followed the championships. Instead, its purse and Kentucky Derby points drove interest before the race was discontinued after 2016.
Louisiana horse racing history
Louisiana’s racing history started back in 1852, when Union Race Course opened on the site now occupied by Fair Grounds.
The state eventually developed a four-track circuit comprising Fair Grounds, Evangeline Downs, Louisiana Downs and Delta Downs.
Louisiana authorized slot machines at eligible tracks in 1997, with racinos opening during the early 2000s and Fair Grounds adding slots in 2007.
The additional gaming revenue became an important source of purse and industry funding.
Is online horse betting legal in Louisiana?
Yes, online horse betting is legal in Louisiana through authorized account-wagering services.
Under Louisiana’s account-wagering laws, customers must fund an account before placing pari-mutuel bets online, through an app or by telephone.
The Louisiana Racing Commission licenses and oversees racing operators while enforcing the rules covering wagering, financial controls and customer accounts. Platforms must also comply with applicable state law and the federal Interstate Horseracing Act before accepting wagers from Louisiana residents.
Bettors must be at least 18. Use the recommended licensed sites above for compliant online wagering options.
Louisiana is one of the most active horse racing states
Louisiana remains one of the most active horse-racing states in the US, with four tracks staging thoroughbred and quarter horse meets, more than a dozen OTB locations and licensed online racebooks covering major races nationwide. Louisiana off track betting therefore gives bettors plenty of options ahead of the next Louisiana Derby and the state's other major race days.
Our tip - make sure the Louisiana Derby is in your race calendar.
