If one were to think of Louisiana with no knowledge of gambling laws in the United States, one might assume it was the ultimate state for poker and casinos more broadly. And yet, when one actually looks into those gambling laws, it becomes clear that Louisiana is actually among the country’s more restrictive states.
So — what gives? Why does Louisiana seem like a poker haven? What’s the history? And where do we stand today? Altogether, the answers to these questions are pretty interesting to consider.
Why does Louisiana seem like a prime place for poker?
In many respects, it’s just a vibe. At the core of it is the folklore and superstition of the region, which over decades leaves a sort of karmic haze over a place. There may not be another state in America where the perceived roles of luck and superstition run so deep, and this naturally lays a sort o cultural foundation for interest in games of chance.
There is also the city of New Orleans to consider — a vibrant, anything-goes cultural melting point, and a historical crossroads that simply seems like a gambling town. Where else but in this restless, legend-laden historical gateway to civilization would one feel more natural playing a game of chance? Where else would a single poker chip seem to hold more potential or intrigue than in a city of superstition?
Even beyond these vibes and historical considerations, there are modern, pop cultural reference points that further the sense that Louisiana is a home to casinos, card play, and poker. The Now You See Me films deal intimately with New Orleans, having nothing to do with actual poker, but linking the city to images of magical card play and trickery. The 2015 film Mississippi Grind concerns two men seeking good fortune en route to a high-stakes poker game in Louisiana. Even the popular comic book character Gambit (of the X-Men) furthers the association — a “card-throwing Cajun” who wields playing cards like flashy weaponry and calls New Orleans home.
What’s the history behind all of this?
It’s hard to say where exactly all of the general vibes and associations above come from. The history of Louisiana as it relates to chance and superstition is a topic at once complex and somewhat undefined. And naturally it’s all compounded over time. That said, there is also a clear and significant foundation for at least some of this: New Orleans was the birthplace of American poker.
This is a shockingly little-known fact. Most Americans likely assume that poker as we know it today was either born in Las Vegas, or simply migrated to the U.S. gradually over time and in different ways. The reality, however, is that the history of poker can be traced quite specifically to New Orleans and the Louisiana Purchase.
In the early 1800s, French settlers in America were playing a game called “poque,” derived from the German “pochen.” This in turn actually allows us to peg 1803 as the exact year when “poque” — eventually anglicized to “poker” — was first played in U.S. It was in that year that the Louisiana Purchase made the city part of the United States, and the rest is history.
This does not mean, of course, that the entire association of Louisiana with fortune, superstition, and so on traces back to French settlers playing an early form of poker. To suggest as much would be to minimize the cultures, lore, and history that have created the fabric of the state as we know it today. At the same time though, this poker history has undoubtedly played a role in leaving a lingering impression that Louisiana is a casino state when it is really nothing of the sort.
Where do things stand today?
One reason we’ve been thinking of Louisiana’s history and associations with poker is that we’re actually at a pretty interesting point today. As of this writing the U.S. is beginning to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. And during that pandemic, according to a number of reports, Americans spent more time playing poker than they have in some time. With social activity, live entertainment, and, yes, casinos all more or less shut down, people sought out ways to play poker with friends online, resulting in significant spikes of activity on relevant apps and websites.
For those with interest in poker in Louisiana, there is bad and good news associated with this. The bad is that Louisiana, again, is one of the country’s more restrictive states with regard to gambling activity. While there are a few pockets of live casinos in the state — including in New Orleans — the internet industry is non-existent. The good news, however, is that the expansion in online poker and casino activity has provided legitimate financial incentive for more states to consider expanding their gambling activity.
Whether that happens in Louisiana or not is difficult to say. Online poker legislation is being considered in neighboring Mississippi, and there is real potential for legalized sports betting in Louisiana — which has been something of a gateway to further casino activity in other states.
As of now though, those interested in tapping into this intriguing aspect of Louisiana history still have the option of doing so in New Orleans, at Lake Charles, or at a number of smaller casinos in the Shreveport area. It’s certainly not for everybody, but sitting at a poker table anywhere in the state is all the more interesting when you think of it as part of the state’s superstitious history.