Can Louisiana Gamblers Legally Play 2 Machines at the Same Time?

Louisiana loves its games of chance. The state currently has five Indian gaming casinos operated by four tribes and another 43 state-licensed casinos. You can try your luck in Opelousas, Bossier City, New Orleans, and a myriad of other communities around the state. Now, not all of Louisiana's casinos offer table games and slot machines but just about all of them do offer video poker.

Video poker has been a part of the Louisiana landscape since 1991. But not all parishes offer the game. Participation in video poker or any casino or lottery game is restricted to those players who are age 21 or older.

Casinos aren't "new" to Louisiana. The first government-run casino was operated in New Orleans in 1752. However, modern gaming as we know it didn't really become a part of Louisiana's tourism and entertainment platform until the early 90s. And we should note that parimutuel wagering on horse racing has been a legal and not-so-legal part of Louisiana culture since the early 1800s.

Many of Louisiana's horse racing facilities also offer slot machines for players to try their luck in between races. And those slot machines in particular are the reason we have asked the question you see in the headline of this article.

Can Louisiana Gamblers Legally Play 2 Machines at the Same Time?

Based on our scan of current statutes involving gaming in Louisiana and around the country, it appears as though the answer to this question isn't a matter of legality. The answer to this question comes down to specific casino rules.

In the United Kingdom, there is a law that prohibits a player from actively playing two machines at the same time. The law is in place to protect the players. In the United States player protection appears to take a backseat to casino profit because I couldn't find any statutes that specifically prohibit a player from occupying more than one "machine" at a time.

Is There An Advantage to Playing Two Machines at the Same Time?

When it comes to slot machines the answer is no. Despite what you might believe slot machines "do not have a memory", "they don't know who is playing", and "they don't know when one player leaves and another sits down". They are machines. Each spin is a brand-new game that is not affected by the previous spin nor is the outcome of the upcoming spin affected.

The only "advantage" to playing more than one machine at the same time is that it would increase your number of spins. The more spins you have, the more chances you have to win. But you also blow through your money faster so you aren't getting more spins, you're just getting to play those spins at a faster rate.

Do Casinos Allow You To Play More Than One Machine at a Time?

Most of them in the United States have no problem with you blowing through your bankroll quickly so they can get to the next guest's money. Many casinos do have rules that limit the number of machines a player can occupy during peak times but other than that if you want to play with two hands you can.

Your fellow casino guest might think you're being a bit of an ass by playing more than one machine at a time, especially if it's a new game or a game that has suddenly become "hot" with players, but you're not breaking any laws. You might be breaking rules though.

Another Disadvantage of Playing Two Machines at Once

If you're the type that would play two machines at the same time then you probably are a member of a casino rewards program. In order to earn points you have to have your card inserted in the machine while you play. If you've only got one card then you'll miss out on half of your points because you can't have one card in two machines at once.

Please remember that most casino games do not result in huge monetary gains for players. It's up to you to play responsibly and spend only what you can afford to lose. If you have a gambling problem call 1-877-770-STOP (7867) the call and the referrals are free. Good Luck.