Evangeline Downs Opelousas is a Boyd Gaming racetrack casino in Opelousas, Louisiana, with roughly 1,000 slot machines, horse-race wagering, a FanDuel sportsbook, and several dining options. Its strongest draw is combining casino play with an evening at the races. The trade-off is a narrower experience than a full casino resort: there are no live table games, and overnight visitors should confirm lodging directly. I see it as a better fit for a regional gambling outing than a resort-centered vacation.
Evangeline Downs at a glance
| Address | 2235 Creswell Lane Extension, Opelousas, Louisiana 70570 |
|---|---|
| Operator | Boyd Gaming |
| Minimum casino gambling age | 21 |
| Gaming floor | 39,208 square feet, operator-reported |
| Slot machines | Approximately 1,000; Boyd reported 1,026 at December 31, 2025 |
| Live table games | No |
| Poker room | No |
| Retail sportsbook | Yes, FanDuel-branded |
| Other wagering | Horse racing and simulcast wagering |
| Dining | The Spotted Horse, Infusion Casual Cuisine, Silks Clubhouse, and Pierre’s Pizza & Wings |
| Hotel planning | Confirm availability directly before booking |
| Phone | 866-472-2466 |
What kind of casino is Evangeline Downs?
This is a racino: a racetrack paired with a casino. Slots provide the everyday gambling attraction, while live racing gives the property something you do not get from an ordinary machine floor.
I would choose the date around the races if that combination interests you. Slots and dinner can work on their own, but the track is what makes Evangeline Downs distinctive. Do not assume horses will be running simply because the casino is welcoming players.
For alternatives around the state, see our guide to Louisiana casinos.
Casino games: slots, poker, and the FanDuel sportsbook
Boyd Gaming’s year-end 2025 property inventory lists 1,026 slot machines and 39,208 square feet of casino space at Evangeline Downs, with table games marked not applicable. These are dated operator figures, not a count of machines available on your visit.
The practical takeaway: this is a machine-focused casino, not a substitute for a property with dealers, dice, and a busy blackjack pit.
Slots and video poker
With roughly 1,000 machines reported, slot players have a substantial inventory to consider. That count does not guarantee your favorite title or denomination.
My advice is to check the total wager before playing. A low denomination can still produce a much larger bet once lines, credits, and bonus features are included. If video poker is your priority, ask about the current selection and inspect the pay tables rather than planning around a particular game name.
A winning or losing session does not establish whether the machines are unusually generous. Game selection and payout expectations are different questions.
Live table games and poker room
Evangeline Downs has no conventional live table-game pit and no dedicated player-versus-player poker room. Do not plan a visit around live blackjack, craps, roulette, or poker tournaments. Video poker and poker-themed machines are not a poker room.
FanDuel sportsbook
Evangeline Downs has a FanDuel-branded retail sportsbook, giving sports bettors another reason to visit when live horse racing is not scheduled.
Confirm counter and ticket-redemption hours before traveling specifically to place or cash a wager. Casino hours do not establish sportsbook staffing hours, and a mobile account is not the same as an on-property betting counter.
Horse racing: check the calendar first
The City of Opelousas attraction listing describes Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, along with live music and concerts. Check the current race calendar, first post time, and seating arrangements before making the drive.
The type of racing matters, too. For example, Equibase’s October 10, 2026, entries listed the Opelousas Stakes as a 400-yard Quarter Horse race. That is a short sprint, so check the breed and distances when choosing a card.
Keep simulcasting separate from live racing. Boyd’s May 2025 fact sheet advertises seven-day simulcasting at its two off-track betting parlors. That is not a promise of daily live racing at the Opelousas track, and separately located betting parlors are not the main casino address.
Hotel: confirm availability directly
I would not build an overnight itinerary around a hotel listing alone. Boyd’s May 2025 fact sheet promotes a full-service partner hotel, but a later guest report describes arriving with a reservation and finding the hotel closed without prior notification.
The hotel reviews displayed on Birdeye contain conflicting service reports: one author praises service, while another describes an unhelpful front desk, bathroom-cleanliness problems, and vending-machine issues. These are individual hotel experiences, not an established recurring pattern or evidence of casino service. The reported hotel closure does not establish that the casino closed.
Contact the lodging business directly, confirm that it is accepting arrivals for your dates, and get the address and cancellation terms in writing. If the answer is unclear, arrange other lodging before committing to the trip.
Trip.com’s hotel listing gives 337-407-2121 as a separate lodging contact. Treat that as a number to try, not confirmation of availability.
I would give that booking risk more weight than older descriptions of breakfast, pools, or room amenities. A convenient room is only convenient if you can actually check in.
Restaurants and dining costs
Boyd’s May 2025 fact sheet describes four dining options. Choose around the kind of evening you want, then confirm current hours:
- The Spotted Horse Tavern and Dining Parlor: Louisiana comfort food, and my first consideration when a sit-down dinner is part of the outing.
- Infusion Casual Cuisine: Casual meals, seated dining, and takeaway. The more flexible choice when you do not want a lengthy meal.
- Silks Clubhouse: Racing-related dining with offerings that depend on the day and race schedule.
- Pierre’s Pizza & Wings: Pizza and wings, including the Thursday clubhouse ordering arrangement described during Thoroughbred racing.
Check kitchen hours before arriving late or scheduling dinner immediately before first post.
Illustrative clubhouse buffet budget
The May 2025 fact sheet advertised a Friday and Saturday clubhouse buffet at $34.99 per person in its Thoroughbred-racing dining description. This is a dated planning reference, not a guaranteed current price or an every-weekend promise.
At that published price, two diners would have a food subtotal of $69.98, and four would total $139.96. These illustrative estimates assume everyone pays the quoted price and exclude taxes, drinks, and gratuities. Confirm availability and compare the cost with a current à la carte menu.
Evangeline Downs vs. Delta Downs and Amelia Belle
I find game mix more useful than a blanket claim that one casino is bigger or better. Boyd’s December 31, 2025, inventory reported 1,434 slots and 370 hotel rooms at Delta Downs in Vinton, compared with 599 slots and 11 table games at Amelia Belle in Amelia.
Delta Downs reported 408 more slot machines than Evangeline Downs. That means a larger reported inventory, not better payouts or guaranteed availability of a particular game. Amelia Belle illustrates a different trade-off: fewer reported slots, but a documented live table-game offering.
My read is that Evangeline Downs makes its strongest case when Opelousas and the racetrack are already part of your plans. A hotel-centered racino stay or live tables may justify looking farther afield, but these are different destinations, not neighboring casino floors.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Silks Clubhouse: Published buffet price and days | Boyd’s May 2025 fact sheet advertises a $34.99 all-you-can-eat Clubhouse buffet on Fridays and Saturdays in its Thoroughbred-racing dining description; confirm availability for the intended visit. |
| Silks Clubhouse: Thursday alternative to the buffet | The same fact sheet describes ordering Pierre’s Pizza & Wings at the hostess stand on Thursdays during Thoroughbred racing, rather than advertising the Friday and Saturday buffet for that day. |
| Infusion Casual Cuisine: Dine-in versus takeaway service | Boyd lists both seated meals and takeaway, providing an alternative to committing to a full restaurant visit. |
| The Spotted Horse Tavern and Dining Parlor: Dining format | Boyd describes elevated Louisiana comfort food, distinguishing this restaurant from Infusion’s explicitly advertised quick-snack and takeaway options. |
| Evangeline Downs off-track betting parlors: Simulcast availability versus seasonal live racing | Boyd’s fact sheet advertises simulcasting of major tracks seven days a week at each of its two off-track betting parlors; this is not a seven-day live-racing promise for the Opelousas track. |
| Evangeline Downs: Published gaming inventory at December 31, 2025 | Boyd reports 39,208 square feet of casino space, 1,026 slot machines, and table games as not applicable. These figures describe a machine-focused choice rather than a table-game destination. |
| Delta Downs: Louisiana racino comparison at December 31, 2025 | Boyd reports 1,434 slot machines, table games as not applicable, and 370 hotel rooms at Delta Downs, offering a larger reported machine inventory and a company-reported hotel component. |
| Amelia Belle Casino: Louisiana table-game alternative at December 31, 2025 | Boyd reports 599 slot machines and 11 table games at Amelia Belle, making its documented gaming mix different from Evangeline Downs’ machine-focused offering. |
| Evangeline Downs partner hotel: Published breakfast and in-room amenities, dated May 2025 | The dated fact sheet lists complimentary breakfast, an in-room microwave, a refrigerator, and a coffee maker. Treat these as historical published inclusions, not confirmation of current hotel availability or booking terms. |
| Evangeline Downs partner hotel: Published internet inclusion, dated May 2025 | The fact sheet lists free high-speed internet as available; it supplies no measured speed or reliability comparison. |
| Evangeline Downs: Published VIP parking cost policy, dated May 2025 | Boyd lists complimentary VIP parking. The passage does not specify eligibility or establish a general valet-parking policy. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Silks Clubhouse buffet food subtotal for an illustrative couple | 69.98 US dollars, food subtotal only, excluding any taxes, drinks, and gratuities | Set aside the buffet food budget separately from gambling money, and confirm that the published offer applies to your race date. |
| Silks Clubhouse buffet food subtotal for an illustrative group | 139.96 US dollars, food subtotal only, excluding any taxes, drinks, and gratuities | For a group race-night outing, compare the buffet food subtotal with a current à la carte menu before choosing where to eat. |
| Published slot-machine selection difference: Delta Downs versus Evangeline Downs | 408 slot machines | Delta Downs reports the larger machine inventory, but machine counts alone do not establish better payouts or availability of a particular game. |
Research references: sec.gov.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-16. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
Directions, parking, and practical visit tips
Use 2235 Creswell Lane Extension, Opelousas, Louisiana 70570 for the main property. Searches for the broader Evangeline Downs name can also lead to off-track betting locations, so check your destination before starting navigation.
- Parking: Boyd advertises complimentary VIP parking. This does not establish eligibility, general parking charges, or complimentary valet service.
- Transportation: Arrange a return ride before drinking. Do not assume an airport shuttle or immediate late-night rideshare availability.
- Identification: Bring valid government-issued photo identification. The minimum casino gambling age is 21.
- Smoking and accessibility: Ask about the current smoking policy and any accessible routes or facilities you need.
- Hours: Confirm casino, sportsbook, restaurant, and racing schedules separately. One facility’s hours do not establish the others’ availability.
Rewards program
If you have a Boyd rewards account, ask the players club which current benefits apply before playing. Do not increase your gambling budget to chase a meal discount or future offer.
Who should visit Evangeline Downs?
Evangeline Downs suits regional slot players, racing fans, and sports bettors who want an Opelousas outing with several ways to spend an evening. I would favor a race-date visit with dinner over a resort escape, especially because the limited hotel reports disagree on service and one guest describes arriving to a closed hotel despite a reservation. Travelers seeking a dependable hotel-centered getaway should secure lodging directly or choose a property with a clearer overnight arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
Is Evangeline Downs in Lafayette?
No. The casino and racetrack are in Opelousas, north of Lafayette. Use the Creswell Lane Extension address for the main property.
Does Evangeline Downs have blackjack, craps, or a poker room?
No. It is a machine-focused racetrack casino without a conventional live table-game pit or a dedicated player-versus-player poker room.
Does Evangeline Downs have a sportsbook?
Yes. It has a FanDuel-branded retail sportsbook. Confirm counter and ticket-redemption hours before a betting-specific trip.
Can you book a hotel at Evangeline Downs?
Confirm directly before booking. A May 2025 operator fact sheet promotes a partner hotel, but a later guest report describes arriving to find it closed. Do not rely solely on a listing or reservation confirmation.
Are there live races every day?
No. Live racing follows a published schedule. Simulcast wagering on races elsewhere is a different activity.
How old do you have to be to gamble?
You must be at least 21 to gamble in the casino. Bring valid photo identification.
Information dates and visit planning
Gaming inventory figures are dated December 31, 2025, and the dining descriptions and buffet price come from Boyd’s May 2025 fact sheet. Availability, prices, and schedules can change. Check the official Evangeline Downs website or call 866-472-2466 before traveling.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room.