It has a number of casinos within a 20-ish mile radius of the town, but for the most Vegas-like experience there is something special about a duo of casinos from two national chains with resorts right on the lakefront: the Golden Nugget Lake Charles and Pinnacle’s L’Auberge Lake Charles.

However, the casinos that seem to draw the most business and definitely the most Vegas-like action are found in a medium-sized industrial community almost exactly halfway between Houston and New Orleans right off Interstate 10: Lake Charles, Louisiana. There are some racinos (race track + casino) and even a land-based casino in New Orleans. Since Texas does not have legalized Class III gaming (aka traditional casino gambling), Southwest Louisiana offers the closest “locals” casino for someone in my locale. Lake Charles: the next generation of destination gambling? I live in Houston, Texas.