I recently took a day trip to play the new $10 blackjack tables at L’Auberge.
I happened to see an advertisement that mentioned $10 blackjack games at L’Auberge every Monday through Thursday. Obviously, they want to drive up business during their least-busy times. I was more than happy to help them out with that, especially since it’s the nearest legal gambling in my area.
Here’s how it went.
My Budget
I set aside a total of $1,500 for the trip. Here’s how that breaks down:
$1,200 – gambling bankroll (120 hands at $10 per hand, or about three hours of play)
$100 – breakfast, lunch, and dinner
$84 – tips and sundries
$66 – full tank of gas
$50 – day pass for the pool area
I ended up stick to this pretty well, except that I used some of my tips and sundries money to have a nicer dinner than I might otherwise have had.
My Plan
My plan was simple – head out early Monday morning, play as much blackjack as I wanted, spend some time at their legendary pool, and be home in time to get six hours of sleep Monday night.
Since it takes 3 hours to get to L’Auberge, and I wake up at 6 AM, I’d need to leave the resort by 9 PM to make it home in time for bed. Basically, I had from 9 AM to 9 PM to gamble and enjoy the resort pool.
Casino Games at L’Auberge
They’ve got a great selection, probably the best in the state. It’s similar to Harrah’s big New Orleans casino in terms of game variety. Thousands of slot and video poker games alongside dozens of table game classics.
You’ll find the best variety of traditional table games at the casino’s busier times. That means weekend nights and during holiday times. The rest of the year (meaning most Monday through Thursdays) the casino is relatively empty. That means fewer games are on offer.
There’s a heavier baccarat presence at L’Auberge than I’ve seen at other US casinos. That’s probably a throwback to the riverboat gambling history of Louisiana. If you like baccarat, you’ll have as much choice here as anywhere in the country. They’ve also got EZ Baccarat tables and machine baccarat games as well.
The $10 Weekday Blackjack Game at L’Auberge
The day I visited, they had two $10 tables running at 10 AM. They were both using six decks. Like every other blackjack game at L’Auberge, the rules included S17 (dealer stands on 17), RSA (player can resplit aces), and DAS (player can double after split).
The other games I saw were $20 and $25 minimums, with everything from two decks up to eight. The maximums ranged from $1,000 (on the game I was playing) up to $2,500.
Since L’Auberge is the premier spot for gambling in Louisiana, the casino attracts the area’s best dealers. The game I played was smooth, even when the number of players increased as the hours went on.
I stuck to basic strategy, only making a couple of small mistakes. After four hours at the table, I was only down about $35. But I was hungry, and fully ready to give up chasing a big blackjack payday.
It was time for a nice meal and a little time around the pool.
The Pool at L’Auberge
Only hotel guests can enjoy the hotel’s resort-like outdoor amenities, which includes a lazy river, a couple of pools, a golf course, and enough cabanas to float a small navy.
People in the area don’t really know this but you can buy a day pass for access to all the resort amenities for $50 on off days. It’s more expensive on weekends and holidays.
Day pass and to-go order from Drago’s Seafood Restaurant proudly in hand, I found a shady spot with a lounge chair. The BBQ shrimp are perfect, just like all my drunk Louisiana uncles used to make.
Then it was time to relax in the pool.
If you’ve never been to the pool at L’Auberge, it’s one of the nicest anywhere in the vicinity of Houston. It’s massive, with many different areas for exercising, lounging, kids’ play, etc. The lazy river is the perfect unwinding spot, especially after you grab a daiquiri from the swim-up bar.
Conclusion
I love L’Auberge because it’s just about the fanciest place to gamble within a day’s drive of where I live in Houston. I like the amenities. The gaming area is nice and really clean. The food is great. You already know how I feel about the pool.
You could do a lot worse than spend a day playing around at L’Auberge in Lake Charles.
