Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel & Casino Guide and Review
Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel & Casino, located outside of Lake Charles, aims to offer a comprehensive entertainment experience combining gaming, lodging, and horse racing. However, recent guest feedback paints a picture of stark contrasts, with significant praise for some aspects overshadowed by serious concerns in others. While some visitors find comfort and enjoyment, many others report issues ranging from subpar room conditions to problematic service and disappointing amenities.
Hotel Accommodations: Hit or Miss? 🛌💨
The hotel experience at Delta Downs appears to be a roll of the dice. One positive account highlights spacious, beautifully maintained, and clean rooms, complete with thoughtful touches like makeup mirrors and roomy showers. The staff were commended for handling a check-in mishap efficiently and professionally, showcasing a sweet and fast response.
Conversely, a significant number of reviews describe the rooms as an "absolute dump." Common complaints include rooms being dirty, smelling strongly of smoke, and suffering from loud plumbing noises and non-functional air conditioning. One particularly alarming report mentioned a guest's neighbor contracting scabies after a visit. Guests also noted that advertised amenities, such as the pool and arcade games, were out of order, despite what some perceived as a high price for the room. It seems the quality of rooms and working amenities can vary wildly, leading to considerable guest dissatisfaction.
Casino Experience: Tight Machines & Good Security 🎲🛡️
The casino itself receives varied comments. On the positive side, the casino floor was described as clean and enjoyable, with good drink service on Friday nights. Security before entering the casino was appreciated, making guests feel safe and well looked after. However, a recurring criticism among less fortunate gamblers is that the slot machines are "so tight," making the casino feel like a "money pit" where wins are scarce.
Dining Options: Hits and Misses on the Menu 🍽️
Delta Downs offers several dining choices, but consistency in quality and service is a concern. The Gator Grill received high marks for its fast service, hot food, and fresh taste, notably without a microwave feel. This suggests a solid option for casual dining.
In stark contrast, the Rosewater Grill and Tavern was singled out for extremely slow service. Guests reported waiting an excessive amount of time just for drink orders and nearly 30 minutes for simple salads, despite the restaurant appearing overstaffed. This suggests a significant area for improvement in specific dining establishments on the property.
Racetrack: County Fair Vibes, Not Posh Polo 🏇🎡
For those visiting specifically for the horse races, expectations might need to be adjusted. The racetrack experience was described as "below average," with a vibe more akin to a county fair without the fun rides, rather than a "super nice and posh" track. Many felt it was not at all what they anticipated and deemed it not worth the 30 minute drive from Lake Charles, suggesting that other casinos in Lake Charles offer a superior experience.
Staff & Service: A Mixed Bag of Professionalism and Rudeness 🗣️👎
The quality of staff interaction appears inconsistent across the property. While some staff members were praised for being "extremely sweet" and handling issues professionally, other experiences were far less positive. Several guests reported rude employees, with specific call-outs for unhelpful staff and discourteous money cage personnel. This suggests a need for more consistent training and customer service standards throughout the resort.
Accessibility & Location: Out of the Way with Potential Barriers 📍♿
Delta Downs is located somewhat "out in the middle of nowhere," making it a drive for many visitors, especially those coming from Lake Charles. A critical point raised by guests is the apparent lack of handicapped access from the parking lot, with only a stairway available, and a noticeable absence of designated handicapped parking spots. This raises serious questions about ADA compliance and poses significant challenges for guests with mobility impairments.
Conclusion: Proceed with Caution ⚠️
Delta Downs Racetrack, Hotel & Casino offers a comprehensive entertainment package, but its execution is undeniably inconsistent. While there are highlights like a pleasant casino floor, some well-maintained rooms, and a decent casual dining spot, these positives are frequently overshadowed by reports of dirty rooms, broken amenities, tight gaming machines, slow restaurant service, and accessibility issues. Visitors looking for a top-tier casino or hotel experience might find better options closer to Lake Charles. If you choose to visit, managing your expectations and being prepared for potential inconveniences, particularly regarding hotel and specific dining services, is advisable.
Avoid this money 💵 pit at all costs. Machines are so tight, rooms are nasty lots of times ac not working right. My neighbor visited and got scabies. Boyd gaming you better wake up or yall going to bite the dust. Rude employees no handicapped access from the parking lot just a stairway. I don't see how they are ADA COMPLIANT. No handicapped parking 🅿 spots. Head into Lake Charles much better casinos and wonderful hotels!
Price for room was very high since the amenities did not work. Pool was out of use. Arcade games for the children did not work. Staff was not helpful. The money cage staff was rude. Your wasting your money definitely coming to this location. Rooms are nice. Restaurant food was good.
We encountered a small hiccup at check-in—our room had been mistakenly cancelled—but the staff handled it quickly and professionally. They were extremely sweet and worked fast to get us into another room with minimal delay. Once we were settled, everything went smoothly from there.The property is beautifully maintained, and I was pleasantly surprised by how spacious and clean the rooms were. Everything we needed was there, including a makeup mirror (a rare find these days!). The showers were especially roomy and thoughtfully designed.This was our first visit, but definitely not our last. The casino was clean and enjoyable, with great drink service on Friday. Saturday was busier, and while the drink service was a bit slower due to the crowd, the servers remained friendly and accommodating. I also appreciated the tight security before entering the casino—made us feel safe and well looked after.We grabbed a bite at the Gator Grill and were impressed! Service was fast, food was hot, and nothing tasted like it came from a microwave. Big thumbs up there.Now for one important heads-up: avoid the Rosewater Grill and Tavern. Despite seeming overstaffed, the service was incredibly slow. We waited too long just to get our drink order taken, and even longer for the drinks themselves. The biggest letdown was waiting nearly 30 minutes for four simple salads. We weren’t the only ones frustrated either—I could hear other tables voicing the same complaints. It was a disappointing experience and one we won’t repeat.Overall, though, this was a great stay with just one notable dining miss. We’ll be back!
We went strictly to watch the horse races, and I have to say they were below average. The vibe of the place felt like a county fair without the fun rides. It was not at all what I expected or anticipated. I've been to other racetracks that were super nice and posh, and this definitely wasn't it. It's out in the middle of nowhere and not worth the 30+ minute drive from Lake Charles. Skip the races and go to the good casinos!
Beautiful facility with the pretty green pastures surrounding the casino. Check was easy and that was with a "Newie" in training. It was our first time there and we will be back.People were friendly. Sherry, in the Rewards area, was just a joy, from the minute we walked up to the cage to get our badges. She represents the Hotel with an uplifting and award winning smile to greet clients. She made us feel warm and welcomed.Jay (Jackson) in the Gator Grill was also very friendly and a good server. The food was very good and my only complaint is that the the lighting was too bright for evening. Would have liked a little more ambience.Rooms were nicely decorated & we did find a towel with a dirty spot but there were plenty in the room, fortunately.