Louisiana sports betting was pushed hard to launch in 2021 and at the eleventh hour, it succeeded. Retail sportsbooks in select locations opened for business in fall of 2021 and online sportsbooks launched a couple weeks before Superbowl LVI.
Almost half the companies that make up the state’s gaming industry have applied for temporary sportsbook licenses. So far, the following six mobile operators have been approved by the Louisiana Gaming Commission: FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Betfred and Rush Street Interactive via the BetRivers brand.
A November 2020 vote from residents of the state-approved sports betting in 55 of the 64 parishes. The ensuing legislative and regulatory process has dragged on longer than expected. However, it looks like that by late January or early February, residents in those 55 Louisiana parishes will have an excellent assortment of online sportsbooks to choose from.
Lawmakers in Louisiana have been trying to get this passed for a few years before they left the decision up to the voters. The majority of them decided to approve sportsbooks in LA.
With the necessary legislation in place, the process then shifted to the proper regulatory bodies to finalize the rules and regulations to guide the industry.
The Louisiana casino industry is massive, and that should help drive LA online sportsbooks now that they are finally ready to deploy.
The nine parishes that voted against sports betting were not included in any legislation, but that won’t limit those citizens from making bets on sports in other parts of the state.
| Louisiana parishes without sports betting | ||
|---|---|---|
| Caldwell | Jackson | Union |
| Catahoula | La Salle | West Carroll |
| Franklin | Sabine | Winn |
The launch of legal sports betting was originally targeted for early September of 2021. However, certain unforeseen delays pushed things back. Now that retail sportsbooks are up and running along with the addition of mobile betting apps, the future of Louisiana sports betting looks rather bright.
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has helped to accelerate the process through the use of these temporary sports betting licenses. These efforts appear to have helped expedite some Louisiana online sportsbooks because preregistration is now available.
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Louisiana Sportsbooks
One of the biggest questions for Louisiana bookmakers has been answered. Along with retail books tied to existing casinos, online sportsbooks are also part of the rollout plans.
There are 20 licensed commercial casinos or racinos in the state of Louisiana along with three tribal casinos that are currently in operation. It is expected that all of these properties will eventually apply for a license to offer regulated wagering on sports.
Of the 20 licensed gaming venues, most of the biggest companies have submitted their applications. However, this number has been growing and is expected to eventually become all of them.
Louisiana Sports Betting Apps
A few of the initial bills that were introduced did not include provisions for mobile or online wagering. As the industry continues to prepare for an official launch, mobile sportsbook apps will be an important part of the landscape.
One question concerning legal LA online sports betting was how to determine the registration process. Most states allow remote registration, but some do require that you visit a casino and register in person before you can bet on sports.
The good news for in-state LA. bettors is the ability to preregister to wager online in advance of the initial sportsbook launch.
Sports betting accounts will not be limited to residents of Louisiana, and sportsbooks will try to attract visitors from other states, especially in the New Orleans locations. You must be 21 or older to wager on sports and physically present within Louisiana state borders.
- Register with a Caesars promo code to have a welcome offer
LA Retail Sportsbooks
The first retail book to accept legal bets on sports was the Paragon Casino Resort. This gaming venue is owned and operated by the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe. The sportsbook at the casino went live on Oct. 6, 2021.
Four more retail books were granted permission to go live three weeks after Paragon on Oct. 31. That list includes Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans, Boomtown Casino in Harvey, Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City, and L’Auberge Baton Rouge. The list of retail sportsbooks continues to expand with additional casinos going live.
Louisiana Sports Betting Rules
The New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans are the only two major professional sports teams in the state, and they will likely drive sports betting. Sports betting regulations have outlined what available betting markets can be offered in LA, but all of the most popular sports in the US will be included.
It is expected that sportsbooks will also be able to offer bets on the top international sports and events as well. Louisiana will likely attract some of the top sports betting operators, and they all have experience in international competitions.
With only two major professional sports teams in the state, it is a plus that betting on collegiate sporting events has been included in the new laws. The LSU Tigers are by far the most popular college team in the state, but there are other NCAA Division I programs as well.
All of these sports betting rules have been completely finalized ahead the LA sports betting launch.
- Sign up and bet with a BetMGM bonus code.
- Use an odds converter to see decimal, fractional, and American odds.
LA Sports Betting Regulations
Senator Danny Martiny led the efforts to legalize sports betting in Louisiana in 2019, but his bill ultimately died out just before the legislative session ended. Martiny’s term in office came to an end at the end of that year, but other lawmakers continued the push in 2020.
Senator Cameron Henry was the leader of the push in 2020, and his bill S 130 was the piece of legislation that was ultimately passed in both the state House and Senate. This bill did not actually legalize LA sports betting, but it got the question on the November 2020 ballot for voters.
Louisiana has some interesting rules when it comes to ballot referendums, and each parish gets to make its own decision. Sports betting passed in 55 of the 64 parishes in the state, but it was not approved state-wide.
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board will regulate and oversee the sports betting industry, but lawmakers had a major voice in the regulatory process. Before sports betting was officially launched in the state, license applications still had to be reviewed and approved. This was one of the main reasons for the delay.
Fortunately, many of the companies involved in this process are already established as licensed gaming operators in Louisiana.
Louisiana Betting Summary
Residents of the state of Louisiana made it clear that they are in favor of legalized sports betting, but there was still some work to be done. There was optimism amongst lawmakers that LA sports betting could be available before the end of 2021.
While retail sports betting made that deadline, certain delays pushed the launch of mobile sports betting into early 2022.
Legislators in Louisiana have been working on legalizing sportsbooks for several years, and now they have support from the residents.
This process started with a number of important questions to answer, with the most important being who is able to offer sports betting. Now that the regulatory end of the process has been resolved, the official launch on mobile sports betting simply turned into a waiting game.
With over 20 casino properties in the state, retail sports betting options should be plentiful. Legal LA online sports betting will round out the industry.
Louisiana has the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans as its professional teams. Sportsbooks will also rely heavily on sporting events at in-state colleges such as LSU to help drive the industry.
Louisiana has been able to put itself in a better place than other states going through the regulatory process. Legalizing sports betting through the proper laws is just the first part of this journey as many of these states have come to realize.
Louisiana Sports Betting FAQs
Here are the most commonly asked questions regarding Louisiana online sportsbooks and sports betting.
There are a number of retail sportsbooks in LA that you can visit to make bets in person, as well as online sportsbooks, like FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Betfred and Rush Street Interactive via the BetRivers brand.
Yes! Caesars Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook are currently available.
The first retail sportsbook in Louisiana opneed on October 31, 2021. Online sportsbooks launched just before the Superbowl.
Yes, all but 9 parishes in LA passed sports betting. The 9 parishes where you cannot bet on sports are Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Jackson, La Salle, Sabine, Union, West Carroll, and Winn.
