Louisiana Sports Betting
Louisiana was once a center for gambling in the US, with more casinos than anywhere in the country in the 1700s. However, all forms of gambling became illegal by 1866. The issue of sports betting didn’t become a conversation with lawmakers until 2018 when the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). Following that, online and retail sports betting was legalized in the Pelican State when Governor John Bel Edwards signed SB 142 and SB 247.
Louisiana is unique compared to other states in the US, as it put the issue of legalization up to a ballot within each parish in the state. Each parish was allowed to legalize sports wagering, with 55 parishes accepting the new market.
| Regulator | Launch date | Tax rate | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Gaming Control Board | July 16, 2019 (land-based), January 8, 2022 (online) | 10% (land-based), 51% (online) | Online |
Read our complete guide to Louisiana sports betting to discover more about placing wagers legally in the Garden State, top sports teams in LA, and the latest legislation.
Sports Betting Operators in Louisiana
There is a decent range of operators in Louisiana, including some of the biggest brands in sports betting, like DraftKings and FanDuel. In total, there are eight online operators, with another three brands providing retail-only sports betting.
While this means there are fewer options than in most other states, the available betting sites are top quality. The Pelican State can also license more Louisiana betting sites in the future, as there are still land-based casinos for operators to partner with and launch.
| Name | Operator | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| Barstool Sportsbook | Penn National Gaming | 28-Jan-22 |
| BetMGM | Entain | 28-Jan-22 |
| Betfred | Betfred Group | 6-Oct-21 |
| BetRivers | Rush Street Interactive | 28-Jan-22 |
| Caesars | Caesars Entertainment | 28-Jan-22 |
| DraftKings | DraftKings Inc | 28-Jan-22 |
| FanDuel | Flutter Entertainment | 28-Jan-22 |
| Louisiana Downs Sportsbook | Rubico Acquisitions | 18-Mar-22 |
| PointsBet | PointsBet Holdings Limited | 22-Sep-22 |
| Rez Sportsbook | Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana | 1-Dec-21 |
| WynnBET | Wynn Resorts | 10-Feb-22 |
Best Sportsbook Apps and Bonuses in Louisiana
Also launching alongside the first wave of online sportsbooks in January 2022, DraftKings partnered with Golden Nugget Lake Charles to receive its license from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. At the Lake Charles site, DraftKings opened a temporary retail sportsbook, and several betting terminals were placed around the Golden Nugget Casino. In September 2022, its 12,000 sq ft permanent sportsbook opened, featuring 300 lounge seats, 30 kiosks, and a bar and grill.
A second temporary site at Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge opened in March 2022 and features 20 self-service kiosks and three over-the-counter ticket cages. You can deposit and withdraw funds from your DraftKings online account at these retail sportsbooks.
FanDuel Sportsbook obtained its license to launch in Louisiana in January 2022 through a partnership with the Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner, LA, owned by Boyd Gaming. On January 14, 2022, FanDuel’s retail sportsbook opened at the Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino. This was Shreveport’s first retail sportsbook and provides three live betting windows, video displays, and guest seating. FanDuel also opened a retail sportsbook at Amelia Belle, where you can find a video wall with a sports ticker and multiple TV screens.
Caesars Sportsbook launched in Louisiana in January 2022 after receiving a license from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. The betting brand’s parent company, Caesars Entertainment, also operates the sportsbook’s licensing partner, Harrah’s New Orleans. You can find a retail sportsbook at this casino and at the Horseshoe Bossier City.
Caesars became the official sportsbook partner of LSU Athletics in September 2021, one of the first college sportsbook deals in the US. This deal also provides a scholarship fund for Louisiana-based LSU students working towards various sports administration degrees. As part of the deal, Caesars Rewards also provides prizes such as tickets for LSU athletics events.
Caesars also sponsors the Crescent City Classic 10k, which occurs yearly in New Orleans. In July 2021, Caesars signed a deal with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints to become the betting partner for the team. The deal also included the naming rights to the Saints’ stadium, which is now the Caesars Superdome.
BetMGM launched on the first day of legal sports wagering in Louisiana on January 28, 2022. The betting brand received a license from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board through a land-based partnership with Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino, a riverboat casino in Shreveport.
BetMGM has no land-based sportsbook in the state, despite the partnership with Sam’s Hotel & Casino. MGM Resorts, the company that operates BetMGM, announced it had no plans to launch a retail sportsbook in the state when BetMGM went live.
Australian-based betting brand PointsBet launched its online sportsbook in Louisiana in September 2022, becoming the twelfth state where it is operational. There is no PointsBet retail sportsbook in the state, but you can use its online site in parishes with legal sports betting.
The sportsbook announced legendary Saints QB Drew Brees as an equity partner and brand ambassador in July 2021. The sportsbook went live following a Ringing of the Bell ceremony from Senior Director of Regulatory Operations Andrew Moreno and Director of Product Marketing Heather Schiraldi Laferriere.
Rush Street Interactive’s online sports betting brand, BetRivers, launched in Louisiana in January 2022 in partnership with land-based casino Coushatta Casino Resort. In February 2022, BetRivers signed a deal to become the official betting partner of the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. The deal sees BetRivers branding appear throughout the Pelicans’ home area, the Smoothie King Center. BetRivers also signed former three-time Super Bowl champion and former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun wide-receiver Brandon Stokley as a brand ambassador in the state.
Owned by Flutter Entertainment and operated in partnership with FanDuel, TVG offers horse racing betting to players in Louisiana. Unlike sports betting sites, which you can only access in parishes that legalized wagering, you can play with TVG anywhere in LA.
Formerly known as BetAmerica, TwinSpires is licensed by the Louisiana Racing Commission to offer horse racing bets in the state of Louisiana. The betting site is operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated, which owns the state’s third oldest racetrack, the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. This horse racing track has been in operation since 1872.
Louisiana Legislation Timeline
- May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), ending Nevada’s monopoly on sports betting. This allows every state in the US to legalize sports wagering.
- March 9, 2020: Senators Cameron Henry and Ronnie Johns introduce SB 130 to the Senate, a bill to put the issue of sports betting to the ballot.
- June 11, 2020: Governor John Bel Edwards signs SB 130, putting sports betting on the November ballot.
- November 2020: 55 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes vote to legalize sports betting.
- April 12, 2021: Senators Rick Ward, Patrick Page Cortez, and Sen. Johns introduce SB 142, a bill to legalize sports betting in the state.
- April 22, 2021: Representative John Stefanski introduces HB 697 to the House with details on tax regulations for the upcoming Louisiana market.
- May 13, 2021: Senators Cortez, Johns, and Ward, along with Rep. Stefanski, introduce SB 247, an additional bill with more sports betting regulations.
- June 4, 2021: Gov. Edwards signs HB 697.
- June 21, 2021: Gov. Edwards signs SB 142 and SB 247 to legalize sports betting in Pelican State.
- October 31, 2021: The first legal retail bets in Louisiana are accepted at Harrah’s New Orleans Casino, where a Caesars Sportsbook has opened.
- January 28, 2022: Online sports betting goes live in Louisiana, with brands like DraftKings, BetMGM, and Barstool going live.
Sports Betting in Louisiana
Online and retail sports betting are legal and available in most places in Louisiana. With a population of over four million, this state can be one of the best in the US. Despite only launching sports betting in January 2022, the state has already handled more than $1 billion in bets. Find out more about how to bet legally using Louisiana sports betting sites below.
Is online sports betting legal in Louisiana?
Yes, online sports betting is legal in Louisiana. The state’s lawmakers passed legislation to allow this in 2021, and the first online sportsbooks went live in January 2022.
However, unlike other states, Louisiana voted on where to legalize sports betting on a parish-by-parish basis. Eight parishes voted against sports betting: Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Jackson, La Salle, Sabine, Union, West Carroll, and Winn. If you are in these parishes, you cannot place wagers, even using a licensed Louisiana betting site. However, residents of these parishes can travel to areas where sports betting is permitted and bet legally.
What sports can you bet on in Louisiana?
The markets available with Louisiana sports betting are some of the best in the US, with odds available for a wide variety of professional sports. All sportsbooks cover the major leagues, and also other sports like MMA and NASCAR. In addition, you can also bet on eSports, but sportsbooks must apply for licensing to offer these events on a case-by-case basis.
Unlike in some states, where college sports betting is restricted, you can place any wagers on college sports, including teams based in the state, like the LSU Tigers. You can also make a full range of bets on these events, including player props, futures, and more.
Who can bet on sports in Louisiana?
Anyone that is 21 or over can bet on sports in Louisiana. You don’t have to be from the state, just within the borders of a parish where sports betting is legal when playing. However, there are some restrictions on who can enjoy Louisiana sports betting. For example, if you are a member of a professional or college sports team, whether as a player, coach, or another member of staff, you cannot wager. Also, this includes owners of sports franchises.
In addition, you can’t legally bet if you are a member of a league which creates rules for sports like the NBA or NCAA. Anyone that is employed or owns a sportsbook, or casino providing sports betting, is also prohibited. Finally, if you cannot wager due to a criminal record or self-exclusion, you cannot wager in LA.
Official League Data usage in Louisiana
Most sportsbooks in the US provide the latest data and information for major league sports teams and leagues. Genius Sports is the country’s biggest provider of this information, offering live statistics and data for various sports. The company was licensed by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to partner with Louisiana sports betting sites and provide data in the state.
Louisiana Sports Betting Handle
Most states in the US will post monthly betting handles to show how the marketing is performing. A betting handle tells you how much money all the sportsbooks in a state saw throughout a month, whether bets were wins or losses. It is a great way to see the popularity of Louisiana sports betting and any trends caused by legislation changes or sports.
| Handle | Month/Year |
|---|---|
| $27,871,038 | November 2021 |
| $39,517,545 | December 2021 |
| $89,757,060 | January 2022 |
| $238,413,596 | February 2022 |
| $232,730,341 | March 2022 |
| $208,255,060 | April 2022 |
| $171,135,819 | May 2022 |
| $132,438,215 | June 2022 |
| $118,522,225 | July 2022 |
| $128,251,857 | August 2022 |
| $207,501,595 | September 2022 |
Louisiana Sports Teams
Millions of sports fans in Louisiana love to support their local teams while enjoying Louisiana sports betting. There are two major league franchises in Louisiana, both based in the state’s biggest city. We’ve listed some key information about each team, so you know the history before you wager.
The New Orleans Saints are Louisiana’s NFL franchise and play games at the famous Caesars Superdome. For most of Saint’s history from 1966, it was one of the worst teams in the NFL. The franchise posted 20 consecutive losing seasons, earning its first playoff berth and winning season in 1987. The team made the playoffs another four times and won two NFC West titles but was never a serious contender.
That all changed in 2006. The Saints hired Sean Payton as head coach and signed free-agent quarterback Drew Brees. The pair transformed the franchise into one of the best offensive units in the league, winning the Super Bowl in 2010 by beating the Indianapolis Colts 31-17. The team consistently made the playoffs until Brees’ retirement in 2020, claiming six division titles. Brees finished his career holding the record for the most seasons as the passing yards leader.
After launching in 2002, the New Orleans Pelicans are among the youngest franchises in the NBA. The team hasn’t experienced much success, only registering one division title win in 2008. The team has only posted six winning seasons since 2002/03. The franchise was known as the New Orleans Hornets before changing to the Pelicans in 2013.
The most crucial player in the franchise’s history is Anthony Davis, the No. 1 Draft pick for the Pelicans in 2012. Davis is the team’s points, rebounds, blocks, field goal, and free throw leader. He also made it to the All-NBA first team three times while playing for the Pelicans. He was traded to the LA Lakers in 2019 for three players and three first-round draft picks.
LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers are the names of the men’s and women’s athletics teams from Louisiana State University. LSU sponsors nine men’s and twelve women’s sports sanctioned by the NCAA, and its athletics program is consistently one of the best in the nation, collectively winning fifty national championships. Its most prominent side is its football team, which plays in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
LSU Tigers football plays in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and has claimed four national championships. The program played its first game in 1893 and claimed its first national championship in 1958 after a win in the Sugar Bowl.
It would wait 45 years to claim its second championship, winning in 2003 in controversial circumstances. The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) selected LSU and Oklahoma for its national championship game, while USC, first ranked in the AP poll, was left out. While LSU won the game, the result was a split decision, with LSU being proclaimed national champion in the Coaches Poll and USC topping the AP poll.
It would next win the national championship in 2007, with the 12-2 Tigers beating Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game to become the first two-loss national champions since 1960.
The Tigers would next win the national championship in 2019, with QB Joe Burrow setting offensive records. The team claimed the national title by beating Oklahoma 62-28 in the Peach Bowl and Clemson 42-25 in the College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship Game. Pundits have called the 2019 Tigers one of the greatest in college football history.
Representing Tulane University in New Orleans, the Tulane Green Wave is an NCAA Division I athletics program and member of the American Athletic Conference (The American). The school sponsors seven men’s and ten women’s teams. Its most prominent team is its football program.
Tulane Green Wave plays in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for football and plays its home games in Yulman Stadium. Established in 1893, the team was a member of the Southeastern Conference from 1932-1965 before spending twenty-nine years as an Independent. In 1996 it joined Conference USA (C-USA), remaining in the conference until its move to The American in 2014.
The team has won ten championships in five conferences, winning a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) title in 1920, four Southern Conference titles, and three SEC titles. In 2022, it won its first conference championship in The American. In addition, Tulane has appeared in fourteen bowl games, including the Rose Bowl in 1931, Sugar Bowl in 1934 & 1939, and the Cotton Bowl against USC in 2022.
Louisiana Sporting Events
While Louisiana’s major league sports teams get the most attention from sports fans, there are plenty of other teams people love. The college sports teams in LA, like Louisiana State University (LSU), are as popular as any other team in the state. In addition, there are plenty of sports events fans look forward to each year. You can check them out below.
Bayou Classic
Beginning in 1932, the Bayou Classic is a college football game on the calendar of all NCAAF fans. The annual game, held under the name Bayou Classic since 1974, is played between the Southern University Jaguars and the Grambling State University Tigers. The game is always held at the Superdome, although it was moved to Houston, Texas, for a year following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.
Alongside the football, there is a marching band battle between Southern University’s Human Jukebox and Grambling State University’s Tiger Marching Band. In addition, the South Louisiana Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps run and deliver the game ball from Southern University to the Superdome.
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is one of the oldest bowl games in the US, with a history dating back to 1935. The Bowl game has always had an informal link with the Southeastern Conference but has played host to college football teams from various conferences. The team with the most appearances is the Alabama Crimson Tide, followed closely by the local team LSU.
Since joining the College Football Playoff system, the Sugar Bowl has hosted a semi-final game once every three years. It shares this responsibility with the New Year’s Six, a collection of some of the most famous bowl games.
Zurich Golf Classic
The PGA Tour is one of the biggest global golf events, and the Zurich Golf Classic at TPC Louisiana is a regular on the competition’s schedule. The event has been held since 1938, becoming annual in 1958. In 2017, the Zurich Golf Classic switched to a team event and now has a purse of over $8 million.
The record game for a team was scored in 2022, as Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele scored -29. Chip Beck claimed the individual record in 1999, shooting -26 on his own.
Louisiana Land Based Sportsbooks
Retail sports betting launched before online wagering in Louisiana on October 31, 2021. Most retail sportsbooks are located at land-based casinos partnered with a sports betting brand. There are 23 land-based casinos in the state which can partner with sportsbook brands. You can see the locations where retail sports betting is available below.
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Barstool Sportsbook | L’Auberge Casino Baton Rouge, L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles, Margaritaville Resort Casino |
| Betfred | Paragon Casino Resort |
| Caesars | Harrah’s New Orleans, Horseshoe Bossier City |
| DraftKings | Golden Nugget Lake Charles, Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge |
| FanDuel | Amelia Belle, Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs, Sam’s Town Shreveport |
| Louisiana Downs Sportsbook | Louisiana Downs |
| Rez Sportsbook | Coushatta Casino Resort |
Louisiana Responsible Gambling
Louisiana has a state-wide self-exclusion program, where you can prohibit yourself from using any online or retail sportsbook. You must visit the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division and sign the necessary documents with a Division Agent present.
In addition, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board requires sportsbooks to offer responsible gambling resources to players. This includes account tools like deposit and spending limits. There will also be resources on tackling responsible gambling and guidance to third-party organizations that help problem gamblers.
FAQs
Yes, you can legally bet on sports in most parts of Louisiana. Governor Joel Bel Edwards signed SB 142 and SB 247 on June 21, 2021, to legalize sports betting in parishes that voted to allow it. In these regions, you can download a sportsbook app and bet anywhere within the parish’s borders. There are eight parishes where you can’t legally place wagers.
Anyone who is 21 or over and is within the state’s borders can legally use Louisiana sports betting sites. Whether you want to bet at retail sportsbooks or use an online wagering platform, you must verify your age with a photo ID. In addition, there are eight parishes in Louisiana where sports betting is still prohibited.
All Louisiana sports betting sites are licensed by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. This regulatory body was set up expressly to ensure sports betting in Louisiana is safe and tests every operator’s safety measures. In addition, most Louisiana sports betting sites are reputable brands operating in dozens of US states.
Mobile sports betting is legal in most LA parishes. You can use most betting platforms by downloading a mobile app for iOS and Android or visiting via your mobile browser site. As long as you have a connection, you can access most sportsbooks’ full range of markets and features from your mobile.
Horse racing is legal in Louisiana, with three horse racing tracks across the state. You can place pari-mutuel wagers on these races at dozens of off-track betting (OTB) locations across the state. The Louisiana Racing Commission licenses every OTB. You can also bet on horse racing online.
DraftKings partnered with the Golden Nugget Lake Charles to get a license from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and launch in the state. You can play with its desktop site or download the DraftKings app and bet on the go. The operator has also opened two retail sportsbooks in LA, which you can visit to place bets in person.
Yes, you can use FanDuel Sportsbook in Louisiana, thanks to its license from the Louisiana Gaming Control board. The sportsbook provides a wide range of player bonuses, including its generous welcome bonus. You can also play its Daily Fantasy Sports games with your Louisiana sports betting account. If you enjoy in-person betting, you can find a FanDuel sportsbook at three casinos across the state.
Caesars Sportsbook is available to players in most parishes in Louisiana, including its desktop site and mobile app. The operator partners with Harrah’s New Orleans, which has opened a retail sportsbook. Anyone who bets with Caesars Sportsbook can benefit from the free Caesars Rewards program, where you earn points for betting and use these to claim prizes.