Sportsbook Timeline on Louisiana Sports Betting

Hurricane Ida postponed the launch of Louisiana sports betting to at least October 1. According to the Gaming Control Board, the state needs a week to recover from the natural disaster. Although the state lost seven to ten days preparing for the arrival of sports wagering, everything is back on track.

According to a political forum, the regulator’s goal is to have sportsbooks open by October 1. On-site sportsbooks will be the first option available to Louisiana residents. They will open at land-based casinos, racetracks, and riverboats.

You need to apply for a license to become a bookie in Louisiana. At present, eight casinos applied for one. Also, Caesar’s is already advertising its intent to have a sportsbook at its New Orleans casino.

Louisiana Sports Betting Timeline

Mobile operators still have time to learn how to open a sportsbook in Louisiana. State law allows casinos to employ the services of third-party vendors to operate their online sportsbooks. However, vendors don’t have licenses to operate in the state yet. They need to go through a vetting process that can take at least sixty days to complete.

Restaurants and bars might have sports wagering kiosks by January. The Louisiana Lottery supervises sportsbooks in restaurants and bars. Also, the agency is expediting the process. They hope to complete the application process by November. However, their targeted rollout is early next year.

Voters from Louisiana’s 64 parishes supported authorizing sports wagering in their communities the previous fall. First, however, legislators needed to set up the system to supervise and tax sports bets during the 2021 Legislative Session.

Sports wagering is not allowed in Caldwell, Franklin, Catahoula, Jackson, Sabine, LaSalle, Union, Winn, and West Carroll. Voters in these parishes rejected sports betting legalization. Thus, operators will use geofencing to stop residents from the following parishes to access mobile sportsbooks.