Nearly three years after voters in 47 parishes approved the legalization of daily fantasy sports, Louisiana now has its first licensed operator ready to launch.
DraftKings announced it received a license from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to offer regulated DFS in the Pelican State. As a result, Louisiana will become the 44th state in DraftKings’ portfolio. In the announcement, DraftKings said its DFS product “will soon be live” in parishes that approved fantasy sports.
As reported by The Advocate, the app could go live as early Thursday following a unanimous approval from the control board.
DraftKings brings tried-and-true DFS product to Louisiana
As its expansive DFS reach indicates, DraftKings stands as one of the biggest fantasy sports powers in the country. The operator boasts contests surrounding dozens of sports, from the NFL, NBA and MLB to Australian rules football and esports.
Now, DraftKings can tap into Louisiana, a sports-hungry state with two pro franchises and multiple NCAA Division I programs.
“As DraftKings continues our nationwide expansion, we welcome Louisiana to the DraftKings family, an area rich with culture, heritage, and die-hard fanbases in both professional and college sports,” Matt Kalish, co-founder of DraftKings, said in a release.
“The Bayou will now have access to our world-leading Daily Fantasy Sports product as we ramp up toward the kickoff of football season.”
What DraftKings will offer for Louisiana DFS
As a way of celebrating its launch in Louisiana, DraftKings will offer players a free credit to play in a $3 paid contest of their choice after making a minimum $5 deposit.
For players in approved parishes, DraftKings provides a number of amenities and innovations to ensure top-level entertainment.
With its Fair Play Commitment Initiative, DraftKings prevents top-earning and more-experienced players from competing in casual and beginner contests. This creates a more level playing field for all contestants. Fantasy sports players in Louisiana can also enter DraftKings Leagues (which offers private contests for players who know each other) as well as showdown and classic contests.
DraftKings told Louisiana State Police gaming investigators it expects to draw $15.5 million in net revenue during its first year. That would translate to nearly $1.3 million in tax revenue for the state.
Legal DFS a long time coming for Louisiana
DraftKings getting ready to launch marks the end of a long wait for DFS players in Louisiana.
As noted, voters in all but 17 parishes in the state approved the legalization of fantasy sports in November 2018. Legislators, though, dragged their feet for more than two years before finally showing some progress.
It wasn’t until December 2020 that lawmakers finally approved regulations for the Louisiana DFS industry. By early 2021, regulators opened the application window.
Now, Louisiana has its first licensed DFS operator. Certainly, DraftKings won’t be done with the Pelican State. As regulators work on rules for the coming sports betting industry, there’s little doubt that DraftKings Sportsbook will enter the mix.
