Sports betting opportunities in Louisiana are popping up like lights at Christmastime. The latest newly licensed additions are in Bossier City at Margaritaville Resort Casino and Boomtown Casino & Hotel, bringing the number of casinos offering sports betting in Louisiana to nine.
With the addition of these two casinos, there are now three sportsbook locations in Bossier City. The third is Horseshoe Casino, which partnered with Caesars Sportsbook.
11 casinos can continue to apply, and licenses for five of those are currently awaiting approval by the State Police and signing off by Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman, Ronnie Johns. The deadline for applying is December 31.
Where to bet on sports in Louisiana
When ready to place a bet, bettors can use the DraftKings Louisiana app which will make it easy to bet on sports online in addition to physical locations.
Retail locations for sports betting in LA are:
- L’Auberge, Baton Rouge
- Boomtown Casino, Horseshoe and Margaritaville, Bossier City
- Golden Nugget and L’Auberge, Lake Charles
- Paragon Casino Resort, Marksville
- Boomtown and Harrah’s, New Orleans
Also noteworthy, the projected first-month revenues for sports betting in Louisiana are estimated at over $7 million. Online sports betting is expected to launch in 2022.
Not wasting time at Margaritaville
Bossier City license approval was announced on Thursday, November 11 for Margaritaville, which opened slot betting to the public the next day. Bossier City mayor, Tommy Chandler, cut the ceremonial red ribbon to launch the property’s Sportsbook.
Margaritaville boasts 20 betting kiosks and five ticket writer stations that offer thousands of betting options. In addition, the casino provides a Bet Builder app, which lets bettors see what their winnings might be before placing bets.
According to Barry Regula, casino Vice President and General Manager:
“We will offer more ways to bet and more ways to win and we look forward to becoming a destination for fans of all sports.”
Additionally, Regula told KSLA that he expects it will bring:
“more and more visitors from Texas and Oklahoma,” as well as some people who haven’t been to the casino in a while, “…people that are interested in betting on sports from all around the Ark-La-Tex.”
The first bet placed was a $500 two-team parlay with a potential payout of $1,800.
For convenience, Margaritaville Sportsbook hours of operation are:
- Monday through Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Another ribbon-cutting at Boomtown
Also worth celebrating, Boomtown opened its Sportsbook on Monday, November 15. It will be open daily, offering 10 sports betting kiosks and three ticket-writing stations. The online app will be on tap to help bettors plan their wagers at Boomtown, too.
Before the ribbon-cutting opening ceremony, Mike Gallagher, General Manager and CFO for Boomtown, announced:
“We are excited to welcome all sports fans to the Sportsbook at Boomtown where we will offer more ways to bet and more ways to win.”
Additionally, Shawn Dawkins from Texas laid the first bet, telling KSLA that sports betting this way is easier and, “a lot more fun.”
Stacy Brown, President of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau said, “Sports betting couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Louisiana Wins, the campaign to legalize sports betting, has projected up to $332 million annually in gross sports betting revenue, and up to $48 million going to the state in taxes.
