Louisiana online sports betting has come to those who waited!
Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM Sportsbook, FanDuel and DraftKings launched on the morning of Friday, Jan. 28, 2022.
Louisiana Gaming Board Chair Ronnie Johns signed six online sports betting licenses on the Wednesday before. He had jokingly commented in the months earlier about how much his phone had been ringing with people wanting to know when sports betting would start.
Spokespeople for Caesars sportsbook and BetMGM LA are enthused about their new online starts in the state. Caesars already operates as a retail sportsbook at two properties.
“We’re proud that BetMGM will be in the first wave of operators to launch mobile sports betting in Louisiana this Friday. We thank both the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Louisiana State Police. And [we] look forward to parlaying BetMGM’s success in neighboring regions into a long, successful, and responsible relationship with sports fans in the state.”
– Adam Greenblatt, BetMGM CEO“Caesars Sportsbook is ready for mobile sports betting’s debut in Louisiana on Friday. This is an opportunity we’ve been working toward for a long time. We’ve seen tremendous interest in legal sports betting. Especially since the opening of our Caesars Sportsbooks at Harrah’s New Orleans and Horseshoe Bossier City. Come Friday, through the app, we’ll be able to offer even more opportunities to experience the thrill of sports wagering.”
– Eric Hession, Caesars Digital Co-President
Louisiana sports bettors are good sports
Louisiana online sports betting certainly took a while and patience on the part of Pelican State sports betting fans. As it took a long time to get going since a referendum approved sports betting back in November 2020.
Delays since then included the surprise resignation of an LGCB chair and the search for a replacement, plus Hurricane Ida.
The latter called away the State Police, who research operators and recommend licensing; they were needed to deal with the ramifications of the hurricane.
Retail sports betting launched in October at Paragon Casino and Resort, a tribal casino that doesn’t require state approval. Commercial casino sports betting kicked off on Halloween at Harrah’s New Orleans and Horseshoe Casino.
To date, 13 retail casinos house onsite sportsbooks. Sam’s Town and Amelia Belle just opened their FanDuel Sportsbooks this month.
Twenty casinos in the state are eligible for two online skins apiece. The Louisiana Lottery can claim one skin. According to Lottery President Rose Hudson, the Lottery has requested bids from vendors by Feb. 15.
“The ability to get up and running within a short period of time is important.”
– Rose Hudson, Lottery President
Louisiana online sports bettors can legally place a bet on sports via cell phones and computers except in:
- Caldwell
- Franklin
- West Carroll
- Catahoula
- Jackson
- LaSalle
- Sabine
- Union
- Winn
Those parishes will have geofencing technology, which blocks access to sports betting operators.
A happy Ronnie Johns
Johns had said that the goal was to have sports betting functional and available by the Super Bowl on Feb. 13. Now he has said:
“It’s going to be huge. I can’t tell you how many people have asked me about this day.”
