As of Sept. 30, Louisiana became the 17th jurisdiction in which WynnBet will provide legalized sports betting — once Louisiana sports betting actually launches following numerous delays.
This further establishes WynnBet, the sportsbook spinoff of Wynn Resorts, as a major player in the arena of state-regulated sports betting.
WynnBet may have gained Louisiana entry through a Caesars market access deal, allowing it to partner with one of Caesars’ properties in the state.
Those include land-based Harrah’s New Orleans as well as three riverboat casinos: Belle of Baton Rouge, Horseshoe Bossier City and Isle of Capri Lake Charles, recently renamed the Horseshoe Casino Lake Charles. Caesars also owns Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, which is eligible to receive a sports betting license in the Pelican State.
WynnBet had similarly gained access to Caesars properties in New Jersey after satisfactorily meeting the requirements of that state’s Casino Control Act.
WynnBet increases overall sports betting market access share
Louisiana increases WynnBet’s current market access of approximately 46% of the US adult population. The sportsbook is looking to eventually hike that percentage to 77%. This new arrangement brings them one state closer, with perhaps six more states to come.
Currently, WynnBet operates in:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Indiana
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Tennessee
- Virginia
WynnBet’s bettable sports include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, golf, hockey, boxing, cricket, tennis, rugby, MMA, auto racing and softball.
Louisiana adds another sportsbook to its lineup
WynnBet already has ties to the Pelican State, thanks to its recent partnership with LSU alumnus and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal as its newest brand ambassador. Now there are a number of other sportsbooks just waiting for the go-ahead from the state.
In August, Rush Street Interactive sealed a deal with Boom Entertainment, giving Rush Street access to Louisiana plus Mississippi and New Mexico. Retail sportsbook Betfred will operate out of the Draft Room at Marksville’s Paragon Casino. Also expected to join the Louisiana sports betting lineup are Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, FOX Bet and PointsBet.
Daily fantasy sports is already up and running in Louisiana, provided by competitors DraftKings and FanDuel, each of which is expected to launch a Louisiana mobile sports betting app.
Timeline of Louisiana sports betting launch
The road to officially kicking off sports betting in the state has been rocky – and wet and windy — due to a sudden resignation on the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and a Category 4 hurricane.
It all started in 2018, when the Supreme Court removed a ban on sports betting, leaving it up to each state to decide for itself on whether to allow it. Fast-forward to November 2020, when 55 of 64 Louisiana parishes voted in favor.
Then came the pandemic.
In June 2021, sports betting successfully passed the Louisiana House. But before Gov. Jon Bel Edwards signed it into law, then-LGCB Chair Mike Noel abruptly resigned. Following another almost two-month lag, Edwards appointed Ronnie Johns as the new chair.
August saw the setting of emergency rules for sports betting. A few weeks later, Hurricane Ida hit, bringing 150 mph winds, blackouts across the state and $50 billion in damages. Still, on Sept. 16, amidst ongoing recovery efforts, the LGCB approved permanent regulations.
About a week ago, Johns noted that the new goal had sportsbooks operational by Oct. 1. So stay tuned, because sports betting in Louisiana could seemingly launch at any moment.
