In Louisiana, DraftKings sportsbooks opened on November 10 in Lake Charles at Golden Nugget Casino and Penn National Gaming’s L’Auberge Casino Resort. Both new sportsbooks are temporary venues.
The DraftKings sportsbook currently is located inside the Blue Martini bar. It will be the largest sportsbook in Lake Charles when it opens in summer 2022, officials said. Currently it offers six ticket cages and 30 self-service kiosks throughout the casino. The new 10,000-square-foot venue will offer a sportsbook and lounge with 300 seats, odds boards and numerous big-screen televisions.
Fertitta Entertainment Senior Vice President of Gaming Gerry Del Prete said, “Our team has worked diligently alongside state legislators to make the sportsbook experience a reality for Louisiana patrons. Coupling the Golden Nugget’s dynamic gaming network with DraftKings innovative tech and trading makes for an unmatched partnership. We are thrilled to offer our combined customer base an unparalleled experience at the Golden Nugget Lake Charles.”
DraftKings North America Co-Founder and President Matt Kalish added, “Since launching daily fantasy sports in Louisiana, we have been eager to introduce our fans here to the DraftKings Sportsbook experience, which will provide customers with a new level of engagement with several of America’s most popular leagues overlapping across the NFL, NBA, NHL and NCAA football. Joining forces with Golden Nugget and their renowned casino brand, we look forward to providing the fervent fan base in the Bayou State with a premier retail sportsbook experience.”
The L’Auberge sportsbook, located inside the poker room and Stadium Games, will be replaced by a Barstool Sportsbook in early 2022.
Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns also recently granted licenses to two retail Caesars Sportsbook locations at Harrah’s New Orleans and Horseshoe Casino. Penn National Gaming’s retail sportsbooks at Boomtown Casino and the L’Auberge Casino in Baton Rouge also recently launched. The tribal-owned Paragon Casino in Marksville also offers sports betting.
Johns said 13 of the possible 20 casinos have applied for a sports betting license but he expects the other seven to apply before the December 31 deadline. He added mobile operators should be approved for licenses by early January 2022 and offer sports betting in Louisiana parishes where voters approved sports betting.
