Louisiana Wins premiered its first televised commercial on September 13 during the Saints-Buccaneers game. The ad supported the November 3 ballot initiative to allow sports betting in parishes that vote yes.
For now, Louisiana residents go to Mississippi and Arkansas to place bets, depriving the state of tax revenues.
“We can keep those dollars here in Louisiana to grow our economy and make investments in things like education and infrastructure by legalizing sports wagering this fall,” said Ryan Berni, speaking on behalf of Louisiana Wins. Berni served as Deputy Mayor of External Affairs to New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
Voters in 47 of 64 parishes in 2018 favored regulated fantasy sports, which involves paying to pick players for teams, then winning prizes based on how well picks did in real games. But setting up the regulations and tax structure got entangled with efforts to legalize sports betting in casinos, according to The Advocate.
The evangelical community opposes the expansion, often with alliances comprised of truck stops, bars and other smaller venues that have video poker machines. These locations want in whenever the casinos seek to expand gambling options. Louisiana has 20 state-regulated casinos plus three on tribal lands.
The state Constitution requires parish approval via a referendum for any new game, including sports betting. If voters approve sports betting in any parish, lawmakers and the Gaming Control Board will have to establish regulations for administering, licensing, setting tax rates and collection processes in 2021.
