Last November, 55 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes voted to approve sports betting. Now lawmakers are filling in the details. Recently the House Committee on Ways and Means passed the sports betting measure, House Bill 628, in a 16-0 vote. The bill sets a limit of 20 retail sportsbooks with two mobile operators each. Gross gaming revenue from land-based casinos will be taxed at 10 percent and online platforms will be taxed at 18 percent. That’s one of the higher mobile tax rates in the U.S., but state Rep. Todd Stefanski said that was done to support retail sports betting.
The Louisiana Lottery will regulate sports betting; it’s eligible to establish its own mobile sportsbook app and it can offer sports betting through kiosks at any lottery retailer. Bars and restaurants also may offer sports betting kiosks if they have a liquor license.
Senate Bill 202 and Senate Bill 195 are nearly identical to the House bill and await a hearing in Senate Committee on Judiciary B. Under the bills, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board would regulate sports wagering. Mobile sports betting would require in-person registration.
Whichever bill wins out and gets signed by Governor John Bel Edwards, it can be enacted on July 1. That gives operators plenty of time to start taking bets for the 2021 National Football League season.
