In a 33-3 vote, Louisiana senators have passed rules allowing sports betting at sportsbooks, mobile apps and kiosks in 55 parishes where the bets were approved by voters last November.
Senate Bill 247 now heads to Governor John Bel Edwards who is expected to sign the bill, leading the way for sports wagering to launch this fall. The House previously passed the legislation in a 78-15 vote along with a separate bill setting rules and tax rates passed earlier in the session.
State Rep. John Stefanski said, “I’m more optimistic now that sports betting will launch during football season. We gave the gaming control board the ability to give provisional licenses, so even if they don’t have a physical sportsbook built, they can go live with a mobile application. It’s very likely.”
Under the new law, the state’s casinos and racetracks will get the first crack at 20 sportsbook licenses available under the new law; two skins are allowed per license. If those venues don’t grab all 20 licenses by January 1, fantasy sports betting operators and video poker establishments in the parishes will be eligible to apply.
Any licensed onsite operator also can offer the bets via web and mobile app. The Louisiana Lottery Corp. will operate its own sportsbook through an online site, mobile app and kiosk locations in bars and restaurants where alcohol is served.
Wagerers must be 21 or older and must set up an account with a sports betting operator in the state, in person or online. Bets on high school or youth sports events will be prohibited. Athletes, coaches and referees will not be allowed to bet on any sports event they are involved in. Bettors who live in parishes that did not approve sports betting can place wagers only in a parish where sports betting was legalized.
The state will tax net sports betting proceeds at onsite locations at 10 percent and mobile apps and electronic devices at 15 percent. Sports betting operators also will be required to pay an application fee of $250,000 and a $500,000 license fee good for five years; Edwards already has signed the tax and fee measure into law. Analysts said sports betting revenue could generate $20 million to $50 million annually.
Lawmakers still haven’t determined how sports betting revenue will be spent. The split currently under consideration includes 25 percent to the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund; 12 percent to parishes where sports betting is allowed; 2 percent to the Behavioral Health and Wellness Fund and 1 percent the Sports Wagering Purse Supplemental Fund.
State police officials said that agency would need to hire 19 additional people to regulate sports gambling, including six auditors, two compliance specialists, 10 investigators and one staff officer. Attorney General Jeff Landry has stated he would need to hire two more assistant attorneys general and an administrative assistant.
In related news, sports betting network VSiN and WBRZ Channel 2, the ABC affiliate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana have made a content distribution agreement that will bring VSiN content to the market.
VSiN’s sports betting and entertainment programming now airs on WBRZ+ Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. CT as well as Saturdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT. Viewers in Baton Rouge will have access to some of VSiN’s most popular programming, including “A Numbers Game” hosted by Gill Alexander and “Prime Time Action,” hosted by Alexander, LSU graduate Matt Brown and Danielle Alvari.
“We’re thrilled to bring VSiN’s sports betting content to sports fans and soon-to-be wagering enthusiasts across the Baton Rouge Market,” said Noah Kozinko, director of marketing at WBRZ. “We knew we wanted to get ahead of the legislative process and start to educate our audience on sports betting before it kicks off here in Louisiana. We wanted to find the best in the business to help introduce folks to sports betting and there just wasn’t anyone better than VSiN to do that.”
“You’d be hard pressed to find fans more passionate than folks in SEC country and we couldn’t be more excited to bring our unique sports betting content to Baton Rouge,” said Brian Musburger, founder and CEO of VSiN. “As we continue to expand our distribution footprint across the U.S., we’re thrilled to be able to collaborate with innovative providers like WBRZ, who are ahead of the curve in educating their audience, having recognized the growth in this type of content.”
The DraftKings subsidiary has studios inside the sportsbooks at South Point Casino and Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, as well as satellite studios at leading gaming properties across the country.
