During the first 36 hours after mobile sports betting launched in Louisiana on January 28, 3.6 percent of the state’s adult population posted an online transaction, according to GeoComply.
By comparison, 3.3 percent of New York State’s adult population recorded a transaction in the same time period when online sports wagering kicked off January 8.
Over the first weekend of legalized online sports betting in Louisiana, 3.4 million geolocation pings ranked the state eighth in legal U.S. sports betting markets. According to GeoComply, 68 percent of the transactions occurred in southeastern Louisiana, including New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Coming in ninth was Indiana; tenth, Tennessee; eleventh, Colorado; and twelfth, Connecticut. Louisiana’s population is approximately 4.7 million, the 25th-most populous U.S. state. In comparison, Tennessee’s population is about 6.9 million.
In December, retail wagers in Louisiana totaled $39.5 million. Retail sportsbooks debuted October 31 and took in $27.6 million in bets in November. In comparison, Indiana sportsbooks took in wagers of $463.0 million in December; Tennessee handled $341.8 million; and Colorado took in $461.4 million.
The six sportsbooks that launched in Louisiana on January 28 are Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, Barstool Sportsbook, BetRivers, FanDuel and DraftKings. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chair Ronnie Johns said more operators will be approved in the near future. The Louisiana Lottery also will receive a sports betting license and is in the process of selecting a partner. The lottery will operate a mobile app and kiosks at lottery retailers.
