Louisiana Online Gambling: Quick Facts
- Legal Louisiana online gambling options: None
- Legal gambling age: 21
- Who regulates Louisiana online gambling? N/A
- Legal mobile gambling? No
- Do I need to be physically located in Louisiana to gamble online? N/A
- Do I need to be a resident of Louisiana to gamble online? N/A
- Sports avalable to bet on: Horse racing at racetracks only.
- What can't I bet on? Online sports, casino, poker.
A Brief History of Louisiana Online Gambling
Delaware was the first state to legalize online casino gaming in the United States. Nevada followed, but this never gained any actual traction relative to sports betting. Louisiana online gambling yet been made legal, and it is unlikely that online casinos or online poker rooms will be operating anytime soon.
If Louisiana were to legalize online casino gaming, it would most likely be done through a parish vote. This was how sports betting became legal in the state. Louisiana was slightly behind many American states in the legalization of sports betting.
New Jersey Paved the Way
New Jersey was the first state to fight sports betting, and they did this over a span of a decade. The New Jersey legislature showed a desire to legalize sports betting in 2009, but it was battled by the professional sports leagues and the NCAA.
The case ended up being decided in the Supreme Court of the United States. The leagues cited the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act as their defense for why sports betting should not be allowed.
The Supreme Court sided with New Jersey and ruled that states had the right to legalize sports betting because PASPA was deemed unconstitutional. This decision occurred in 2018, but Louisiana did not discuss sports betting until 2019.
Senator Danny Martin made the majority of the attempts to pass a sports betting bill in 2019. The bill was discussed on the final day of the session, but it was not passed. There were too many amendments requested to get a deal accomplished.
In 2020, Louisiana made some progress, but sports betting is still a primary discussion for the 2021 legislative session. There was a bill from Senator Cameron Henry that was accepted. The bill gave voters the right to decide if sports betting should be legalized.
55 of the 64 parishes or counties in the state voted to legalize sports betting. Henry’s bill gave the Louisiana Gaming Control Board the right to oversee sports betting, but no rules were connected to the bill.
Framework Discussions
The Louisiana government is discussing the framework of sports betting in 2021. There is a lot of opposition to online betting, but Henry desires to legalize it in the state. He will be opposed because a lot of legislators are against mobile gambling.
Sports betting should go live in some format in 2022 after a deal is negotiated in 2021.
Louisiana Online Gambling: The Current Law
- Sports betting is legal in Louisiana. However, it isn't yet up and running.
- No laws have been established yet for sports betting because it was passed in a referendum vote.
- The only concrete sports betting law is that the Louisiana Gaming Control Board will regulate sports betting.
- There is no guarantee that mobile betting will be enacted.
Legal Online Sportsbooks
Sports betting is legal in Louisiana, but it’s uncertain if mobile sportsbooks will be allowed. The state legislature is negotiating mobile betting in Louisiana, but there are a lot of people who oppose mobile betting.
If LA enacts online gambling, big providers should enter the state like DraftKings and FanDuel. There are not many states in the deep south that support sports betting, so Louisiana’s launch will be somewhat revolutionary.
Sports Betting in Louisiana
Louisiana has two professional sports teams in two separate major leagues. The New Orleans Saints play in the NFL, and the New Orleans Pelicans compete in the NBA. The state also has numerous Division I athletic programs, including the Louisiana State University Tigers.
The Tigers compete in the SEC, and people cherish the football program at LSU throughout the state.
When sports betting is legalized, here are some of the bets you will be able to make in-person and possible on your mobile device.
Moneyline
The moneyline is the easiest bet in sports. This is when you pick a team straight up to win a game. The only thing that matters at the end of the contest as a bettor is the team that you picked won.
A team with positive odds is an underdog on a sportsbook, and a squad with negative odds is a favorite. If you bet the Saints at -115 on the moneyline, you would be selecting the favorite.
Point Spread
The point spread is the great equalizer. This allows you to bet weaker teams to be within a certain number of points at the end of the game. You can also choose a favorite to win a game by a specific range of points with the spread.
A negative spread means that a team needs to win by that amount. A positive spread indicates that a team needs to be within that number of points at the end of a game.
If you bet the Pelicans at +6.5, they must lose by six points or less. They could also win the game, and you would win.
Totals (Over/Under)
The total is a great bet because it allows you to utilize both teams to your advantage. The over/under is the most common total in sports betting. This is when you bet over or under a listed number of points on a sportsbook.
If there are two great defenses in a contest, the under is likely. If two juggernaut offenses are competing, the over could be the answer.
Prop Bets
Prop bets involve smaller parts of a contest. They are more challenging to win than traditional bets because they focus on player and team statistics. Here are some prop bet examples.
- Alvin Kamara: Over/Under 2.5 touchdowns
- Saints’ Defense: Over/Under 3.5 sacks
- Pelicans: Over/Under 42% from the field
Future Bets
Future bets are when you wager something that will be decided months in advance. If you wagered the Saints to win the 2022 Super Bowl, that would be an example of a future bet. You can also wager division winners, postseason awards, winning percentages, and so much more, depending on the sportsbook.
Parlay Bets
Parlay bets are when you combine a group of single wagers from different games to lower your chances of winning. However, you can receive a massive payout depending on the number of legs in your parlay.
For you to win a parlay, all of your bets must hit, which is problematic. However, for a low-risk wager, you can win a significant amount of money.
Legal Online Casinos
There are no legal online casinos in Louisiana, and this is not being discussed currently. If online casinos were legalized, it would come after mobile sports betting was enacted.
The fate of internet sports betting is still questionable, so do not count on legal online casinos. This would most likely be decided in a referendum vote if it was ever discussed.
LA does offer people in the state multiple landlocked gaming options. There are 52 casinos in Louisiana. Five of these properties are located in New Orleans.
Legal Online Poker
Legal online poker is nonexistent in Louisiana. Online poker legalization would most likely be tied to casino gaming, but this is not on the current docket. If people in Louisiana want to play poker, they have two options.
They can play in a state-sanctioned casino through a card room or in their own home as long as nobody benefits from hosting the game.
How to Set Up a Louisiana Online Gambling Account
The fate of Louisiana gambling is questionable, so there may not be online gambling accounts. However, the registration process will be similar to the one that will be present at retail books.
To sign up for an account, download a legal sportsbook app and proceed to the registration section. You will be asked to enter your name, address, date of birth, and social security number.
You have nothing to worry about for security because the sportsbooks are very safe. However, you should enter a strong password to guarantee that your account stays protected. A strong password includes letters, numbers, and symbols.
Louisiana Banking Methods
The banking methods for online gambling are consistent across countless sportsbooks. If Louisiana just offers retail betting, you will have to use cash. However, if mobile sports betting is enacted, you will be given a variety of banking options.
These banking options will include credit/debit card, PayPal, Neteller, PayNearMe, e-Check through ACH Payments, or a banking wire. Sportsbooks have security measures in place to make sure your account stays protected.
The Future of Online Gambling in Louisiana
The future of online gambling in Louisiana is promising because sports betting has been legalized. There is a strong divide in the state legislature over the framework of sports betting.
Some legislators desire mobile betting, and others want it limited to retail books. This decision will be made during the 2021 legislative session, so all you can do is wait.
I believe that mobile sports betting will not be legalized because of the substantial number of casinos in the state that could offer retail books.
