January 2022 marked the long-awaited debut of Louisiana sports betting. Online sports wagering is legal in 55 parishes throughout the state.

This comprehensive review of Louisiana sports betting includes links that you can use to unlock welcome bonus offers at each online sportsbook.

Key Policy Points on Online Gambling in Louisiana

  • Legal Online Gambling Verticals – Sports betting, daily fantasy sports
  • Online Gambling Revenue Tax Rates – Louisiana online betting sites pay a 15% tax rate on revenue; retail sportsbooks cover a 10% rate and DFS sites pay an 8% tax rate
  • Available Online Sports Betting Licenses – 40—Two for each commercial casino, up to a maximum of 20 casinos (LA currently has 19)
  • College Sports Wagering Policy – LA permits wagering on professional and college teams. Gamblers can bet on schools both in state and throughout the U.S. 
  • iGaming Legalization and Launch Dates – DFS legalized Nov. 2018; launched July 2021 and online sports betting legalized Nov 2020, launch date January 2022
  • Gaming Regulation Agency – Louisiana Gaming Control Board

Daily fantasy became the first legal form of online gambling in Louisiana. It passed both houses in May 2018 and received voter approval in 47 parishes in Nov. 2018.

Exactly two years later, legal Louisiana online betting passed a voter referendum. Retail and internet sportsbooks are available in the 55 parishes approved.

The critical pieces of legislation that govern sports gambling and DFS are as follows:

Each commercial casino can run two online sportsbook brands or “skins.” LA currently features 19 casinos, including 14 riverboards, four racinos, and the Harrah’s New Orleans land-based casino.

Up to 40 Louisiana online betting sites are theoretically possible (two for 20 casinos). However, there is not enough demand for this many operators.

Legal Sportsbooks in Louisiana

LA lawmakers became interested in internet gambling after the government repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018. As a result, the state Senate took the first step to make legal online betting in Louisiana a reality. It passed Senate Bill 130, which put a sports wagering question on the Nov. 3, 2020, ballot.

61.53% of voters chose “Yes” to sports gambling. The majority in 55 of 64 parishes voted in favor of the referendum. This Yes vote extended to parishes that house the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport metro areas.

The only parishes that voted “No” and, thus, still ban sports wagering include:

  • Caldwell
  • Catahoula
  • Franklin
  • LaSalle
  • Sabine
  • Union
  • West Carroll
  • Winn

Following the favorable vote, politicians began drafting the framework for the sports betting market. First, they produced SB 247 to legalize betting and HB 697 to establish tax and licensing standards. 

The state house and senate approved both bills in June 2021. Gov. John Bel Edwards signed these pieces of legislation within the same month.

SB 247 offers liberal betting rules that allow for wagering on pro and college sports. So, you can even bet on the LSU Tigers, Tulane Green Wave, and other in-state teams in the latter case.

How to Get Started with Louisiana Online Betting

You can register at Louisiana online betting sites anywhere—including outside state lines—provided you’re 21+ years old. The registration process is primarily the same across the board. First, you need to enter the requested details, such as your name, age, address, email, and phone number.

You must be within one of the parishes with regulated sports betting. Also, the Bayou State is unique in that one parish can differ from the next on sports gambling. For example, you can legally bet in Ouachita Parish, but you can’t do so in neighboring Caldwell.

All parishes that voted against legal online betting in Louisiana are in the state’s northern half. You won’t need to worry about this issue if you’re in the more densely populated southern half.

A handful of Louisiana online betting sites have gone live so far, including the following:

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) can permit up to 40 licensees. It likely won’t issue anywhere near this number of licenses due to the state’s below-average population (4.65 million). However, more operators will enter the Louisiana legal online betting market.

Retail Sportsbooks in Louisiana

LA retail sportsbooks began operating on Oct. 7, 2021. The Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport/Bossier City areas feature multiple sportsbooks. Land-based locations are spread throughout other parts of the state as well.

You can see where the Louisiana retail sportsbooks are available below:

  • Barstool – Boomtown Casino (Bossier City), Boomtown (New Orleans), L’Auberge Casino (Baton Rouge) & L’Auberge (Lake Charles)
  • Betfred – Paragon Casino Resort (Marksville)
  • Caesars – Harrah’s New Orleans (Bossier City), Harrah’s Louisiana Downs (New Orleans), Horseshoe Casino (Bossier City), Isle of Capri (Lake Charles) & Margaritaville Resort Casino (Bossier City)
  • DraftKings – Bellow of Baton Rouge & Hollywood Casino (Baton Rouge)
  • FanDuel – Amelia Belle Casino (Amelia), Evangeline Downs (Opelousas), Delta Downs (Vinton), Sam’s Town (Shreveport) & Treasure Chest Casino (Kenner)
  • Golden Nugget – Golden Nugget Casino (Lake Charles)
  • TwinSpires – Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots (New Orleans)

Caesars is a significant player in the legal online betting Louisiana scene. It owns five casino properties in the state, along with four sportsbooks. One of these properties, Harrah’s New Orleans, is partnered with the city’s Saints (NFL) and Pelicans (NBA).

ESPN Bet and FanDuel are also significant in LA retail sports gambling. They operate five land-based sportsbooks apiece throughout the state.

Louisiana Daily Fantasy Sports

The Louisiana DFS market has been slow to get off the ground. However, it officially became legal in Nov. 2018, when 47 parishes voted “Yes” on a referendum.

However, regulatory legislation failed to pass both houses in June 2019 before finally receiving approval in June 2020. As a result, DraftKings and FanDuel received licenses in 2021 and now offer legal daily fantasy action in the Creole State.

Salary Cap DFS in Louisiana

Salary cap games are easily the most popular in daily fantasy. They require you to choose a certain number of players without exceeding the given salary cap (e.g., $100k).

DraftKings and FanDuel LA do most of their business through salary cap contests. They offer the biggest games and tournaments within this category.

You can sign up at both FanDuel and DraftKings LA through the following steps:

  1. Visit the respective site’s DFS section (instead of the sportsbook section).
  2. Complete the registration form.
  3. Confirm your age and agree to the general terms and conditions.

You must be at least 21 years old to enjoy a salary cap or other type of DFS in Louisiana. Additionally, you must be within one of the parishes with daily legal fantasy before depositing and gambling.

DraftKings and FanDuel offer various salary cap contests, including 50/50 (double-up), Boosters, head-to-head, and traditional tournaments. Also, the weekend tournament lineup typically offers the largest prize pools.

Louisiana Fantasy Prop Games

DFS prop games are much like prop bets offered in sports betting. They require you to bet on whether or not a player will achieve a specific stat. For example, a fantasy site might offer a game where you wager on an NBA player scoring over/under 25 points.

Here are some other examples:

  • New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara – Over/under 100 rushing yards
  • Toronto Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Will Guerrero hit a home run tonight?
  • New Orleans Pelicans F Brandon Ingram – Over/under 20 points

FanDuel and DraftKings are currently the only licensed DFS sites in Louisiana. Therefore, they’re the only operators who can legally offer prop games in the state. However, prop game specialists, such as Betcha and Underdogs, may apply for licensing later.

Best Ball Games in the Bayou State

Just like traditional season-long fantasy sports leagues, Best Ball games last for an entire season. They feature two key differences, however, from conventional season-long formats:

  1. You don’t make any roster moves after completing the pre-season draft.
  2. The site automatically fills out your lineups.

In short, Best Ball is all about the draft. It’s a fun way to enjoy season-long leagues if you don’t have time to make roster decisions each week.

Louisiana Online Poker

Louisiana is one of the few states that explicitly ban unregulated forms of internet gambling. The state’s penal codes note that “gambling by computer” is forbidden. Anybody caught violating this law faces up to a $500 fine and/or imprisonment for up to six months.

Louisiana does not regulate online poker. Therefore it’s illegal. Introduced in 2018, Senate Bill 322 would’ve given all parishes the right to vote on internet poker. However, the legislation failed to gain any traction. The state has not put any serious effort into legalizing it since. 

The state caught sports fever after the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018. With this federal ban on sports gambling gone, Louisiana and many other states sought to approve sports betting specifically.

Internet poker has been on the back burner ever since. Perhaps politicians will discuss the matter, though, in the coming years.

Louisiana Online Casinos

Internet casinos are in the same boat as online poker in the Pelican State. According to LA penal codes, they’re illegal and may not become regulated for quite some time. After the bill failed to advance, online gaming was part of SB 322 and swept away.

The Louisiana Video Gaming Association vehemently opposed this legislation. This group, which represents LA video poker operators (i.e., bars, gas stations, restaurants), feels that iGaming will kill the industry.

The association has clout considering that the video poker industry generates over $300 million in annual tax revenue. So it got its wish when SB 322 didn’t draw serious interest from the legislature.

Internet casinos could be waiting on the sidelines for several years or more. The state is more concerned with getting the sports betting industry off to a hot start than regulating other gambling.

Is Louisiana Sports Betting Fair?

Unregulated gambling sites have given online gaming a lousy name. In addition, some of these operators are slow to make payouts or don’t honor their bonus terms and conditions.

Fortunately, gamblers needn’t worry about whether the Louisiana legal online betting and DFS markets are fair. Both industries are heavily regulated and feature quality operators.

Who Regulates Online Sports Betting in Louisiana?

The LGCB oversees internet sports betting and DFS in the Bayou State. It accepts and reviews applications from prospective online operators. This regulator also controls the state’s land-based casinos and sportsbooks.

The Louisiana State Police are also involved in the LA online gambling market. They perform background investigations on key board members behind potential online sportsbooks and DFS sites. Provided the operator passes background checks, they’re one step closer to receiving an LGCB license.

Why Should You Trust Louisiana Sports Betting Sites?

All licensed DFS operators and online sportsbooks in Louisiana have gone through an extensive process. They must fill out a lengthy application, undergo vetting by the LGCB, and pass a state police investigation.

Additionally, legal betting sites must cover the following expenses:

  • $250,000 application fee
  • $500,000 fee for a 5-year license
  • 15% tax rate

Licensed Louisiana gambling sites make an incredible financial and time investment. They have every reason to make this investment pay off by serving customers well and not cheating them.

How Do You Get Paid After Winning at Louisiana Sports Betting Sites? 

Through various banking options, you can withdraw winnings from LA online sportsbooks and DFS sites. In addition, bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets, and in-person payouts are available throughout the industry. 

Of course, the specific withdrawal methods at each site can vary. Therefore, you should thoroughly examine a Louisiana online gambling site’s banking section beforehand.

Louisiana Sports Betting FAQ

Can I bet on esports at Louisiana betting apps?

Louisiana allows esports betting with certain conditions attached. First off, sportsbooks must seek approval from the LGCB to offer betting on specific esports events (e.g. “The International”). The LGCB must review the request and will either grant it or deny it. That said, you simply have to watch for available esports gambling opportunities as they become available in Louisiana.

Does FanDuel offer an online casino app in Louisiana?

The Bayou State bans all forms of unregulated online gambling. Therefore, no internet casino app is legal in Louisiana. Eventually, regulators may discuss the matter and legalize online casinos. In this case, FanDuel would have a great chance to get an online casino license.

Can I bet anonymously at Louisiana’s legal betting sites?

Some sports gamblers use virtual private networks (VPNs) to gamble in normally inaccessible markets. However, VPN gambling is against legal online betting rules in Louisiana. The LGCB reserves the right to confiscate winnings and even deposit money from anybody caught gambling outside state lines. New Jersey gambling regulators set a precedent for this by confiscating $93,000 from a California-based VPN gambler.

Who can get a license to run an online gambling app in Louisiana?

Online gambling brands must pay a $250,000 application fee to be considered for a Louisiana license. If approved, they’ll need to pay an additional $500,000 for a five-year license. Technically, any company can apply for legal online betting in Louisiana. Realistically speaking, though, only well-funded brands with a strong reputation will risk this type of money.

How do I get paid when I win at Louisiana legal online betting sites?

Most online Louisiana online sportsbooks offer several withdrawal options. Generally speaking, you can cash out betting winnings via American Express, e-check, Mastercard, PayPal, retail cages (in person), and Visa. Depending upon the betting site, though, you may have more or less choices. You can determine the options by thoroughly looking at the withdrawal methods beforehand.