Louisiana Sports Betting
Mobile sports betting apps are live in Louisiana. Each online sportsbook offers welcome bonuses to new and existing bettors, including deposit bonuses, odds boosts and loyalty programs.
Top online sports betting apps in Louisiana
Contents
What’s happening in Louisiana sports betting right now
- February 28, 2023 — Louisiana set a new record for sports betting handle in the state in January with $282.2 million. That total was almost $14 million higher than the previous record from November 2022. The state also raked in $28 million in revenue in January.
- February 17, 2023 — Louisiana collected $36.9 million in revenue in December 2022, the most of any month since online sports betting launched in January 2022. The state also had $254 million in handle, the third most in any month last year.
- January 18, 2023 — Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns recently told LSR he was “more than pleased” with Louisiana’s first year of legal sports betting and that there were “virtually no problems.” The state generated about $32 million in sports betting revenue in 2022.
- January 3, 2023 — Last month, Tilman Fertitta told The Michael Berry Show on AM 740 in Texas that the clientele at Golden Nugget Lake Charles is largely made up of Houstonians. In the same interview, Fertitta said Texas gambling legalization is several years away.
- December 20, 2022 — With December revenues yet to be reported, Louisiana has brought in more than $36 million in state taxes through November. That is more than the estimated $30 million per year in tax revenue the legislature estimated when it legalized sports betting in 2021.
- December 15, 2022 — Louisiana collected more than $4.2 million in taxes from sports betting during November, the most since the online launch earlier this year. Online sportsbooks lost $27 million, in large part because of Mattress Mack’s $10 million World Series bet on the Houston Astros.
- November 22, 2022 — Betway appears lined up to be the next sportsbook to go live in Louisiana, according to Super Group‘s Q3 earnings call. The operator will likely launch in early 2023.
Louisiana sports betting snapshot
| Is online sports betting legal in Louisiana? | Yes. Online sports betting has been legal in 55 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana since January 2022. The law allows for as many as 41 online books to launch. |
| What apps are available in Louisiana? | BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, WynnBET, Barstool, PointsBet |
| What sports can I bet on at Louisiana sportsbooks? | All major sports, both pro and college, are available for wagering. |
| Who is allowed to bet in Louisiana? | Anyone who is 21 or older and inside one of the 55 parishes where it’s legal can bet. Geolocation software is used to help verify a bettor’s location. |
Comparing Louisiana’s top sportsbooks
There is no objective measure for determining which Louisiana sportsbook is the best. Although we have our preferences, the decision boils down to personal choice. However, here are where books shine in some key areas:
- Best sportsbook in Louisiana for major sports: Caesars. Caesars Sportsbook is a top choice for big-name sports in Louisiana because of its ties with the major sports teams in the state. Caesars is the sports betting partner for the New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans and LSU Tigers.
- Best Louisiana sportsbook for other sports: BetMGM. BetMGM Sportsbook is a strong place to go for options. The major sports are available, of course, but BetMGM also offers wagering on some lesser-known contests, including snooker, cricket and lacrosse.
- Best sportsbook for competitive odds: DraftKings. The sportsbook has made a name for itself with some of the better odds available. It also has an innovative app to complement its odds, making it a worthy option for live odds as well.
- Easiest Louisiana sportsbook app to use: FanDuel. The FanDuel app has aspects aimed at both beginners and experienced bettors. The design is clean and the structure is intuitive, making it easy to find information. It also consistently earns top scores from users and industry experts for its features and usability.
- Top Louisiana sportsbook loyalty program: Caesars. Although many sportsbooks let you earn and redeem points through free loyalty programs, the number of locations at which you can use your Caesars Rewards points in Louisiana pushes that option to the top of the list. There are three Caesars properties in the Pelican State.
1. DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings is one of the more popular sportsbook apps in the country. It offers competitive odds and a long list of options to bettors in Louisiana. Live bettors will find many wagers. The app offers a customized wheel of suggested bets when you log in. A downfall might be that it has limited promotions for existing customers.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.6 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Options for nearly every kind of bettor
- Best feature: Betting carousel
- Bonus offer: $1,200
2. Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook is the sports betting face of the international casino company of the same name. Although its app is a bit pedestrian, there are plenty of ways to bet and sports on which to wager. Furthermore, Caesars has excellent odds and some of the best promotions you’ll encounter.
- App store rating: 4.6 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A meat-and-potatoes app with excellent betting options
- Best feature: Promotions
- Bonus offer: $1,250
3. BetMGM Sportsbook
This is one of the better sportsbooks available in Louisiana. There is likely no app with a deeper list of sports on which to bet than BetMGM. Once you’ve placed a wager, the app provides more flexibility through its Edit My Bet option. Even some clunkiness with the app design is not enough to detract from the advantages of using BetMGM.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.4 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Play BetMGM if you want off-the-beaten-path options
- Best feature: Edit My Bet
- Bonus offer: $1,000
4. BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers Sportsbook is not a household name in Louisiana, but it has plenty to offer people in the state. Like most top apps, BetRivers has a long list of sports on which you can bet. It also has a feed that displays big betting wins. Though the app itself is not terribly flashy and can be slow to use, there are several reasons to make a stop at BetRivers.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.2 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Standard app with good variety
- Best feature: Winners’ feed in main lobby
- Bonus offer: $500
5. FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel has served people in Louisiana for many years through its DFS product, but its sportsbook app is a step forward. You are unlikely to find an easier-to-navigate app, regardless of whether you are an experienced bettor or a beginner. FanDuel also has a long list of same-game parlay options every day.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
- Key takeaway: Smooth navigation makes for the best experience
- Best feature: Same-game parlays
- Bonus offer: $1,000
6. PointsBet Sportsbook
The most obvious difference between PointsBet Sportsbook and other sportsbooks is its variant on spread and totals betting known as Points Betting. PointsBet also will sometimes cancel or honors certain wagers if the game ends in an unexpected manner, benefitting players. However, PointsBet could work on its site navigation to make things a bit smoother.
- App store rating: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
- Key takeaway: A unique sportsbook with some navigation issues
- Best feature: Points betting
- Bonus offer: $250
New online sportsbooks in Louisiana
Although there are several options already active in Louisiana, the list of sportsbook apps in the Pelican State will likely continue to grow. Some books have already made their intention to launch in the state clear. Here is a list of the ones we believe could launch in Louisiana:
- Betway — According to Super Group‘s Q3 earnings call, Betway appears to be the next sportsbook ready to launch in Louisiana and should do so early in 2023.
- Betfred — Already operates a retail sportsbook at Paragon Resort and figures to add an online version before long.
- ClutchBet — Has secured market access with Louisiana Downs and expects to launch in 2023.
- FOX Bet — Has a market access deal with Caesars (Eldorado Resorts), which owns three properties in Louisiana.
- Golden Nugget — Connected to Golden Nugget Lake Charles, and the parent company (Landry’s) is headquartered in nearby Houston.
Best Louisiana sports betting bonuses and how to get started
Getting started with sports betting in Louisiana is a simple process. Choose a sportsbook, register to create an account, fund your account and start betting. However, before you pick a sportsbook, consider the welcome bonus each one offers:
- DraftKings Promo Code: Get up to $1,200 in bonus bets.
- Caesars Promo Code: Receive up to $1,250 on Caesars.
- BetMGM Bonus Code: Get up to $1,000 paid back in bonus bets.
- BetRivers Bonus Code: 2nd chance bet up to $500.
- FanDuel Promo Code: No sweat first bet up to $1,000.
- PointsBet Promo Code: Get 5 second chance $50 bet credits up to a total of $250.
It’s important to understand what the welcome bonus lingo can mean. Here are the most common types of introductory bonuses you may come across:
- No deposit bonus — This puts either site credits or bet vouchers into your account right after you create it. This allows you to try the app without risking your own funds.
- Deposit bonus — The sportsbook matches a portion of your bonus amount as extra credits. Depending on the offer, you might be getting a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Loyalty programs — Most sportsbooks with some sort of brand connection with a larger casino chain let you participate in the company-wide loyalty program. Programs like BetMGM’s MGM Rewards or Caesars’ Caesars Rewards give points and tier placement for every dollar you wager. These points and statuses can often lead to benefits like free meals, free hotel stays and exclusive event invitations. There is no cost to join, and you’ll probably enroll automatically when you register.
10 quick facts about Louisiana sports betting
- Legal sports betting moved ahead in Louisiana in November 2020 after 55 of the state’s 64 parishes approved a ballot measure to allow wagering on sports inside their borders.
- Louisiana sports betting became legal in June 2021. A trio of bills received a signature from Gov. John Bel Edwards to usher online and retail sports betting into the state.
- Retail sports betting launched in October 2021.
- Retail sportsbooks can operate at riverboat casinos, racetracks and the lone land-based casino in the state.
- Online sports betting debuted in January 2022.
- In its first full year of sports betting, Louisiana bettors wagered a total of $1.8 billion.
- The Louisiana Lottery can offer online sports betting kiosks at bars, restaurants and truck stops around the state.
- You must be 21 or older to wager on sports in Louisiana.
- It is not necessary to be a resident of Louisiana to bet on sports, but you must be in one of the 55 parishes that approved sports betting.
- Most of the nine parishes to reject sports betting are in the northeastern part of the state.
What to expect at a legal Louisiana sportsbook app
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board maintains regulatory control over every legal sportsbook in the state. If you have any issues that you cannot resolve, you can turn to the LGCB if there’s a problem or if you’re concerned about your funds or account security.
In addition, playing at legal books puts you in a position to capitalize on the competition between them. Because you can always switch over to a different app at any moment, sportsbooks go out of their way to bring you to the app and keep you happy.
Louisiana sports betting law and regulations
Although several legislators in Louisiana worked to move various bills forward, the main catalyst for sports betting in Louisiana occurred due to a ballot item in November 2020.
Each parish in the state voted independently about whether to allow sports betting. Just one parish voting yes would have obliged the Legislature to create sports betting laws. As it turned out, the vast majority of Louisiana parishes approved. Only nine of the 64 parishes declined to proceed, and none of the nine are home to any of the major gambling venues in the state.
The Legislature responded to the vote in 2021. Lawmakers used three enabling pieces of legislation to establish the new industry in the state. Here are some of the specifications in the statutes:
- 20 locations are eligible for sports betting licenses — the 15 riverboat casinos, the four horse tracks and the one land-based casino.
- Each license allows for both retail and online sports betting.
- As many as 40 online sportsbooks are possible, as the online license permits two skins per licensee.
- Online and retail books have tax rates of 15% and 10%, respectively.
In addition to the commercial licensing, the Louisiana Lottery also gained a broad sports betting permit for both retail and online outlets. The lottery can place sports betting kiosks in bars, restaurants and truck stops in the state. It may also offer its own app.
The result of the law is that there could be as many as 41 online books and thousands of retail sportsbooks or kiosks available in most of Louisiana in the future. Whether the state can support so many outlets is less clear.
Full list of Louisiana sportsbook apps
This is every sportsbook app active in Louisiana as of March 2023:
- Barstool Sports
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- PointsBet Sportsbook
- WynnBET Sportsbook
Louisiana non-betting parishes
You can bet on sports online anywhere in Louisiana aside from the nine parishes that declined to authorize the practice. With the exception of Sabine Parish, most of these parishes are in northeastern Louisiana, away from most of the gambling locations in the state. However, election results indicate that the decision not to allow sports betting was no slam dunk, with most of the referenda failing by a 52-48 margin or less. If you happen to live in or are visiting one of the following parishes, you won’t be able to bet:
- Caldwell
- Catahoula
- Franklin
- Jackson
- La Salle
- Sabine
- Union
- West Carroll
- Winn
Louisiana sports betting history
Talk about sports betting began in Louisiana shortly after the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in May 2018. However, it took the state three years, several attempts, and an undeniable prod from most of the state’s voters before legislation, regulation and launches could occur in Louisiana. Now, more than 80% of the parishes in the state have options for sports betting, either through apps, retail sportsbooks or both. Here’s a brief history of the main steps:
2022: Online sports betting begins in Louisiana in late January. The first full month of wagering remains the largest to date, with more than $238 million in wagers in February. The figure, undoubtedly bolstered by the Super Bowl’s presence in New Orleans, declines slowly into the months of July and August to a handle of $171 million. The start of the NFL season pushed those numbers back up, however, with regulators reporting an October handle of $255.5 million — the state’s highest to date.
2021: After months of preparation, retail sports betting debuts in Louisiana in October. The first sportsbook to receive a wager is the Paragon Casino Resort, a tribal casino in Marksville, which took a bet from former Saints star Joe Horn on Oct. 6. Commercial betting begins on Halloween at Harrah’s New Orleans.
2020: State Sen. Danny Martiny, who led initial efforts to bring sports betting to life in Louisiana, leaves office due to term limits. Several other lawmakers take up the mantle from Martiny and present their own proposals, but few gain the traction to make any waves in the Capitol. In the end, a move by state Sen. Cameron Henry succeeds in placing the issue on the ballot for voters ahead of the November election. The issue is to be decided on a parish-by-parish basis. Louisiana voters respond favorably in 55 of the state’s 64 parishes, which means lawmakers will need to move forward with sports betting legislation.
2019: Attempts to make sports betting legal in Louisiana fail on the final day of the legislative session despite furious efforts from their supporters. The chief supporter of the bill farthest along in the process is Martiny, who hopes that his SB 153 will serve to legalize sports betting at the state’s casinos and racetracks. Unfortunately, lawmakers opposed to the legalization of sports betting attach several poison-pill amendments, including an unpopular proposal to legalize video poker parlors.
Popular sports to bet on in Louisiana
Louisiana is an interesting state for popular sports teams. For one thing, it is the least-populous state with two representatives from major sports leagues. For another, despite the presence of several Division I universities in the Pelican State, one school’s teams stand above the rest in terms of fandom across Louisiana: LSU. The Tigers are one of the more popular football programs not just in Louisiana but across North America. The Tigers were national champions in 2003, 2007 and 2019.
Here are the most popular teams for betting in Louisiana:
- NFL: New Orleans Saints
- NBA: New Orleans Pelicans
- NCAA: Louisiana State University Tigers, plus 11 other Division I universities
In addition to the teams that play in Louisiana, the state is also home to several annual events of note, including three bowl games (including the Sugar Bowl) and a PGA Tour event (Zurich Classic of New Orleans). The Caesars Superdome is also a perennial host for March Madness, the Super Bowl and several other major games and events.
Louisiana sports betting FAQ
Is sports betting legal in Louisiana?
Yes. Sports betting has been legal in 55 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana since January 2022. There are currently more than a dozen retail sportsbooks and eight legal sportsbook apps.
Is Bovada legal in Louisiana?
No. Bovada, BetOnline, and other sportsbooks that claim to be legal in Louisiana are not. Instead, they are offshore sportsbooks headquartered and doing business outside of the United States. Bovada, for example, is in Curaçao, while BetOnline works out of Panama. Because these books are outside the country, they do not have to comply with US laws and bear a host of potential problems for American users.
With so many legal options in Louisiana, there’s no reason to take a chance on one of these offshore books.
Where can I bet on sports in Louisiana?
First and foremost, you can place a bet online legally in 55 Louisiana parishes. The state is also home to 20-plus retail sportsbook locations at riverboat casinos and racetracks. Some of those locations include Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino, Delta Downs Racetrack and Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge.
How old must you be to bet on sports in Louisiana?
You must be 21 or older to bet sports at a legal Louisiana sportsbook. It is not necessary to be a resident of Louisiana, but you must be inside state lines — and in one of the parishes where betting is legal — when you make your wager.
Is horse betting legal in Louisiana?
Yes. There are four live racing venues and associated betting facilities located in the Pelican State. In addition, Louisiana inhabitants may place wagers on horse races via online horse betting sites like TVG.
Can I play DFS in Louisiana?
Yes, it is legal to play daily fantasy sports in Louisiana. However, as with sports betting, it depends on the parish. In the case of DFS, only 47 of the parishes in the state approved the activity. You’ll need to check the results from your parish to see if you can play. As a general rule, parishes in the northern and central portions of the state were the ones to reject the proposal, but it’s best to confirm before you try to play.
Resources on Louisiana sports betting
If you want more information or have a specific question we didn’t cover, here are some resources that should have the answers.
- Louisiana Gaming Control Board — the Louisiana government agency tasked with overseeing and regulating sports betting
- Sports wagering catalog — a PDF from the gaming board to answer frequent questions about the laws, rules and regulations governing sports betting in Louisiana
- LA Sports Wagering — statutory language pertaining to the authorization of sports betting
- NOLA.com — conglomerate news site that joins The New Orleans Times-Picayune and The New Orleans Advocate as the top “print” resource in the New Orleans area
- The Advocate — Baton Rouge-based newspaper that serves as the largest daily newspaper circulating in Louisiana
- The Shreveport Times — top news outlet in the Shreveport area and northwestern Louisiana
- The Daily Advertiser — top news outlet for Lafayette