Louisiana Sports Betting
Louisiana sports betting is live, legal, and available almost everywhere in the state. As of January 2022, 55 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes are able to place sports bets on at least a half-dozen sportsbook apps. There are also nearly twice as many retail sportsbooks scattered around the state at casino locations.
Available apps in the state include FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, BetRivers, and Barstool. However, there could be as many as 40 sportsbooks live in the state at some point — state law allows for 20 licenses, and every license is allowed two skins. Whether or not that many brands will ever come to the Pelican State is a subject for debate, but it’s clear that more are on the way beyond the initial group.
If you’re interested in legal sports betting in Louisiana, you’ve come to the right place. We have all the information about all the sportsbook launches in the state. More importantly, we have some of the best bonus offers that you can find in Sportsman’s Paradise. So, read on for all the latest, and make sure that you check back for the best offers in Louisiana sports betting.
Best Louisiana sports betting apps 2022
Latest Updates
UPDATED: Jan. 28, 2022
Six online sportsbooks started taking action in the 55 enabling parishes of Louisiana. Others could follow soon, but for now, most Louisianans have access to BetMGM, BetRivers, Barstool Sports, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel.
Is sports betting legal in Louisiana?
Yes. Sports betting is legal and underway in Louisiana, both in-person and online. Sports betting became legal in the Pelican State after voters in each parish (analogous to a county in another state) gave approval in the November 2020 elections.
Sports betting would have become legal if even one of the 64 parishes had received a majority of “yes” votes. As it turned out, voters approved in 55 parishes. Thus, sportsbooks could conceivably appear in the majority of Louisiana’s territory. In fact, none of the nine parishes that voted the measure down contain significant gambling venues or population, and most of them are contiguous parishes in the northeast portion of the state.
The nine parishes that did not support legal sports betting are:
- Caldwell
- Catahoula
- Franklin
- Jackson
- La Salle
- Sabine
- Union
- West Carroll
- Winn
So, in the areas where gambling is part of daily life, Louisianans do not have to worry about missing out on sports betting.
Top online sportsbooks in Louisiana
There are now several online sportsbooks active in Louisiana. They are representatives of some of the biggest names in US sports betting. However, the list below is not the end of the lineup for Louisiana online sportsbook apps. As many as 40 are permitted under state law, although it’s hard to believe that there’s enough action for so many books.
Nevertheless, here’s a quick rundown on the top Louisiana sportsbook apps available in the state.
BetMGM Sportsbook
- Welcome bonus: Up to $1,000 risk-free first bet
- Review: BetMGM Sportsbook Louisiana
BetMGM is live in Louisiana because of its longstanding partnership with Boyd Gaming, which owns several casino locations in the Pelican State. BetMGM Sportsbook is one of the finest sports betting apps in the world, and it offers tremendous bet flexibility to all of its bettors onsite. Its Edit My Bet feature, in particular, allows a greater degree of control over open bets than you can find elsewhere.
BetRivers Sportsbook
- Welcome bonus: 100% up to $250 on deposit
- Review: BetRivers Sportsbook Louisiana
BetRivers Sportsbook is one of the six sportsbooks to open its virtual doors first thing in Louisiana. BetRivers is owned and operated by Rush Street Interactive, a large casino company that has been mostly active in the northeastern portion of the United States up to this point. However, Louisianans will quickly discover a tremendous loyalty program at BetRivers in the iRush Rewards Program. In addition, BetRivers will trumpet your biggest wins across a prominent feed on the homepage.
Caesars Sportsbook
- Welcome bonus: First bet insurance up to $1,100
- Review: Caesars Sportsbook Louisiana
Caesars Sportsbook is the sports betting brand that encompasses both the existing operations at Caesars and the company’s relatively newly acquired assets from sportsbook titan William Hill. With three casino locations in the state, the Caesars Sportsbook app for the rest of Louisiana is a no-brainer.
DraftKings Sportsbook
- Welcome bonus: Up to $1,050 on deposit
- Review: DraftKings Sportsbook Louisiana
DraftKings Sportsbook has arrived in Louisiana and is offering its innovative app to all bettors in the Pelican State. DraftKings distinguishes itself with its betting carousel. This feature offers customized suggestions for betting to every customer who logs into their account. The bets are generated both from the patron’s stated preferences and their betting history. DraftKings also has an excellent Cash Out option for players who want to settle their bets early.
FanDuel Sportsbook
- Welcome bonus: Risk-free first bet up to $1,000
- Review: FanDuel Sportsbook Louisiana
FanDuel Sportsbook is one of the top sportsbooks in the US and is now one of the sportsbooks active in Louisiana. FanDuel’s rise to the top is due, in part, to the tremendously easy navigation that its app offers. There are few apps that make more sense to use, regardless of how experienced the bettor may be. FanDuel also offers same game parlays, a unique twist on standard parlays that allows you to bet several legs from the same match.
Other LA sports betting apps available or anticipated in 2022
- Barstool Sportsbook (live, January 2022)
- Golden Nugget
- PointsBet
- TwinSpires
- WynnBET
Sportsbook bonuses and free bets
If you’ve ever bet on sports in a live sportsbook before, you might be wondering about the differences between that experience and the one you’ll have online. For the most part, things will be the same. One big difference, however, is the prevalence of bonuses and free bets. Because the competition is only a button away, online sportsbooks have to exert more effort to pull you into their app and keep you happy.
Bonuses give you the opportunity to bet more on the sportsbook’s dime. They typically offer you site credits or free bets to play. Site credits function like normal money but are only usable on the app. Free bets are vouchers for bets of a certain denomination. You will be unable to cash out the value of your bonus until you’ve wagered a certain multiple of the bonus amount. This requirement is called the playthrough or wagering requirement, and you need to understand the terms of each bonus’ requirement before you accept the offer.
There are a few common types of bonuses that you will find as you play on a sportsbook app. For the most part, none of them are better or worse than the others — they just reward you in different ways. It is rare to find a bonus that does not fit into one of the categories below.
No deposit
Also known as: Welcome bonus, although a welcome bonus might be a blanket term for the app’s entire package of introductory offers
The no deposit bonus is the method that many sportsbooks use to get your attention for the first time. They are bonuses that literally put site credits into your account for free. The only thing that you have to do — most of the time — is sign up for an account. Usually, you only have to play through the credit a single time before it becomes cash. You should jump on these offers whenever you see them, regardless of how much you like the app offering them (as long as it’s a legal and reputable app).
Deposit
Also known as: Match bonus, Reload bonus
Sportsbooks use deposit bonuses to increase the value of your deposits with money of their own. They pledge to match a certain percentage of your deposit, which has the effect of doubling a portion of your deposit amount up to a certain point. It is possible to find deposit bonuses that match the entirety of your deposit, but these are most common for new players. Be warned — playthrough requirements for deposit bonuses can be quite steep. It is not unusual to see demands for 20x-25x your bonus amount before it is released as cash, and they are sometimes even higher than that.
Cashback
Also known as: Insurance bonus, Refund bonus
Cashback bonuses aim to reduce the sting of a losing session. For certain wagers or certain periods of time, the sportsbook agrees to reimburse a percentage of your net losses up to a certain amount. It’s often a good deal, but it’s important to realize a couple of things. For one thing, you don’t get any money back if you break even or turn a profit during the specified period – cashback does not compensate for individual losses. The other thing to note is that you will receive your refund as site credit or free bets most of the time, so you’ll have to play through it at least once before it’s back in your account as cash.
Rewards program
Also known as: Loyalty program, Comp system, Comps
This type of bonus is the only one that you’ll find across the board in both retail and online sportsbooks. A rewards program is a system designed to award players for their frequent and loyal play. Every time you place a wager, a certain number of points are assigned to your account. These points are used to determine your ranking on a tiered status list. The higher you are on the list, the more perks, benefits, and comps you receive. Some books might also award a separate set of points that you can redeem for prizes in special stores or marketplaces. The bottom line is that this type of bonus is free to participate, you’re often entered automatically when you register for an account, and you should never go out of your way to achieve the next tier or award for one of these programs. However, they can be a nice boost to your winnings or help to assuage the pain of a loss.
Leaderboard
Also known as: n/a
A leaderboard bonus pits you against other sports bettors over the course of a set period of time. The sportsbook app keeps a running list of players, and those who end the time period at the top of the board receive prizes — usually site credit or cash. You move up and down the ladder based upon various criteria, depending on the board, but the primary factor is, unsurprisingly, how much you bet. Like many other bonuses, these are fine and cost nothing to enter, but probably shouldn’t be the reason that you bet.
Free to Play
Also known as: Free Play, Sweepstakes
This last type of bonus is for everyone. Sportsbooks will offer contests to the general public that are free to play and bear the chance at a significant prize. However, the chance of realizing any type of value close to the advertised amount is quite low. Usually, you have to answer a series of questions or make a series of picks correctly in order to remain in the running. Because they are free to play, they are available even in states that do not have sports betting. Now, there’s no reason to give this much attention, of course, but it only costs you the time to play, so there’s no reason to ignore them if you want to have some fun, either.
How to get started betting on sports in Louisiana
If you want to give sports betting in Louisiana a try, there are a few things that you have to do. Thankfully, you can usually go from zero to betting in less than 10 minutes. Simply walk through the steps below to get started.
Registering for a new account
No matter if bettors are signing up for a new account online or in person, the information they need to provide remains the same. These pieces of information allow operators to confirm identities as well as run background checks to determine if an individual is OK to participate. Here is what you’ll need to provide:
- Name
- Email address
- Date of birth
- Phone number
- Address
- Social Security number (last four digits)
Of course, those signing up for online wagering will need to create usernames and passwords that allow them to access their accounts.
Making deposits and withdrawing from accounts
Once an account is created, you will then need to make a deposit in order to place wagers. Typically, sportsbooks offer a variety of methods for funding accounts. The most common are credit and debit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard, and here are some other ways:
- Online bank transfers, which are similar to online bill pay
- Wire transfers
- Electronic checks
- Prepaid cards
- Electronic wallets such as PayPal
- Cash at the land-based casino cage
- Checks or money orders
Note that not all sportsbooks will offer each option. Additionally, some banks have flagged gambling sites, so when their customers attempt to use credit cards to fund their accounts, select banks decline those transactions.
For good measure, check back with PlayUSA before you submit a deposit to your sportsbook of choice. Not only do we feature bonus offers from sportsbooks, but we also share deals not found anywhere else.
Withdrawing from LA sportsbooks
Online sportsbooks usually offer multiple ways for bettors to cash out, though usually fewer than for depositing. As has been the case, many operators prefer to deliver withdrawals via electronic or paper checks. However, several other methods include:
- Online bank transfers
- Wire transfers
- Electronic checks
- Prepaid cards
- Electronic wallets
- Cash at the land-based casino cage
Do I have to be in Louisiana to bet online?
Yes. You have to be inside Louisiana to bet online.
It is never legal for sports betting to cross state lines. Sportsbooks must employ geolocation software and keep track of where players are physically located. If players cannot verifiably prove they are inside the state in question, the sportsbooks must deny them service or risk sanctions — including fines and licensing issues — from the regulatory body overseeing sports betting in the state. Geolocation verification software is quite adept these days, and can reliably create a virtual fence surrounding the state.
Due to the parish-specific infrastructure remaining in place for Louisiana, sites do not just have to confirm players are located in Louisiana. They also have to make sure that none of the dissenting parishes are allowed access. Of course, none of that matters to you, the sports bettor. The bottom line is that you will have to be inside Louisiana to play, yes, but you will also have to be in an approved parish.
One last thing to mention is the fact that you do not have to be a resident of Louisiana in order to play. Anyone physically inside the borders of an approved parish who is over the age of 21 will be able to play, regardless of where they receive their mail. In fact, we imagine that the participation of visitors to the state will be critical to the long-term success of the industry.
Louisiana sports betting FAQ
Is daily fantasy sports legal in Louisana?
Yes. Along with their work to make sports betting a reality during the same time period, Louisiana lawmakers and regulators finally issued licenses and allowed daily fantasy sports to proceed in 2021.
Why did Louisiana legalize sports betting?
Money. More than most states, Louisiana is in desperate need of revenue streams. The Pelican State was already one of the nation’s poorest, and that was before a parade of hurricanes lashed the state repeatedly. Although gambling expansion is almost always due to lawmakers’ desire for more tax revenue, it is rarely so necessary as it is in Louisiana.
Who oversees Louisiana sports betting?
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board. The LGCB oversees most of the myriad types of gambling in the Pelican State, from its casinos to its video poker lounges to the slot machines at its racetracks. Legal sports betting falls under its purview as well.
Can I use DraftKings in Louisiana?
Yes. DraftKings is already providing service to Louisianans as one of its licensed DFS providers. In addition, DraftKings Sportsbook is part of the sports betting landscape that residents and visitors to the Pelican State enjoy.
Who can bet on sports in Louisiana?
Anyone over the age of 21 and physically inside the state (and not in one of the nine parishes that voted no) can bet on sports in Louisiana. Although some of the state’s gambling activities are available to 18-year-old inhabitants, sports betting is not one of them.
Where to bet on sports in Louisiana
Now, we are pretty clear in our belief that online sports betting is superior to retail betting. It’s faster, more flexible, and much more convenient. The only places that you cannot bet online in Louisiana are those nine parishes we listed that did not approve sports betting in November 2020.
However, we understand that there are some reasons why you might want to wager in person. There’s something to be said for the experience of sitting in a bustling sportsbook with wall-size televisions, comfortable chairs, and food service. So, let’s talk about where you can go in Louisiana to do that.
So far, here are the locations in Louisiana that have opened retail sportsbooks:
- Amelia – Amelia Belle Casino
- Baton Rouge – L’auberge Casino & Hotel
- Bossier City – Boomtown Casino
- Bossier City – Horseshoe Hotel & Casino
- Bossier City – Margaritaville Resort Casino
- Kenner – Treasure Chest Casino
- Kinder – Coushatta Casino Resort
- Lake Charles – Golden Nugget
- Lake Charles – L’auberge Casino & Hotel
- Marksville – Paragon Casino Resort
- New Orleans – Boomtown Casino & Hotel
- New Orleans – Harrah’s New Orleans
- Opelousas – Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino
- Shreveport – Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino
- Vinton – Delta Downs Racetrack
Based upon state law, it is also possible that retail sportsbooks could appear at the following locations:
- Bally’s Casino Shreveport
- Belle of Baton Rouge Casino Hotel
- Cypress Bayou
- Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
- Harrah’s Louisiana Downs
- Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge
- Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Lake Charles
- Jena Choctaw Pines
As more retail sportsbooks open their operations, we will update our list. Rest assured that things are just getting started in Louisiana with sports betting.
Betting on pro and college teams in Louisiana
There are many professional and college sports teams with rabid fan bases in Louisiana, to be sure. Thankfully, they are now able to bet on their favorite teams to their hearts’ content. Louisiana’s two major pro teams, the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, are undoubtedly drawing a mountain of bets already.
As a reminder, here are the major sports teams located in Louisiana and their associated leagues or conferences:
- New Orleans Pelicans (NBA)
- New Orleans Saints (NFL)
- LSU (SEC)
- Louisiana Tech (C-USA)
- Louisiana-Lafayette (Sun Belt)
- Louisiana-Monroe (Sun Belt)
- Tulane (AAC)
- McNeese State (Southland)
- Grambling State (SWAC)
- Southern (SWAC)
- Southeastern Louisiana (Southland)
- Northwestern State (Southland)
What types of sports bets are be available in Louisiana?
Types of bets available in Louisiana include the following:
- Moneylines — A wager about which team will win the game, regardless of anything else. Payouts vary according to which team is the favorite and which is the underdog. Since the favorite will win more often, a bet on that side pays less. Moneylines are recognizable by their three-digit payout number next to each team’s name. Usually, one number will be positive (the underdog), and the other will be negative (the favorite).
- Point spreads — The sportsbook estimates the eventual margin of victory, and you bet whether the favorite will exceed that estimate, or the underdog will lose by fewer points than the given mark. A favorite that exceeds the spread is said to have “beaten” the spread, while an underdog that loses by fewer has “covered” it. An underdog that wins the game outright automatically covers the spread. These wagers typically pay even money minus the sportsbook’s premium (aka, the vig).
- Totals — A totals bet is also known as an over/under due to its format. The sportsbook estimates a combined point total for the game, and you choose whether the actual total will be over or under the estimate. The estimate itself is usually called the “over/under” and can serve as a shorthand way to refer to the number of times an event will occur. These bets pay similarly to point spreads.
- Futures — These wagers pertain to long-term results of seasons or full tournaments. Any bets on the eventual champion or winner of an award are futures bets. Because their outcomes bear so much uncertainty, it is common for every option in a futures wager to be a long shot and display a positive moneyline figure as its payout ratio.
- Propositions — Propositions, or prop bets, are wagers about events that don’t (usually) include the outcome of the game or match. Instead, they ask questions about statistics and other ancillary data generated over the course of the game. Most unusual bets or wagers that are the subjects of stories are prop bets.
- Parlays — Parlays are combination wagers that fold several bets into a single Frankenstein’s monster of a bet. Each constituent bet in a parlay is called a “leg,” and they can be almost any type of wager described above. Parlays are high-risk endeavors because it is necessary that each leg be correct in order for the parlay to pay out. The more legs in a parlay, the higher the risk of failure. However, parlays can also be high-reward wagers, since they are such long shots. Big parlay winners are often newsworthy because of how unlikely they are.
Louisiana sports betting history
Like most states, Louisiana’s history with sports betting is not terribly long. Before 2018, it was not possible for sports betting to take place in any state outside of Nevada (more or less), so there was no sense in attempting to legislate it. However, a review of the legislative sessions from the last 25 years or so does reveal that several state lawmakers made more overtures toward sports betting than the referendum that passed in November 2020.
- 1998 — At this point, Louisiana’s casino offerings are just getting their feet underneath them. Obviously, the riverboat casinos, as commercial properties, are subject to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which is the official name for the federal ban on sports betting. However, lawmakers in the state are apparently concerned about being caught unprepared if tribal casinos are permitted to offer sports betting. They propose no fewer than eight legislative measures relating to the taxation of sports betting. However, none of them make it very far in the process, so it seems that it wasn’t that big of a deal in the end.
- 2000 — State Rep. Robert “Bobby” Faucheux Jr. takes another run at the tribal casino taxation issue during this legislative session. HB12 “provides for the taxation of certain activities on Indian reservations.” It goes on to list sports betting as one of the activities defined by the word “game” in the text of the bill. Like its roster of predecessors from 1998, the bill never makes it much farther than the initial stages of consideration.
- 2018 — The next time that anything meaningful occurs with regard to sports betting is, unsurprisingly, in 2018. New Jersey has already presented its case to the US Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of PASPA, and independent observers of the December 2017 oral arguments indicate that the high court appears to be leaning in favor of the state’s argument that the law represents commandeering and violates the 10th Amendment. In preparation, Louisiana lawmakers propose four measures that would implement sports betting in the state, including two that call for a referendum (which becomes a recurring theme). None of the measures pass, but three are officially considered. Meanwhile, the predictions about PASPA’s demise are proven correct in May.
- 2019 — With sports betting fully legal and underway in other states, proposals continue to appear on the Louisiana legislative docket. Two more proposals — which both call for a referendum in the parishes — begin to work their way through the state house. Even though support is clearly building for the notion of Louisiana sports betting, both proposals end up going the way of their brethren — dying in committee or stalling out elsewhere.
- 2020 — This year proves to be the one with the magic. Once again, House and Senate bills debut and attempt to place the question of sports betting on the November referendum. One of them, SB378, makes it all the way through the Senate and reaches the floor debate stage in the House. However, it is SB130 that has the stamina for the final push. After decisive passages in both the Senate (29-8) and House (72-23), the bill proceeds to John Bel Edwards and receives his signature on June 11. Although the bill only put the question on the ballot, it proves to be successful in the vast majority of Louisiana’s parishes in the November election, with 55 of the 64 affirming the idea of sports betting becoming legal and active within their borders.
- 2021 — However, SB130 is limited only to placing the question on the ballot. Sports betting cannot proceed in Louisiana without further legislation to lay out the taxation structure and regulatory guidelines for the new industry. Because tax bills must come in odd years in Louisiana, 2021 is the first chance that sports betting could show up in the Pelican State. Given that the NFL season begins in August, there is considerable anticipation that the Legislature will make it happen in the first half of 2021.
- 2021 — Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the final two of three Louisiana sports betting bills — the regulatory and appropriation pieces — to establish the infrastructure for the new market.
- 2021 – Caesars enters this year into a long-term naming rights agreement for the Superdome and on Sept. 19 announced that NOLA.com, the New Orleans Times-Picayune and The Advocate will serve as official odds-providers locally.
- 2021 – Delays caused by Hurricane Ida delayed the launch of sports betting into October.
- 2021 – LSU announced a sports betting partnership with Caesars Sportsbook. As part of what the university deemed a “multi-year, seven-figure deal,” Caesars Sportsbook will become the exclusive gaming and sportsbook partner of the Tigers athletics program.“LSU has always taken pride in providing fans with unique, innovative, and world-class experiences, and our new partnership with Caesars Entertainment will do just that,” LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward said in the release. “We share a clear vision of how athletics and entertainment can come together to enhance the fan experience and we are excited to join with Caesars to make that vision a reality.”The gaming company plans to open Caesars Sportsbook Skyline Club at Tiger Stadium, erect signage throughout and the basketball arena, the Maravich Center, Alex Box Stadium and and will appear on the Tigers mobile app. All 21 LSU sports teams will provide “visibility” for Caesars.
The University of Colorado was the first to forge such a deal when it partnered with PointsBet in 2020 and the University of Denver followed with Superbook Sports this year. Southeastern Conference states Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee currently have passed sports betting laws. It is not yet underway in Florida and Louisiana. - 2021 – Tribal and non-tribal retail sports betting begins in October.
- 2021 – Evangeline Downs opened its sportsbook with a ceremonial first bet from former New Orleans Saints player Dalton Hilliard. He “bet with his heart” in taking the Saints on the road against Tampa Bay, which turned out to be a great play. Online sports betting in Louisiana hasn’t launched, but operators are continuing to ramp up their retail presences.
- 2022 – Four online sportsbooks start taking action in most of the state on Friday, Jan. 28.