Louisiana’s gambling regulations gave the green light for emergency rules to come into play, allowing residents to start betting on football games from this season already.
There were no objections to allow the state’s casinos and racetracks to file applications for sports betting licenses and for the Gaming Control Board to approve them.
On Thursday this week, the Gaming Control Board will start issuing temporary licenses to casinos and racetracks. Wagering will eventually expand to alcohol-serving bars and restaurants.
Last year, 55 out of 64 parishes voted to legalize sports betting on live-action games. Lawmakers then went into overdrive to try and set up a regulation and tax framework before the start of football season 2021.
The last-minute dash resulted in the emergency rules coming into play this week, and the result is that some casinos will start taking bets as early as the middle of September.
“As far as timeline, I’d expect to see some of the brick and mortars ready by mid-September to take in-person, on-premises wagers,” said Wade Duty, the executive director of the Louisiana Casino Association.
Breakdown of Louisiana Sports Betting Rules:
- Players need to be at least 21 years old to bet on sports.
- No betting on high school or youth sports events.
- Athletes, coaches and refs are barred from wagering on sports events which they are involved in themselves.
- Players in parishes that didn’t vote for sports betting in the fall elections can still bet on sports in approved parishes.