Louisiana drawing closer to launch of sports betting
Gaming Control Board in process of approving applications with November 1 target
Louisiana is officially in the final stages of its rollout of retail sportsbooks, with the Gaming Control Board already in the process of approving applications.
FanDuel is among the operators whose application has been approved, and the state is currently targeting November 1 as a go-live date.
In addition to FanDuel, DraftKings and Caesars are expected to be among the first operators to launch retail sportsbooks at the beginning of next month.
Caesars, which already boasts a significant footprint in Louisiana and recently secured naming rights to the Superdome, was initially intending to enter a soft launch as soon as this weekend.
That timeline has been pushed back, according to Gaming Control Board chairman Ronnie Johns, who is overseeing the sports betting launch in concert with the Louisiana State Police.
While the November 1 target is just that – a target – Johns reiterated that regulators are “pushing hard” to meet it.
This comes after an initial October 1 go-live date was delayed due to the effects of Hurricane Ida, which the state police had to prioritize as a matter of public safety.
Once the proper regulatory hurdles are cleared, the state is planning for a rollout in batches, meaning the likes of FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars – and potentially other operators whose applications are approved before then – would figure to begin operations on equal footing.
One retail sportsbook – Betfred – is already live, having launched in partnership with Paragon Casino. Because Paragon is a tribal casino, it wasn’t required to go through the application process with the state.
As for online betting, it will likely be at least a few months before Louisiana residents are able to make wagers on their phones, as the online licensing process is entirely separate to retail.