The final two bills needed to kickstart Louisiana sports betting were approved on the final day of the state’s legislative session, paving the way for a proposed start by the NFL season.

Members of the Louisiana Senate passed SB 247, a sports wagering regulation bill, several days after rejecting proposed amendments from the House. A Senate conference committee was created to work on the proposed language of the bill, but on Thursday the Senate reconvened and decided to accept the proposed amendments. The conference committee was discharged and the Senate approved the bill by a vote of 33 to 3.

The bill will be sent to Gov. John Bel Edwards for his signature. Edwards recently put his signature to Rep. John M. Stefanski’s (R-42) sponsored tax bill, HB 697, to officially set tax rates for Louisiana’s sports betting program.

DraftKings representatives congratulated Louisiana legislators Thursday on their work to bring sports betting to the state.

Louisiana sports betting framework is set

The two bills will set the tax rate and regulatory framework for Louisiana’s sports betting program. A third bill, SB 142, was adopted by the Senate as well and will appropriate the collected tax revenue from sports betting. Sports betting revenue will be dispersed as such:

  • 60% to the general fund.
  • 25% to early education.
  • 12% to the parishes.
  • 2% to programs for gambling addiction.
  • 1% to a sports wagering purse fund for horse racing.

Louisiana will allow 20 sports betting licenses, one each for the the state’s 15 riverboat casinos, four racinos (horse tracks) and one land-based casino. Each license will also include two mobile licenses, which could mean a potential of 41 “skins” for Louisiana online sports betting. The one additional skin would be allotted to the Louisiana Lottery Corporation.

Each facility applying for a sports betting license would have to construct a retail sportsbook to be eligible.

Sports betting ‘kiosks’ will provide retail opportunities

Facilities with Class-A onsite consumption liquor licenses can receive a mobile wagering device, called a kiosk, to allow patrons to participate in online sports betting while in their facility. This would be run under the purveyance of the Louisiana Lottery Corporation and revenue would be taxed at 10%.

A sports betting ban on in-state collegiate programs was not included in the bill.

Once signed into law by Edwards, sports betting will be legal in 55 of 64 Louisiana parishes that approved the measure in the November 2020 general election. In-person and online sports betting will not be permitted for residents living in the following parishes:

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