Mid-January launch of Louisiana online sports betting is likely
Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns hopes to have Louisiana online sports betting up and running before Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, 2022.
The gaming board chairman told Saturday Down South the target date for Louisiana’s online sports betting launch will be for mid-January. Johns said he expects several sportsbooks to be licensed on the mid-month launch date.
Louisiana online sports betting is close
“My goal as of today is going to be mid-January for a number of the licensees that have applied. Some applied later than others, but we’ve taken them in order they’ve sent their applications in. We’re getting closer, but when it rolls out is really going to be dependent upon how quickly they respond to state police’s compliance inquiries,” Johns told Saturday Down South.
The properties need to be inspected by the Louisiana State Police prior to receiving their online licenses. Additionally, internal controls need to be verified and compliance inquiries need to be made before licenses can be approved.
It all equals a mid-January launch if everything goes smoothly.
While Louisiana has missed out on most of the online sports betting revenue for this NFL season, Johns said it’s important for the state to have its online sports betting program launched prior to the Super Bowl.
“Some properties are a lot more anxious to get started than others. But I’ll tell you, I was astounded by the October and November numbers we saw for New Jersey. $1.3 billion bet in New Jersey alone in one month. We realize where the action is and we’re pushing hard to get it done as quickly as we can,” he said.
In-person sports betting going well
The state currently has 13 entities licensed and offering in-person sports betting in their facilities. The rollout has been smooth and the numbers have been impressive, Johns said.
An additional six facilities have applied for a license. Only one of the original 20 entities listed in the Louisiana sports betting bill has not yet applied for a license and must do so by the end of the year to be eligible.
All of the facilities are running sportsbook out of temporary facilities, but several have already started their permanent buildouts, as was required by the original bill.
In addition to the 20 brick-and-mortar sports betting licenses, the state 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.
What online sportsbooks will be available?
So what will be available when online sports betting is launched? FanDuel and DraftKings both currently offer Daily Fantasy Sports contests in the state and will also be part of the online sports betting launch as well.
Caesars Entertainment has also been confirmed, as the sportsbook app is already available for download in Louisiana. Users cannot place bets as of yet, but can register and fund accounts.
Caesars will offer in-person sports betting at its properties Harrah’s New Orleans and Horseshoe Bossier City. Each casino will soon take in-person bets at temporary retail locations, before the unveiling of their new Caesars Sportsbooks. In the fall of 2022, Isle of Capri Lake Charles will be renovated into Horseshoe Lake Charles and reopen with an additional Caesars Sportsbook location.
Additionally, Caesars acquired a 20-year, exclusive naming-rights partnership with the New Orleans Saints to rebrand New Orleans’ downtown stadium as the Caesars Superdome. Caesars Sportsbook is also the official sportsbook partner of LSU Athletics.
WynnBET will also be available in the state, as the company announced it secured online sports betting market access this past October. A source previously told Saturday Down South that WynnBET has secured a partnership for its online sports betting app through one of Caesars’ physical casino properties in Louisiana.
WynnBET is currently available in Arizona, Colorado, Indian, Michigan, New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia.
It’s safe to assume the Barstool Sportsbook will also be available, as Penn National Gaming has partnered with two casinos that currently offer in-person sports betting. L’Auberge Casino Baton Rouge and Boomtown Casino Hotel both offer in-person sports betting and are Penn National Gaming properties.