Those supporting sports wagering in the Pelican State, including Louisiana Wins, use a familiar refrain: Raising cash for infrastructure and public education. Additionally, because some states that border Louisiana already permit sports betting, proponents say their state is losing revenue to its neighbors.
We are losing as much as $330 million of revenue, even as our residents cross the border to Arkansas and Mississippi for legalized sports betting there. It s time we kept revenues closer to home,” according to Louisiana Wins.
The aforementioned SB 130 provides for electronic wagering, but only on the premises of a gaming property. It s a similar methodology to what s currently used in Mississippi. Assuming parishes approve sports wagering, gamblers will be able to have action on college games, something that s considering the issue.
Compelling OpportunityLouisiana is the fifth-largest gaming market in the US. The state is home to roughly 20 casinos, the bulk of which are commercially operated riverboats, a pair of which are coming ashore next year. Currently, land-based venues in the state consist of a trio of tribal casinos and Harrah s New Orleans.
Under SB 130, all operators will be eligible to apply for sports betting permits. Caesars Entertainment and Penn National Gaming are among the largest commercial entities in the Pelican State. Accounting for a pair of pending sales, Caesars will run a quartet of Louisiana venues, while Penn manages five casinos there.
From a sports betting perspective, Louisiana is alluring for another reason. It borders Texas, where sports betting isn t legal. Additionally, the Lone Star state is a prime driver of Louisiana s tourism industry, and the major population centers of Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston are driveable to many Pelican State gaming properties.
