Author:
Matt
Last Updated:
27/09/2024
Topic:
US States
Experiences:
LV native and table games whizz
Topic:
US States
Experiences:
LV native and table games whizz
Loading ...
As is the case with any state where the laws regarding online gambling have recently changed, there’s plenty of confusion regarding sports betting in Louisiana. Thankfully, we’re here to clear that up as part of this exclusive expert guide.
And we won’t just be outlining the legality of sports betting in LA. We’ll also be analyzing how you can make the most out of what’s available in what is historically known as one of the best betting states. Join us in a warts and all examination of everything you could want to know about LA online sportsbooks.
We always try to ensure that our guides are pretty broad and inclusive – because we want everyone possible to find the finest betting experience for them. However, there are a few caveats that were necessary to ensure that our examination of sports betting in LA has the proper focus. The first is rather obvious and that is we’re discussing Louisiana specifically. This is an online gambling Louisiana guide and that means you should be from that state in order to utilize the advice provided here.
The reason for this is simple. While there is some crossover in terms of the more general advice we provide – such as the focus on finding the right bookmaker for you – the fact is that there are just practical differences to an analysis of online betting Louisiana than in many other states. The most obvious example of this is with regards to the question of legality in this state. Different laws mean a different selection of safely available Louisiana sports betting sites than anywhere else, even if those brands are available elsewhere.
That’s why we think it’s probably good to be from Louisiana to enjoy this article. If you’re from elsewhere though, there’s no need to worry. We also have guides to things like sports betting in Mississippi as well as sports betting in Maryland, just to give a couple of examples.
Furthermore, this is a sports betting article specifically. While we will discuss casino betting in brief in our legal section, the main focus is on the best sports betting sites Louisiana has to offer. That means those more interested in casino betting should check out our article dedicated to that subject.
Beyond that, we’d say that the only real remaining recommendation for who this article is aimed at is simply passionate sports fans. Plus, those who want to get every ounce of value out of their sports bets. If you’re from Louisiana and that sounds like you, then we’re good to go.
We know that the most important part of the legal history of Louisiana online sports betting is the modern changes which create the current legal situation online. So, that’s where we’re going to start.
The elephant in the room is one simple but often asked question: is sports betting legal In Louisiana?
In a word, yes.
Sports betting is now legal following a referendum which was passed in 2020, and made official when it was signed into law the following year. Sites have been able to go live since the end of January 2022. The time between these dates has been spent ensuring that the proper legal framework is in place to ensure a fair and safe environment for players and for a basis of competition between LA sports betting sites operators.
Most of the rules in question are pretty standard and expected. For instance, anyone betting online must be over the age of 21. Considering that’s also the age for betting in person, it would be rather strange if it were anything else. The sites must also verify the identity of each customer, to ensure they’re of age in the correct state and to prevent fraud and money laundering. So, make sure you have those documents at the ready.
Furthermore, all legal bookmakers will have geolocation software to ensure you’re from where you say you are. The tax rate of online sportsbooks is also higher than the 10% demanded from in-person bookies, at 15%.
More unusual is the issue of parishes. Unlike most states where gambling online is legal, the best betting sites Louisiana has to offer will sadly not be available to everybody within that state. This is because the referendum, in accordance to the state laws, was settled on a parish by parish basis. 55 out of 64 parishes voted to approve sports betting, hence why it’s currently legal.
However, if you’re in one of the nine parishes which voted against online sports betting, then it will not be legal in those parishes. And unfortunately, if you happen to live in those areas, despite it being legal within Louisiana, you would have to go to a neighboring parish where it was approved to bet legally.
The parishes which voted no include: Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Jackson, Lasalle, Sabine, Vermilion, West Carroll and Winn.
Those are the key legal changes of modern times for the state, and thus make up the most relevant points of its modern history. This is especially true because this seismic change has not impacted the laws regarding online casinos Louisiana. They remain illegal at the time of writing. However, these events could have an impact yet, as many speculate that the success of these new laws – both from the perspective of business and the general public – could provide a logistical foundation for making online casinos legal in Louisiana as well.
Casino legalization certainly would suit the state, which has long been known as one of the most famous places to gamble in the US. Indeed, by the turn of the 19th century, New Orleans had more gambling establishments than most states. Since then, Louisiana couldn’t seem to make up its mind, banning and legalizing betting on and off for many decades throughout the century.
A major turning point came with the first state lottery in 1866. This too went through the same back-and-forth legalization and banning process. Nonetheless, when available, both the casinos and the lottery were a massive success as they headed towards the 20th century and the legalization of pari-mutuel horse racing.
Things continued without major legal changes until economic issues pushed governor Edwin Edwards to promote legal gambling in 1986. This failed though, and wouldn’t be re-examined until 1990, when it was deemed that many people would like a state lottery more than an increase in taxes. It won a referendum and the lottery returned (seemingly) more permanently in 1991. Soon after, fifteen riverboat casinos were approved, as was the legalization of video poker machines, which were also installed at the racetracks in 1997.
Sports betting more generally didn’t actually join this illustrious history until October 2021, meaning that casinos are much more closely attached to the state of Louisiana than their sportsbook counterparts. Indeed, considering this, it may seem a little odd that as of now, sports betting is so much further forward, that we’re talking about Louisiana online sports betting sites instead of casinos. Regardless, there’s an unshakeable sense that a chapter has been turned on gambling generally. The road to legalizing sports betting in LA may have begun and quickly ended, but there’s still plenty more to look forward to.
Something really interesting about online betting Louisiana is that, as of the time of writing, they appear to have pretty much laid out the amount of sportsbooks that could be available. According to current legislation, there is room for access for 41 total Louisiana online sportsbooks. That, like the rest of online betting LA law, could of course change, but it’s interesting to see it so firmly restricted to a number.
Nonetheless, that is plenty of room for lots of amazing bookmakers, and we already have some who have hit the ground running. We would argue there’s none more so than BetMGM, who have brought their absolute A-game to this newly legal state – just as they have done across many different jurisdictions throughout the country.
It’s important to note at this point that we’re not saying BetMGM are absolutely the best Louisiana online sports betting sites has to offer – although there’s certainly an argument to be made for that. We aren’t claiming that BetMGM will definitely be your favorite of the available options in Louisiana. You may very well prefer something like FanDual or Caesars, to give another couple of examples of top contenders.
Instead, we must base our editor’s pick – as we would for sports betting in West Virginia or anywhere else – instead on what we think will broadly appeal to many of our readers and best represents the kind of quality you can expect from gambling in that state. And we think that is BetMGM.
Their positive attributes aren’t groundbreaking, but they are exceptional. They provide great promotions, as good in promise and in delivery as any of the other best sports betting sites LA has to offer. That’s alongside an immense selection of great betting markets focused on American markets, very competitive odds and a site that succeeds in being a joy to use.
Security and fairness really are the cornerstones of a great betting experience. You can absolutely go even further than that and really focus on the specifics which will make a betting site perfect for you – and we will discuss how to do so shortly – but if you keep these two key focuses in mind, you’ll have the most vital elements of betting online covered.
But how exactly do you go about ensuring you have one of the best betting sites Louisiana has to offer for security and fairness? Check out our five expert tips to find out.
It’s not just enough for us to tell you that we go into every nook and cranny in our pursuit of the best betting sites LA has to offer. We’re going to show you exactly the kind of things we examine before any recommendation. Keep in mind too that this is just an overview. In truth, we analyze everything and anything about a betting site that we think may be of interest, but this should give you an idea of the work that goes into our expert reviews:
We look for license and encryption information, privacy policy, general terms and conditions and at any past security breaches, the reputation of the operator, alongside unique security additions we occasionally find on mobile apps.
Like you, our journey begins at the registration. We want this to be easy and comprehensive, preferably giving us the choice to add banking details later, and making responsible gaming options such as deposit limits available from the offset.
We love a good promotion, but we know quality comes down to the terms and conditions. That’s why we read, check and analyze the reality of what’s being offered when all the smoke and mirrors settle.
We consider whether we think the look of the site will appeal, and more specifically, what kind of audience will love it?
This is all about testing how well the site works and how easy it is to use, from page layout to video buffering.
We’re a more the merrier crowd when it comes to sports market variety, so long as the markets are interesting and fair.
Better odds means more money in your pocket – something all LA sports betting sites should strive towards.
We want to see quality options and implementation of customer service, meaning helpful, knowledgeable staff who are easy to get hold of.
Just as we recommended you do, we also check the reputation of betting sites to ensure our opinion is in line with typical experiences of other customers.
Then we bring it all together and consider not only is it one of the best betting sites LA has to offer, but if so, what kind of audience in particular we would recommend it to.
We’ve talked a lot about how we’re not just here to help you find a good operator, but one which is perfect for you. There’s a lot of great options out there but much of it is down to personal preference. But how do you figure out which of the Louisiana online sports books could be perfect for you?
Well, we think it comes down to a series of simple questions. Here’s some things you can ask yourself to get a good idea of what you are looking for from your best betting operator. You can then apply them to our reviews and recommendations to hopefully find something positively perfect for you:
Even with limitations on how many sites can enjoy a license at this time, it’s remarkable just how far LA sports betting sites have come since their legalization finally came to fruition at the start of 2022. There’s plenty of great options already that are well worthy of their fascinating history – and finding one that’s perfect for you comes down to a few considerations beyond checking out our recommendations. Best of all, this really is just the beginning and we look forward to what Louisiana can offer the betting world as they further establish themselves as an online betting powerhouse.