Louisiana Real Money Gambling Apps To Launch on Friday
Louisiana’s long-awaited real money mobile betting launch is finally here! Well, almost.
What LA Bettors Need To Know
On Friday at 8 a.m. local time, bettors can view lines and place wagers directly from their mobile devices. That includes iPhones and Androids, as well as tablets and laptops. The following seven sportsbooks will launch on Friday:
- BetFred
- BetMGM
- BetRivers
- Caesars
- Draftkings
- Fanduel
- Barstool
Tomorrow, Louisiana will become the 19th state to welcome a fully-fledged betting infrastructure. But it’s been a long road to bring sports betting to the Bayou State. Let’s take a walk back and see how we got here.
The Lengthy Politics of LA Betting
In November of 2020, residents voted in favor of LA sports betting for 55 of the state’s 64 parishes. Below are the nine parishes that excluded themselves from the measure:
- Caldwell
- Catahoula
- Franklin
- Jackson
- LaSalle
- Sabine
- Union
- West Carroll
- Winn
After several months of internal reorganization, the legislature published a betting framework along with a tax guideline that was later signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards in June of 2021.
A few more months went by without much progress as government officials had to fill the gaming regulator chair left by ex-police chief Mike Noel. His seat was soon picked up by former Senator Ronnie John.
By August, the Gaming Control Board had finally designed and submitted “emergency rules” to launch in-person betting ahead of the NFL season start. In addition to publishing these guidelines, the state also opened applications to prospective sportsbook operators.
Despite the progress made in August, sweeping delays following the devastation of Hurricane Ida brought sportsbook efforts back to a grinding halt.
In the meantime, local tribes took it upon themselves to go ahead and kick off their own sports betting operations. The first group to introduce sports betting to its array of services was the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, owners of the Paragon Casino.
This independent launch by the tribes clearly made something click for gaming regulators because just three weeks later, commercial sportsbooks made their Louisiana debut.
A Few Tips For Friday
And while the advent of retail betting in LA was certainly exciting for many, others knew that the main event was right around the corner.
Louisiana residents were given less than 5 days’ notice about the mobile sportsbook launch. Even so, now is a better time than ever. Just preceding the NFL Conference Championships and the Super Bowl, Louisiana’s mobile kickoff is expected to pull millions in its first weekend.
However, sports bettors should be wary of which sportsbook they choose to bet with when the time comes. DraftKings and Caesars, specifically, have received an onslaught of online criticism for betting limits and complicated payouts.
We advise that all Louisiana mobile bettors conduct their due diligence before making an account with any sportsbook. This goes for both offshore and domestic products. Sportsbook reviews are essential to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
That being said, good luck and good fortune to all you brand new bettors out there!
You’ll need it.
Source: WAFB 9