Louisiana House Approves Increase In Online Sports Betting Tax

In Louisiana, the state House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 20, approved a bill to increase the tax on online sports betting.

Under House Bill 639 by Rep. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, the tax on online sports betting would go from 15% to 21.5%. The amended bill was approved on a 73-15 vote. It must be approved in the Senate before going to Gov. Jeff Landry for his consideration. The 2025 legislative session is set to end on June 12 at the Capitol in Baton Rouge.

The tax bill required a two-thirds vote of the 105-member House. The 73 yes votes met the two-thirds mandate. 

The bill initially called for an increase in the online sports betting tax to 32.5%, but in a brief House floor presentation late Tuesday afternoon, Riser said the 21.5% figure was agreed upon during negotiations with the commercial sports betting industry. He praised the industry for its professionalism. There was no debate on the bill during the House floor session on Tuesday.

Previously, state Sen. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, told Gambling.com the bill probably has a 50-50 chance of being approved in that chamber. The state Senate has 39 members.

In Louisiana, sports betting is legal in most parishes at brick-and-mortar casinos and online with the use of cellphones and computers.

The online sports betting bill is paired with House Bill 594 by Rep. Chance Henry, R-Crowley, creating a flat rate of insurance premium tax. The bill to increase the online sports betting tax can only take effect if the insurance premium bill is approved, according to language in HB639. On Wednesday, May 21, the House on a 93-0 vote approved Henry’s insurance premium bill. Like the online sports betting bill, the insurance premium tax bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.