Louisiana Mobile Sports Betting Market Positioned to be ‘Incredibly Successful’
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With popular former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow guiding the Cincinnati Bengals,bettors took to their phones and computers for a “successful” start to mobile sports gambling in Louisiana, according to online bookmakers.
That fast start is expected to extend through the middle of February, with the Burrow-led Bengals squaring off against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL’s 56th Super Bowl.
Elisa Richardson, head of public relations and communications for BetMGM Sportsbook Louisiana, told Gambling.com the launch of mobile wagering in Louisiana last Friday was “incredibly successful,” with no tech glitches.
“We’re thrilled by the early numbers and action and are confident that Louisiana is going to be an incredibly successful sports betting market,” she said.
Rams Open As Super Bowl Favorites
Legal mobile betting got underway for the first time in Louisiana last Friday morning. The launch coincided with two NFL playoff games over the weekend to determine which teams would advance to the Super Bowl on Feb. 13 in Southern California.
In the AFC Championship Game, the visiting Cincinnati Bengals upset the Kansas City Chiefs. In the NFC title game, the favored home team, the Los Angeles Rams, downed the San Francisco 49ers.
The Rams opened the week as 4-point Super Bowl favorites, according to Caesars Sportsbook Louisiana. The game is being played on the Rams’ home field at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Heavy Opening-Day Mobile Wagering in Louisiana
Going into the weekend, Ronnie Johns, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, told Gambling.com the Bengals-Chiefs game “created an incredible interest in Louisiana” because of Burrow and other LSU players on both teams.
Caesars spokesman Bradley Harwood told Gambling.com that nearly 50% more bettors wagered on that game than any other event on the first day of mobile wagering in Louisiana.
The most popular prop bets on the Caesars Sportsbook app on Friday included an over/under wager of 1.5 on Burrow touchdown passes, Harwood said. Burrow threw for two touchdowns in Sunday’s game.
Even with a major interest in the NFL, basketball games also received substantial betting action.
On the first day of mobile betting in the state, more bettors wagered on the New Orleans Pelicans-Denver Nuggets game than any other NBA contest, Harwood said. The visiting Nuggets defeated the Pelicans, 116-105.
On Friday, the LSU-TCU basketball game also saw heavy betting action, even though the game was played on Saturday. Texas Christian defeated LSU in Fort Worth, 77-68, in a Big 12/SEC Challenge game.
Former LSU Tigers Standouts Suiting Up for Super Bowl
The betting enthusiasm that the Control Board chairman witnessed leading up to last weekend’s NFL playoff games is expected to continue going in Super Bowl Sunday in two weeks.
Both teams competing for the NFL title have players who made their collegiate mark in Baton Rouge at LSU.
In addition to Burrow, the Bengals roster includes Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Shelvin and Thaddeus Moss. These players were part of the 2019 LSU team that won the national title and resulted in Burrow winning the Heisman Trophy.
This week, Burrow received additional honors, being named the Pro Football Writers of America Comeback Player of the Year.
On the Rams’ side of the field, Odell Beckham Jr. and Andrew Whitworth once suited up in Tiger purple and gold. Both players were gone from Baton Rouge before the 2019 title run.
$20 Wager Wins 579K on ‘Insane’ Parlay
Elsewhere in betting action over the weekend, an unidentified bettor, not necessarily located in Louisiana, wagering $20 on a two-leg parlay and won $579,020, according to the online bookmaker FanDuel.
The bettor correctly guessed what the exact score would be of Sunday’s NFC and AFC playoff games. The Bengals defeated the Chiefs by a 27-24 score. The Rams prevailed over the 49ers, 20-17. The bettor nailed both final scores.
“There’s no way,” FanDuel said in a tweet. “There’s just no way. The most insane parlay you’ll ever see, guaranteed.”
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