Louisiana Online Sports Betting Launch Goes Off ‘Without a Hitch’
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The first day of mobile sports betting in Louisiana has been “incredibly smooth” with no glitches, according to the state’s top gaming regulator.
“Reports are that activity has been very good,” Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns told Gambling.com on Friday.
Johns said he did not have a number by Friday afternoon on the betting volume, but added he was “very proud of our rollout.”
The chairman praised the Louisiana State Police and attorney general’s office for “doing a superb job of getting it going.”
Online Wagering Began Early Friday
Mobile wagering began Friday at 8 a.m. in the 55 of 64 parishes that approved sports betting in a November 2020 statewide election. For the first time, bettors in Louisiana could legally use their smartphones and computers to place wagers.
The online bookmakers operating in Louisiana include Barstool, BetFred, BetMGM sportsbook Louisiana, BetRivers, Caesars, FanDuel and DraftKings.
Since Oct. 31, sports betting has been allowed inside state-regulated casinos in Louisiana.
Bettors are permitted to wager on 31 competitive events, including high-profile sports such as football and basketball, but also on other approved games, including volleyball, darts and more. Wagering also is allowed on events such as the film industry’s Academy Awards.
Mobile Betting Starts in Time for NFL Championship Games
The Friday mobile launch in Louisiana occurred in time for wagering on the NFL playoff games this weekend to determine the two teams that will advance to the Feb. 13 Super Bowl.
In the AFC Championship game on Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals are traveling to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs. That game’s winner will face the winner of the NFC title game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. The NFC game is scheduled to be played Sunday at SoFi Stadium, about 20 minutes south of Los Angeles.
Johns told Gambling.com the AFC game, featuring former LSU stars such Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, has “created an incredible interest in Louisiana.”
Barstool Has Successful First Day
Casey Lewless, sportsbook manager at Penn National’s Margaritaville and Boomtown riverboat casinos in Bossier City, said the company’s Barstool Sportsbook app was launched successfully on Friday.
Penn National also operates riverboat casinos in Lake Charles, Baton Rouge and the New Orleans area.
“Everything went off without a hitch,” Lewless told Gambling.com.
Among other bonuses, the Barstool Sportsbook app is offering $100 to new Louisiana bettors if Bengals QB Burrow throws for one yard or more in Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. Burrow’s popularity soared in Louisiana after he led the 2019 Tigers to a national title and won the Heisman Trophy.
Burrow’s Bengals Score First Caesars Mobile Wager
Caesars spokesman Bradley Harwood told Gambling.com the Caesars Sportsbook Louisiana app received "a great response” on the first day.
“Smooth sailing so far,” he said in an email Friday afternoon.
The first mobile wager on the Caesars Sportsbook app in Louisiana was an $80 moneyline bet at +285 on the Burrow-led Bengals, Harwood said. If the Bengals win on Sunday, the bettor will collect $228.
In addition to operating the state’s only land-based casino in New Orleans, Caesars Entertainment has gaming facilities in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Bossier City.
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