Louisiana Sports Betting Total Dips In March
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Sports betting in Louisiana numbers dipped in March, compared to totals from the previous month.
The seven online bookmakers operating in March reported a sports betting handle of $205.7 million, according to figures released Monday from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
That figure is down from the $211 million handle in February, the state’s first full month of mobile wagering.
The handle is the amount of money bettors wager on sports.
Louisiana Sports Betting, March vs. February
| Betting handle | Revenue | |
|---|---|---|
| March | $232.730M | $30.141M |
| February | $238.414M | $17.295M |
| Change | Down 2.4% | Up 74.3% |
Seven Bookmakers Live In March
In March, seven online commercial bookmakers were operational in the state.
Though these bookmakers are licensed through some of the state’s commercial casinos, bettors can download the apps and wager from anywhere in the 55 of 64 parishes where sports betting is legal.
The legal parishes include the ones that are home to the state’s large gaming hubs of New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Shreveport/Bossier City. Most of the illegal parishes are in north-central rural Louisiana.
Online bookmakers in Louisiana are required to be licensed through an authorized casino or racino. Racinos are horse tracks with slot machines.
Here are the licensed commercial online bookmakers:
- Barstool Sportsbook (L’Auberge Lake Charles)
- BetRivers Sportsbook (Margaritaville Bossier City)
- BetMGM Sportsbook (Sam’s Town Shreveport)
- Caesars Sportsbook (Horseshoe Bossier City)
- DraftKings Sportsbook (Golden Nugget Lake Charles)
- FanDuel Sportsbook (Treasure Chest Kenner)
- WynnBet Sportsbook (Horseshoe Bossier City)
In March, these online bookmakers had a win percentage of 13.8% and paid $3.18 million in taxes.
One month earlier, the win percentage was 7.9%, with $2.2 million paid in taxes.
February Handle Benefited From Super Bowl
In February, betting enthusiasm was comparatively higher in Louisiana, with several former LSU stars, including Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, appearing in the Feb. 13 Super Bowl.
Houston furniture salesman Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale alone placed two Super Bowl mobile bets totaling $9.5 million in February in Louisiana. He used a Caesars Louisiana Sportsbook app in placing these bets.
McIngvale bet on the Bengals to win the Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams, costing him the combined $9.5 million when the Rams staged a comeback victory.
Because sports betting is illegal in Texas, McIngvale travels next door to Louisiana to wager on games.
Louisiana is the only Gulf Coast state with legal mobile sports betting, from Texas to Florida.
LSU Exits Early From March Madness
The sports betting numbers might have been higher in March if LSU had not been bounced early from the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Tigers lost on March 18 to Iowa State, 59-54.
Interim coach Kevin Nickelberry was calling X’s and O’s in that game, replacing former coach Will Wade.
Wade was fired over NCAA recruiting allegations. Later in March, the university hired former Murray State coach Matt McMahon as head coach.
On-Site Waging Adds To Louisiana Sports Betting Total
Louisiana’s March overall sports betting total was boosted by another $26.98 million that bettors wagered in person at on-site sportsbooks.
These sportsbooks are inside riverboat casinos, racinos and the land-based Harrah’s New Orleans.
The following properties in Louisiana offer in-person sports betting:
- Amelia Belle near Morgan City
- Boomtown Bossier City
- Boomtown New Orleans
- Delta Downs Vinton
- Evangeline Downs Opelousas
- Golden Nugget Lake Charles
- Harrah's New Orleans
- Hollywood Baton Rouge
- Horseshoe Bossier City
- L'Auberge Baton Rouge
- L'Auberge Lake Charles
- Louisiana Downs Bossier City
- Margaritaville Bossier City
- Sam's Town Shreveport
- Treasure Chest Kenner
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