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A year ago, sports betting in Louisiana was a totally different proposition.
Now, sports betting has been regulated, with Governor John Edwards finally signing the SB247 bill into law to make it legal to gamble in the state. This happened in June 2021 and sports betting companies are catching up and launching into the world. So, what does gambling look like for residents in Louisiana?
Online sports betting in Louisiana is governed by the Louisiana Lottery and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Laws are implemented on a number of retail sportsbooks, but online sports betting in Louisiana is bound to grow as mobile betting has finally launched.
In order to bet legally in the state, you need to be 21 years of age or older, and of course, you should be within the state lines when you place your bet, and to take any of the winnings you make out of your account.
Though it is legal to bet in the state, there are certain parishes (Louisiana is split into 64 parishes) that have not yet approved gambling and won’t have any sports betting retail locations for the time being. Those parishes are:
Caldwell
Catahoula
Franklin
LaSalle
Sabine
Union
West Carroll
Winn
There are still some complexities to the law but even in those parishes, you can open an account on a sportsbook site.
What sports can you gamble on in Louisiana?
The full range of sports betting websites is not yet live in Louisiana, with many betting companies still waiting to launch, but the sports coverage is likely to follow that of the retail sportsbooks.
Whether you follow the Pelicans or the New Orleans Saints in their new era, having lost Sean Payton, there are plenty of sports that are covered in LA.
Louisiana sports fans tend to follow MLB, NFL and NBA very closely. These are all sports that the top gambling websites will cover in detail, and it is not just Louisiana teams that you are able to follow and bet on. Louisiana sportsbooks are able to offer odds on matchups all over the country, and beyond.
If you want to, you can bet on soccer, tennis and more. There is a huge number of markets, and many different strategies you can adopt in your approach to sports betting. A lot of people bet on win/lose markets, but there are many different options, including betting lines, which entail betting on how many points will be scored in a match, for instance.
Choosing the ideal sportsbook betting site
What features should you be on the lookout for if you want a sportsbook betting site that suits your needs?
Great odds. Sportsbook betting should involve getting the best odds wherever possible. It is impossible to compare all of the odds all of the time, so make sure you opt for a sportsbook gambling company that gives consistently good odds.
Lots of coverage. It’s frustrating if a sportsbook site doesn’t have the sort of events you want to actually gamble on. Of course, if you love obscure sporting events and want to gamble on these, then you might have less luck, but generally, Louisiana sportsbooks will offer a good range of sporting events, including NFL and basketball.
Promotions and perks. When you sign up, a lot of sportsbook sites will give you bonuses, such as free bets or some other reward. Some will even offer you a free sports jersey for your favorite team. Make sure you take advantage of the promotions that are out there.
Markets. As well as the events covered, the best sports gambling sites will provide you with plenty of markets to gamble on, beyond just who is going to win. Some will let you bet on things like MVP or the number of points or goals in a fixture.
Louisiana teams. Chances are that you will want to gamble on your local teams, and the more markets and fixtures covered for Louisiana teams, the better.
Conclusion
Sports are a big part of Louisiana culture. Though retail gambling has been possible since 2021, there are many more options now that the state is opening up online gambling.
Many people who want to bet on sports in Louisiana have waited a long time for it to be legal and possible, and it has become far simpler in 2022. Make sure you take advantage of promotions that the sports betting companies offer, and gamble responsibly.
