Louisiana Hopeful, Not Certain, That Mobile Sports Betting Will Arrive Soon

Sports betting has become legal in a handful of locations in Louisiana. However, it is still illegal to place wagers online. The expectation has been that mobile sportsbooks were almost ready to launch and reports last week indicated that their introduction was imminent. That’s not true, according to Louisiana Gaming Commission chair Ronnie Johns. Mobile may not even arrive before the Super Bowl.

Louisiana Mobile Sports Betting Coming

Johns told reporters this week that rumors about online betting being launched in Louisiana next week were false. The launch date is not set, and it is constantly being updated.

Johns stated that there is misinformation about the launch of sports betting in conjunction with next week’s NFL playoffs. “While we very much would like to do that, it’s definitely not accurate,” he explained. “We are working literally on a daily basis to finalize all of the compliance issues and the technical issues with sports betting.”

Johns stated that his goal was to launch online betting before the Super Bowl on February 13. However, even this is still up in the air. He stated that the State Police will determine the suitability for the launch and that he can’t sign off until they send their recommendation. The good news is that, according to him, progress is being made faster than expected.

Louisiana’s Odd Sports Betting Market

The commission chair stated that regulators are also investigating geofencing technology as part of the launch. With only 55 of the 64 parishes having approved online betting, the state has to figure out how to accurately prevent people in those non-betting parishes from placing bets. According to the LGC’s records, the only parishes to embrace mobile sports betting are:

Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, Concordia, Claiborne, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Red River, Richland, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, Washington, Webster, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.

Johns stated that the technology was there and it is very accurate. “We’ve seen it in other states, and we know that it works, but we just have to make absolutely sure that that it’s working properly here in Louisiana before we roll it out.”