Is sports betting legal in Louisiana?
Yes, but Louisiana's legal map works differently from every other state guide on this site. In the November 3, 2020 election, each parish voted separately on whether to authorize sports wagering.
- Fifty-five parishes approved the proposition, while nine rejected it.
- That means sports betting is legal in most of Louisiana but not literally statewide.
- A licensed mobile sportsbook must check both the state boundary and the bettor's parish before accepting a wager.
After the local votes, Louisiana enacted the operating framework in 2021. Retail sportsbooks began taking bets in October 2021 and mobile wagering launched on January 28, 2022.
- The Louisiana Gaming Control Board regulates casino-linked sportsbook operations and platform providers.
- Bettors must be at least 21 years old, and Louisiana regulations require geolocation and geofencing that block wagers from a prohibited parish.
The parish-by-parish structure matters in everyday use.
- You can create an account remotely and travel freely around the legal parts of Louisiana, but if your phone crosses into one of the nine parishes that voted no, a regulated app should prevent you from submitting a wager until you return to an approved parish.
- Residency is not the key test - physical location at the moment the wager is placed is.
A location check inside a location check
Most U.S. sportsbook apps only need to confirm that you are inside a legal state. Louisiana apps also have to confirm that you are inside one of the 55 approved parishes. This makes location permissions especially important near parish boundaries.
Which Louisiana parishes do not allow sports betting?
The nine parishes that rejected the 2020 sports wagering proposition remain prohibited. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board's annual reporting identifies them as Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Jackson, LaSalle, Sabine, Union, West Carroll and Winn. In those parishes, both mobile and retail sports wagering are off-limits.
The nine prohibited parishes
If you are physically located in one of these parishes, a licensed sportsbook cannot accept your wager.
The map could still change through another local vote. HB146 was introduced in the 2026 regular session to authorize a new sports wagering election in Sabine Parish. The bill was considered by the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee on April 29, 2026 and remains pending rather than enacted, so Sabine is still prohibited as of this update.
Best Louisiana sportsbook apps
Louisiana currently has eight active consumer sportsbook apps in the 55 approved parishes. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board's licensed-platform list is broader because it can include licensed platform entities that are not currently marketed to consumers, so this table focuses on the apps bettors can actually use as of September 2026.
| Sportsbook | Status | Useful for | America's Bookies link |
|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | Active | Live betting, soccer, market depth | Read review |
| BetMGM | Active | Rewards and broad market coverage | Read review |
| BetRivers | Active | Regional loyalty and straightforward markets | Read review |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Active | Caesars Rewards and retail crossover | Read review |
| DraftKings | Active | Market variety, props and same-game parlays | Read review |
| FanDuel | Active | App design and live markets | Read review |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | Active | FanCash rewards ecosystem | Read review |
| theScore Bet | Active | Sports-media integration; successor to ESPN BET | Legacy review |
Having eight apps gives Louisiana bettors enough competition to compare prices rather than accepting the first line they see. Before opening multiple accounts, read our line shopping strategy, sportsbook bonus guide, and full sportsbook review rankings.
Which sports can you bet on in Louisiana?
Louisiana sportsbooks offer wagering on the major U.S. professional leagues and a broad range of international sports. Popular local interest naturally centers on the New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans and LSU, but legal books also cover MLB, NHL, soccer, tennis, golf, MMA, boxing, motorsports and many approved niche competitions.
Louisiana is comparatively permissive on in-state college teams. You can place standard game-level wagers on LSU and other Louisiana college programs. However, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board's sports wagering catalog prohibits proposition bets based on an individual college athlete's performance or statistics. Team-level college props can still be allowed when they fit the approved catalog.
Louisiana college betting rule
- Allowed: LSU moneylines, spreads, totals and other approved game-level markets.
- Allowed: Approved team-level college statistical propositions.
- Not allowed: Individual college athlete prop bets.
- Not allowed: High school sports and other events excluded from the state sports wagering catalog.
Bet types & live betting in Louisiana
The basic mechanics are the same as in other regulated states. Licensed books offer moneylines, point spreads, totals, parlays, futures, team props and live in-play betting. If you are new to the terminology, start with our types of sports bets guide, odds and lines guide, and betting slip walkthrough.
| Market | What you are betting | Louisiana note |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Which team or competitor wins | Widely available on pro and college events |
| Point spread | Margin of victory against a handicap | Common for Saints, Pelicans and LSU games |
| Total | Whether combined scoring finishes over or under a number | Available pregame and often live |
| Parlay | Multiple selections combined into one wager | Every leg must win unless rules specify otherwise |
| Live / in-play | A market after the event has started | Odds update continuously and location checks still apply |
| College player prop | An individual college athlete statistic | Prohibited statewide |
Our live betting guide explains how rapidly moving prices work, while the parlay guide covers why combining legs changes both potential return and house edge.
Retail sportsbooks in Louisiana
Louisiana has a broad physical casino industry, so retail sports betting is available at numerous casino and racetrack properties in approved parishes.
- Current consumer directories list roughly 19 in-person sportsbook locations.
- The footprint includes large commercial casinos around New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and Bossier City as well as Paragon Casino Resort, a tribal casino in Marksville.
| Retail format | Examples / areas | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans casino sportsbook | Caesars New Orleans | Full counter / kiosk experience in a major destination property |
| North Louisiana casinos | Bossier City / Shreveport market | Multiple casino sportsbook options near the Texas and Arkansas corridors |
| Lake Charles casinos | Commercial casino properties | Retail wagering alongside table games and slots |
| Baton Rouge market | Casino properties in approved parishes | In-person wagering plus nearby mobile access |
| Tribal casino | Paragon Casino Resort, Marksville | Separate tribal gaming context with a physical sportsbook |
You do not have to register at a casino to use a Louisiana mobile book. Remote account creation has been part of the market since launch. The key restriction is geographic: even an existing account cannot place a legal bet while the device is located in a prohibited parish.
Why Louisiana still has no legal online casino
Louisiana has legal online sports wagering but no regulated real-money online casino market. That distinction is important.
- Louisiana Revised Statutes broadly prohibit "gambling by computer" and then carve out specific statutory exceptions, including regulated sports wagering and fantasy sports.
- Traditional online slots, live-dealer casino tables and internet poker do not have an equivalent regulated exception.
The legal barrier is therefore more substantial than simply waiting for a regulator to issue licenses.
- A future Louisiana iGaming market would require lawmakers to create a new authorization framework and reconcile it with the state's existing criminal gambling-by-computer provisions.
- Louisiana has also increased enforcement attention on illegal online gambling and sweepstakes-style gaming, making a near-term commercial online casino launch less likely than in states already debating detailed iGaming licensing bills.
Sportsbook does not mean online casino
A licensed Louisiana sports betting app can legally take sports wagers in approved parishes because sports wagering has a specific statutory exemption and regulatory framework. That does not authorize the same operator to offer online slots, roulette or blackjack for real money.
For comparison, see the established regulated iGaming markets in our Michigan guide, New Jersey guide and Pennsylvania guide.
How Louisiana compares to other states
Louisiana combines three features that are unusual when viewed together: a local parish opt-in map, legal betting on in-state college teams, and a relatively high mobile sportsbook tax. The 21.5% mobile rate is above moderate-tax markets such as Arizona and Colorado, but below New York's 51% mobile rate. Retail sportsbook net gaming proceeds remain taxed at 10%.
| State | Mobile tax | In-state college team bets | Online casino |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 21.5% | Yes; individual college props banned | No |
| Arizona | 10% | Generally yes; college props restricted | No |
| Colorado | 10% | Yes; college player props prohibited | No |
| Michigan | 8.4% | Broadly permitted | Yes |
| New York | 51% | New York college teams restricted | No |
Louisiana's parish model remains the most locally granular sports betting map in the country. Most legal states make a single statewide decision. In Louisiana, bettors can legally cross from an approved parish into a prohibited one and immediately lose the ability to submit a mobile wager even though they have not left the state.
How to sign up for a Louisiana sportsbook
Registration is remote and usually takes a few minutes. You can open an account before choosing a bet, but the sportsbook must verify your identity and your location before accepting wagering activity. You do not have to be a Louisiana resident; you do have to be at least 21 and physically inside an approved parish when you bet.
Before your first wager, our bankroll management guide and betting slip guide cover the two most important practical checks: how much to risk and what exactly you are confirming.
Louisiana sports betting taxes & where the money goes
For bettors, gambling winnings are generally taxable income at the federal and Louisiana levels. A sportsbook's reporting or withholding obligation does not replace your responsibility to report taxable winnings. Keep accurate records and consult a qualified tax professional for personal filing questions.
Operator taxation changed materially in 2025. Act 298 raised the tax on electronic sports wagering net gaming proceeds from 15% to 21.5%, while onsite retail wagering remained at 10%. The same law also created new funding dedications beginning in fiscal year 2026, including support for university athletic departments and inclusive postsecondary education.
Current operator tax rates
21.5% mobile / website wagering and 10% onsite retail wagering. These are taxes on operator net gaming proceeds, not an extra percentage added to an individual bettor's stake.
| Tax / allocation | Current rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile / website sports wagering | 21.5% of net gaming proceeds | Raised from 15% by Act 298 of 2025 |
| Onsite retail sports wagering | 10% of net gaming proceeds | Retail rate did not change with the 2025 mobile increase |
| SPORT Fund | 25% of online sports wagering tax collections | Supports eligible Louisiana university athletic departments beginning in FY26 |
| Postsecondary Inclusive Education Fund | 3% of online sports wagering tax collections | Supports inclusive higher-education programs |
Responsible gambling resources in Louisiana
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board requires sportsbook operators to maintain responsible-gaming policies and to provide patrons with tools for self-imposed restrictions, including limits on time and amounts wagered. Louisiana also operates self-exclusion programs and problem-gambling support services.
Need support? Louisiana's problem gambling help line is 1-877-770-7867. You can also use our responsible gambling guide for a plain-language overview of deposit limits, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion.
Louisiana sports betting FAQ
Is sports betting legal everywhere in Louisiana?
No. Sports wagering is legal in the 55 parishes that approved it in the November 2020 referendum. Nine parishes remain prohibited, and regulated apps must use geofencing to block wagers from those areas.
Which Louisiana parishes do not allow sports betting?
Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Jackson, LaSalle, Sabine, Union, West Carroll and Winn voted no in 2020. HB146 would authorize a new vote in Sabine Parish, but it remains pending as of September 2026.
How many Louisiana sportsbook apps are active?
Eight consumer apps are active as of September 2026: bet365, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics Sportsbook and theScore Bet.
Can I bet on LSU in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana permits standard game-level wagers on LSU and other in-state college teams. Individual college athlete prop bets are prohibited.
What are Louisiana's sports betting tax rates?
The operator tax is 21.5% of net gaming proceeds for electronic mobile or website wagering and 10% for onsite sports wagering.
Does Louisiana have legal online casinos?
No. Regulated real-money online casino gaming is not authorized. Louisiana's gambling-by-computer law broadly prohibits online gambling except for specific statutory exceptions such as regulated sports wagering and fantasy sports.
Official sources & fact checks
Louisiana's parish map and sportsbook rules can change. Confirm current requirements before depositing or traveling specifically to wager.
- Louisiana Gaming Control Board - Licensed Wagering Platforms
- Louisiana Gaming Control Board - Sports Wagering Catalog
- Louisiana Gaming Control Board - Laws & Regulations
- Louisiana R.S. 27:625 - Sports Wagering Tax
- Louisiana R.S. 47:9102 - Mobile Wagering & Parish Geolocation
- Louisiana HB146 - Sabine Parish Sports Wagering Election
- Louisiana R.S. 14:90.3 - Gambling by Computer
- Louisiana Act 298 of 2025 - Mobile Tax & Revenue Dedications
Last fact-checked: September 15, 2026.