L’Auberge opens retail sportsbook in Lake Charles, Louisiana

L’Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles is the latest casino to offer retail sports betting in Louisiana. The venue was one of two Lake Charles riverboat casinos approved to roll out in-person wagering by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) on Monday, the other one being Golden Nugget Casino.

The Penn National Gaming-operated facility opened for business at 9am on Wednesday, making it the fifth commercial casino to join the nascent Louisiana sports betting market.

The Sportsbook at L’Auberge sits in the area formerly occupied by the poker room and stadium games, and patrons who are at least 21 years old can walk in and place bets on various sports including football, hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, and more. The book will open from 10 am to midnight on weekdays and 8am to midnight on weekends. However, the location is temporary and it is set to be replaced by a new Barstool-branded sportsbook early next year.

Penn National Gaming now has three casinos with operational sportsbooks in Louisiana. The other two, L’Auberge Baton Rouge and Boomtown Casino in Harvey, started taking bets last week.

Golden Nugget partners DraftKings for Lake Charles sportsbook

Golden Nugget also joined the regulated Louisiana market with a DraftKings sportsbook at its Lake Charles property on Wednesday, November 10.

The temporary book, which occupies a portion of the Blue Martini Lounge, features six live ticket windows and 30 self-service wagering kiosks spread across the casino floor. Customers visiting the facility will be able to place sports wagers between 10am and 11pm on weekdays and from 9am to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays.

In a statement about the DraftKings partnership, the Senior Vice President of Gaming for Fertitta Entertainment, Gerry Del Prete, said: “Our team has worked diligently alongside state legislators to make the sportsbook experience a reality for Louisiana patrons.

“Coupling Golden Nugget’s dynamic gaming network with DraftKings innovative tech and trading makes for an unmatched partnership. We are thrilled to offer our combined customer base an unparalleled experience at the golden Nugget Lake Charles.”

The casino has also revealed that it is putting up a permanent 10,000 sq ft betting lounge with a seating capacity of 300 people, big screen televisions, and massive odds boards to replace the current sportsbook. The new location is scheduled to open in summer 2022.

LGCB Chair issues update on state of mobile betting

As the State Police and Gaming Control Board continue to vet applicants for retail betting, LGCB Chair Ronnie Johns has assured Louisiana bettors that they will have legal mobile sportsbooks by January 1, 2022.

In an interview early this week, Johns confirmed that the Louisiana State Police is carrying out investigations on sportsbook partners and vendors, which is a requirement in the state’s licensing process.

“We need to do this the right way,” said Johns. “Louisiana State Police is on it, they’re working on a daily basis to have it up and running. We’re trying to have it as fast as we can, and I’m going to predict the first of the year for when we have mobile.”

Several of Louisiana’s casinos have chosen their online sportsbook partners and are ready to launch their offering as soon as the Gaming Control Board approves their applications. Among those who are looking to enter the state’s mobile betting market are experienced names like Caesars, FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Barstool, and WynnBet.