Louisiana working towards November 1 sports betting launch

Louisiana regulators have set a new provisional launch date for sports betting in the Bayou State.

Last week, the Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, Ronnie Johns, said that his office was working towards launching the industry on November 1.

“I’m pushing hard for November 1. I’m staying close to my office, I want to sign those licenses as soon as possible,” said the Chairman.

Johns’ remarks came after a meeting with the Louisiana State Police on Thursday, during which he received updates on the progress of background investigations on the 13 businesses that applied for sports betting permits in October.

These investigations are part of the licensing process in the state. Under the Louisiana gambling law, the State Police must conduct background checks on all operators looking to offer gaming or wagering services in the region, then forward their findings to the Gaming Control Board for final approval.

The Chairman’s signature on the applications is the last step in the licensing process.

What does this mean for the Louisiana gamblers?

The latest statement by the LGCB Chair means that sports fans and betting enthusiasts in Louisiana can now look forward to placing legal wagers in the state starting early next month.

The regulator had set October 1 as the target date for the rollout, but the process of vetting applicants was delayed by Hurricane Ida. The powerful storm hit New Orleans in late August, forcing the police to put the background investigations aside for a while to attend to those affected by the disaster.

In his comments on Thursday, the head of the LGCB acknowledged that the launch is long-overdue and went ahead to assure Louisianians that his office was working round-the-clock to get the market up and running.

“I understand the public wants this very badly, and we’re working overtime,” said Johns.

The announcement also comes as a relief for the 13 operators who submitted their applications for sports wagering permits to the Board. According to the regulator, 13 of the 20 eligible establishments have applied for permits to offer the market, and the rest are expected to do so before January 1.

Those eligible to operate sportsbooks in the state include riverboat casinos, racinos, and Harrah’s land-based casino. Most of these facilities have their temporary books ready for retail wagering in anticipation of the launch.

Caesars launches early signup offers for Louisiana bettors

As Louisiana bettors look forward to the targeted launch date, Caesars Sportsbook has rolled out an early signup promotion for players who want to be ahead of the pack.

The brand has opened early registration, and players who grab the chance will receive a free bet worth $100 and an array of other offers when the app launches officially. Those who want to take advantage of this offer can visit the operator’s website and register for mobile betting accounts before November 1.

Apart from Caesars, other brands like BetMGM and BetRivers are also anticipating to launch in the Bayou State. WynnBet has also announced a market access deal that will see it offer sports betting in Louisiana. Also, FanDuel and DraftKings are expected to debut in the state’s market given that they are already approved to offer daily fantasy sports by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

However, it is very unlikely that mobile sportsbooks will launch on the same day as retail since the process of vetting online operators is a bit longer.