The Louisiana Gaming Control Board recently confirmed that the launch date of online sports betting has once again been pushed back. The LGCB held a board meeting on Thursday, and that meeting didn’t provide any real answers as to when this industry would launch.
There are more than 20 applications that are still being reviewed, and it’s unclear how that process will take. There have been other factors that have delayed the launch date, but the application review process is taking longer than expected.
Retail sports betting is going to be the first to launch in Louisiana, and it will take some time before online operators are able to get up and running. Statewide online wagering will not be available ever as not all of the parishes approved the sports betting legislation.
The state had initially planned to launch sports betting at the beginning of September, but that date has continued to get moved. By continuing to delay the launch, sportsbooks are missing out on offering betting on both NFL and college football.
Hurricane Affects Launch Date
There are usually a number of factors that affect the sports betting launch in a state, but Louisiana was faced with an unusual hardship. Hurricane Ida made landfall right at the end of August, and that delayed the launch of Louisiana sports betting.
The gaming department is made up of police officers, and those police officers were responsible for other duties during the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Those officers are now back to reviewing the license applications, but they are trying to make up for lost time.
FanDuel Now Offering DFS Options
Louisiana has been able to launch a form of online betting in recent months as sites are now able to offer Daily Fantasy Sports. Parishes in Louisiana actually voted to approve DFS options all the way back in 2018, but it took the state nearly three years to get the industry up and running.
FanDuel is the latest operator that is approved to offer DFS games in the state, becoming just the second
daily fantasy sports option in Louisiana. DraftKings has been accepting customers for the last few months, and the competition will now heat up in a hurry.
FanDuel was unanimously approved by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board despite some concerns about Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of FanDuel.
Caesars Could Be Leader
Louisiana is expected to attract a number of the top operators in the United States, and that list includes BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Those three operators are going to lead the way in the state, but Caesars looks like it is set to join that list as well.
Caesars secured naming rights to the Superdome, which is the home of the New Orleans Saints. This is the first time that an NFL stadium will be named after a gaming operator, and it could provide a ton of attention to the Caesars Sportsbook.
WynnBET is another company that has already secured market access in the state of Louisiana, and this will be the 17th state that offers this operator.
