Louisiana House passed sports betting bill that would put an option on the November ballot. The bill will now head to the office of Governor John Bel Edwards, who expressed support for the proposal.
The House of Representatives voted 71-24 in favor of legalizing sports wagering in some parishes in the state. Senate Bill 130 didn’t have specific rules and regulations on who can wager on games and where players can place bets.
Also, the bill didn’t set fees and taxes on sports betting. Its primary concern was to put the issue on the ballot in November. Residents now have the option to approve legal sports betting in their parish or decline it.
Louisiana House Passed Sports Betting Proposal
After locals vote whether to allow sports betting in their parishes or not, lawmakers would work the details during next year’s session. The Gaming Control Board would supervise the operations of pay per head sportsbook operations in the state.
Senator Cameron Henry said that sports betting is a difficult topic for many lawmakers. After the November elections, they will know what their constituents want their legislators to do. Based on bookie pay per head reports, legalizing sports wagering was a contentious issue during the last session. However, it faced less opposition in 2020.
Supporters said that their goal was to help casinos in the state compete with casinos in states where sports wagering is already legal. Lawmakers noted that legalizing it will help the industry and provide additional revenue.
Gambling critics said that expanding gambling in the state can increase the number of problem gamblers. As a result, it will cost taxpayers more. It will be up for parishes to vote whether they want sports betting or not. Once launched, locals need to read bookie comparison guides to find the right one for their sports betting needs.
