Louisiana Mobile Sports Betting Activity Puts it in Top 8 for First Weekend

Mobile sports gambling in Louisiana showed “exciting” activity during the first weekend, placing the Bayou State in the Top 8 nationwide, according to a geolocation company.

From the launch of mobile wagering in Louisiana last Friday through the end of Sunday’s NFL playoff games, more than 3.4 million transactions occurred in the state, according to GeoComply. The Vancouver, Canada-based company provides geolocation compliance and fraud-security services.

That figure was strong enough to vault Louisiana into eighth place nationwide in mobile sports betting transaction volume for the weekend, ahead of Indiana, Tennessee, Colorado and Connecticut.

Most of the mobile wagering activity in Louisiana during the first weekend occurred in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas. That southeastern part of the state accounted for 68% of the transaction volume over the weekend, GeoComply reported.

Baton Rouge, where the LSU campus is located, and New Orleans, home of NFL’s Saints, have traditionally enjoyed large numbers of fans who follow football closely.

Louisiana Outperforms New York

The total number of unique players during Louisiana’s first weekend of mobile wagering represented 3.6% of the state’s adult population.

In that regard, Louisiana’s mobile sports betting launch outperformed New York’s opening weekend last month. During New York’s first weekend of legal mobile wagering, the number of unique players represented 3.3% of the adult population, GeoComply said.

As the nation’s fourth most-populous state, however, New York registered more total mobile-wagering transactions. New York’s overall population is about 20 million, while Louisiana’s is just under five million.

NFL Championship Weekend Kicks Off Mobile Wagering

Mobile sports betting began in Louisiana last Friday morning in time for the weekend’s NFL conference championship games.

In Louisiana, the AFC matchup between the favored Kansas City Chiefs and visiting Cincinnati Bengals gained attention partly because of the former LSU Tigers playing for both teams.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, a Heisman Trophy winner after leading the 2019 Tigers to a national title, was among the ex-LSU stars who played in the game on Sunday.

The contest resulted in a dramatic conclusion, with the Bengals upsetting the Chiefs, 27-24, on an overtime field goal.

Bengals-Rams Square Off in Super Bowl

Cincinnati now faces the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams in the league’s 56th Super Bowl on Feb. 13. The game is being held on the Rams’ home field at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, about 20 minutes south of Los Angeles.

The Super Bowl already was scheduled to be played at SoFi before the Rams earned a spot by bouncing back from a 10-point, second-half deficit on Sunday to defeat the visiting San Francisco 49ers, 20-17.

Super Bowl Expected To Score Big Betting Numbers

With the Burrow-led Bengals in the league’s marquee game, betting action in Louisiana is expected to be especially heavy. The Super Bowl is traditionally among the most heavily wagered events nationally anyway. The Rams opened as 4-point favorites, according to Caesars Sportsbook.

Between the Bengals and Rams, six former LSU stars are set to play in the game in Southern California.

Casey Lewless, sportsbook manager at Penn National’s Margaritaville and Boomtown riverboat casinos in Bossier City, echoed the chairman’s assessment. Lewless told Gambling.com the company’s Barstool Sportsbook app was launched successfully on Friday.

“Everything went off without a hitch,” Lewless said.

In addition to the Barstool Sportsbook, other online bookmakers operating in Louisiana include BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, FanDuel and DraftKings.

In Louisiana, bettors can wager on 31 competitive events. These include high-profile sports such as football and basketball and other approved games, including volleyball, darts, and more. Wagering also is allowed on events such as the film industry’s Academy Awards.

On-Site Sports Betting Began Last Year in Bayou State

Since Oct. 31, sports betting has taken place inside state-regulated casinos in Louisiana.

By December, the sportsbooks in Louisiana’s commercial casinos collected $39.5 million in bets. This was up about $8 million from November, the first full month ever for legal sports betting inside commercial casinos in the state.

The Control Board chairman said the December sports betting figure is “very encouraging.”

Sports Betting Legal in Most Louisiana Parishes

Sports betting became legal in Louisiana with Gov. John Bel Edwards’ signature on gaming legislation during the summer. Before the first bets were placed, state regulators needed several months to establish the rules to govern the industry.

Sports betting is allowed in the 55 of 64 parishes that approved it during a 2020 statewide election.

'Smooth' Launch to Mobile Wagering

Last Friday, Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns told Gambling.com the first day of mobile wagering in the state was “incredibly smooth,” with no glitches.

Casey Lewless, sportsbook manager at Penn National’s Margaritaville and Boomtown riverboat casinos in Bossier City, echoed the chairman’s assessment. Lewless told Gambling.com the company’s Barstool Sportsbook app was launched successfully on Friday.

“Everything went off without a hitch,” Lewless said.

In addition to the Barstool Sportsbook, other online bookmakers operating in Louisiana include BetFred, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, FanDuel and DraftKings.

In Louisiana, bettors can wager on 31 competitive events. These include high-profile sports such as football and basketball, but also other approved games, including volleyball, darts and more. Wagering also is allowed on events such as the film industry’s Academy Awards.

On-Site Sports Betting Began Last Year in Bayou State

Since Oct. 31, sports betting has taken place inside state-regulated casinos in Louisiana.

By December, the sportsbooks in Louisiana’s commercial casinos collected $39.5 million in bets. This was up about $8 million from November, the first full month ever for legal sports betting at ticket widows inside commercial casinos in the state.

The Control Board chairman said the December sports betting figure is “very encouraging.”

Sports Betting Legal in Most Louisiana Parishes

Sports betting became legal in Louisiana with Gov. John Bel Edwards’ signature on gaming legislation during the summer. Before the first bets were placed, state regulators needed several months to establish the rules to govern the industry.

Sports betting is allowed in the 55 of 64 parishes that approved it during a 2020 statewide election.