Shaq Helps Launch Louisiana WynnBET Sportsbook App in Time for Super Bowl

To his more than 15.5 million Twitter followers, Shaquille O’Neal on Thursday welcomed WynnBET to “the Boot,” as Louisiana is known because of its distinctive outline along the Gulf Coast.

WynnBET Louisiana Sportsbook app went live on Thursday, offering $200 in bonus bets to those who register and wager $10.

This is the ninth state where WynnBET is live. The others are New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Colorado and Arizona.

WynnBET Goes Live in Time For Super Bowl

The WynnBET launch in Louisiana is in time for Sunday’s Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, just south of Los Angeles.

The stadium is home to the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams, who face the AFC’s Cincinnati Bengals in the 56th Super Bowl. Game time is 5:30 p.m. CT.

The Rams are favored by as much as 4.5-points at some sportsbooks, though Caesars Louisiana Sportsbook on Thursday tweeted it is adjusting its odds to Rams -3.5 for 24 hours.

Shaq Remains Popular in Bayou State

From his playing days as an NBA superstar, and his role as an analyst on TNT’s NBA broadcasts, WynnBET representative Shaquille O’Neal enjoys widespread name recognition.

Known universally as Shaq, the 7-footer is especially popular in Louisiana, where, during his playing days at Louisiana State University, he starred on coach Dale Brown’s teams from 1989-92.

A statute of O’Neal has been erected at LSU, an acronym sometimes referred to humorously as Love Shaq University.

LSU Stars Expected to Shine in Super Bowl

Other former LSU stars also are attracting attention going into Super Bowl weekend.

The Bengals and Rams have a combined five former LSU players on their active rosters for the NFL’s marquee event on Sunday, according to ncaa.com.

On the Bengals’ side, quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin were key components in leading Cincinnati to the 2022 Super Bowl. The trio also led the 2019 LSU Tigers to a national title, with Burrow capping off the undefeated season by winning the Heisman Trophy.

The Rams feature former LSU stars Odell Beckham Jr. and Andrew Whitworth.

Bayou State Bettors Favor Burrow, Chase

Louisiana Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns told Gambling.com that Burrow and the other former LSU players have created betting excitement in Louisiana.

Casey Lewless, sportsbook manager at Penn National’s riverboat casinos in northwestern Louisiana, also noted that the former LSU players, especially those playing the Bengals, are generating enthusiasm among bettors.

“In Louisiana, they are in love with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase,” Lewless told Gambling.com. “Yes, there are LSU players on both sides, but those two are the toast of the state right now, so the Burrow-led local money is keeping the line balanced.”

Mobile Wagering Successful in Louisiana

Since Oct. 31, wagering has taken place at sportsbooks inside Louisiana casinos, but mobile betting didn’t kick off until late last month. Just like other states, Louisiana saw a whole range of bets on the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS soccer.

Louisiana mobile sports betting launched one day before a Bengals playoff game and attracted online betting from 3.6% of the state’s adult population during the first weekend.

That figure outperformed New York’s opening weekend last month. During New York’s first weekend of legal mobile wagering, the number of bettors represented 3.3% of the adult population, according to GeoComply, a Canada-based company providing geolocation compliance and fraud-security services.

As the nation’s fourth-most populous state, however, New York registered more total mobile-wagering transactions. New York, with a population of about 20 million, has four times more people than Louisiana.

Mattress Mack Sets $4.5M Mobile Betting Record

Louisiana’s status as the only Gulf Coast state with mobile wagering has led to betting interest from residents in neighboring states.

Among those who have driven across the state line to place a legal mobile bet is Texas furniture salesman Jim McIngvale, known as Mattress Mack.

McIngvale recently drove into Louisiana and pulled over at a gas station to place a $4.534 million Super Bowl bet, using his Caesars Sportsbook app. Caesars said this was the largest mobile wager ever.

McIngvale bet on the Cincinnati Bengals (+170) to upset the Rams. If the Bengals win, McIngvale will collect more than $7.7 million.

“Mattress Mack started it outright for us with his $4.5 million bet,” the Control Board chairman told Gambling.com on Thursday. “I’ve heard of a couple of more big ones, but none like his.”