Online Casino Study Commissioned By Louisiana Senate

Less than two years ago, retail sports betting went live in Louisiana. It was only two months later in January 2022 that retail operators received licenses that permitted them to start offering online sports betting services. That brought legalized sports betting to 55 of 64 Louisiana parishes.

To say that sports betting in Louisiana has been a smashing success would be an understatement. The fact is that sports-betting handle and subsequent tax revenue have exceeded all expectations. With that being the case. it was only a matter of time before lawmakers would start pushing for online casino legislation to be passed. That time is drawing near.

Louisiana Senate Commissions Online Casino Gambling Study

At the end of the spring legislative session, which ended in June 2024, the State Senate of Louisiana requested that a study be done to determine the feasibility of passing online casino gambling legislation. As part of that request, the Judiciary B and Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Senate committees were asked to convene a joint study on the subject and report the findings to the overall Senate by no later than March 1, 2025, for presentation to the entire Senate body.

It was Senator Kirk Talbot who requested the study via a Senate resolution (SR149). While the study was slated to start by October 1, a staffer has reported that the study probably won't sometime in October.

Talbot is a proponent of such legislation. He believes that the Senate would benefit by having available information to help direct them as they contemplate the feasibility of moving forward on this issue. The study would have to be directed toward the potential effects, positive and negative, of legalizing iGaming in the state from a regulatory and revenue standpoint.

Talbot told PlayUSA.com,

“iGaming is a big issue, certainly the next thing in gambling. I thought it would be prudent for us to look at it. It’s going to be coming up so let’s study it to have an idea what it entails.”

What the Legalization of iGaming Could Bring to the Table

As is the case in most states across the nation, state tax revenues are falling short of what's needed to cover expenses. That has left lawmakers looking for additional sources of revenue in support of Louisiana's coffers.

Here's a big issue the state is facing. Effective July 1, 2025, a value-added 45-cent sales tax will expire after 8 years. That is projected to leave a $500 million budget shortfall moving forward. Lawmakers are scrambling for ways to cover this shortfall.

A recent draft of online casino legislation from the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States Offers a model by which online casino gambling could be legislated in Louisiana. The hope is the study will be done by March 1, in time to be presented to lawmakers when the next legislative session starts next year on April 14.

It's noteworthy that if said legislation makes it to the Senate floor, it would mark the first time that iGaming legislation has been introduced by a Louisiana lawmaker.