Louisiana brought mobile sports betting live in January 2022, and it has quickly become a popular pastime in a state that loves its football. Two things make Louisiana distinctive: betting is only legal in the 55 of 64 parishes that voted to allow it, and in 2025 the state sharply raised its online tax. This guide covers what’s legal, where, and how to start.
Is online gambling legal in Louisiana?
Yes — in most of the state. Louisiana voters approved sports betting parish-by-parish in 2020, and mobile wagering launched in January 2022, regulated by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. It is legal in the 55 parishes that voted yes (covering the large majority of the population); a handful of rural parishes opted out. You must be 21 or older and physically located in a participating parish to bet, confirmed by geolocation. Real-money online casino is not legal in Louisiana.
What you can play in Louisiana
- Sportsbooks: mobile betting on every major sport and league.
- Daily fantasy sports: legal in Louisiana through DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
- Horse racing: pari-mutuel wagering for Louisiana bettors via licensed ADW apps.
- Online casino: not yet legal in Louisiana — see the outlook below.
Online gambling in Louisiana by the numbers
| Metric | Latest figure |
|---|---|
| Launched | Mobile January 2022 |
| Tax rate | 21.5% online (raised from 15% in August 2025) |
| 2025 handle | Hundreds of millions of dollars wagered each month |
| Operators | Around 8 mobile sportsbooks |
| Online casino | Not legal |
| Minimum age | 21+ |
Parish-by-parish, with a higher 2025 tax
The big 2025 change was tax: Louisiana raised its online sports betting rate from 15% to 21.5%, effective 1 August 2025, with a portion earmarked for college athletics. That puts Louisiana among the higher-taxed markets and may, over time, trim the most generous promotions. The parish system is the other quirk — if your geolocation shows you in one of the nine opt-out parishes, the apps won’t take your bet even though the rest of the state is wide open.
The best Louisiana sportsbooks
We only feature operators we work with and can verify. In Louisiana, FanDuel (best app and same-game parlays), bet365 (strong live betting and a win-or-lose welcome offer) and BetRivers (iRush Rewards) all operate, alongside the wider field of DraftKings, BetMGM and Caesars. Compare the live Louisiana offers on this page before signing up.
See terms and codes on our promo codes page or the full Louisiana sportsbook guide.
Popular bets and Louisiana sports
Louisiana bettors play the standard markets — moneylines, point spreads, totals and parlays/same-game parlays. This is football country: the NFL’s Saints and, above all, LSU football drive enormous handle, with the NBA’s Pelicans and college basketball adding to the mix. Saturdays in the autumn, when LSU plays, are among the busiest betting days of the year in the state.
Choosing a Louisiana sportsbook
In Louisiana, first confirm the app works in your parish, then compare offers. Look at the welcome bonus structure (first-bet safety net versus bonus bets), how deeply each book prices LSU and Saints markets, live-betting and same-game-parlay options, and withdrawal speed. With the higher 21.5% tax now in effect, the most generous promotions can come and go, so it’s worth checking what’s live before you sign up rather than assuming last season’s offer still stands.
Bet types explained
New to betting in Louisiana? The Louisiana staples are straightforward. The moneyline is the simplest — a straight pick of the winner, say the Saints to win outright. A Louisiana point spread evens out a mismatch by handicapping the favorite, handy when the Saints are heavily fancied, while a total asks only whether the combined score clears a line. From there Louisiana bettors build parlays (several legs, all must win), same-game parlays from a single the Saints game, season-long futures, and live in-play markets that move as the Saints play.
Football culture and a maturing market
For a mid-sized state, Louisiana punches above its weight, and the reason is simple: football. LSU is a genuine statewide institution, and autumn Saturdays — plus Saints Sundays — drive some of the most concentrated betting handle in the South. Mobile accounts for the overwhelming majority of wagers, though a handful of the state’s casinos also run retail sportsbooks for in-person bettors.
The market’s defining 2025 story was the tax increase. Moving from 15% to 21.5% in August pushed Louisiana into the upper tier of US tax rates, with part of the new revenue specifically earmarked for college athletics programs — a notable choice in a state where college sport is so central. For bettors, higher operator taxes can translate into slightly leaner promotions over time, but the competitive field of national books keeps Louisiana a strong market. Just keep the parish rule in mind: nine of the 64 parishes opted out, so geolocation will block bets if it places you inside one of them, even though the rest of the state is fully open.
How to start betting in Louisiana
Getting started in Louisiana takes minutes: confirm you are 21+ and physically in Louisiana, choose a licensed Louisiana app, and register with real details so identity checks clear. Claim the Louisiana welcome offer, deposit, set your limits before your first Louisiana wager, and withdraw once any Louisiana rollover terms are met.
Will Louisiana legalize online casino?
Not yet. Real-money online casino is not legal in Louisiana, and while sports betting’s success keeps iGaming in the conversation, no bill has passed. For now, sports betting, DFS and horse racing are Louisiana’s only legal online options — stick to licensed operators rather than unregulated offshore sites. We’ll keep this Louisiana page updated if that changes.
For the full picture, see our Louisiana online casino guide, which tracks whether and when real-money iGaming might reach Louisiana.
Is online gambling safe in Louisiana?
Yes, as long as you bet with operators licensed by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and you’re in a participating parish — every book we list is licensed. Regulated apps are audited for fair pricing and payouts, safeguard your funds and verify your identity, age and location on each bet. Offshore sites that aren’t state-licensed offer none of those protections, so confirm a sportsbook is regulated in Louisiana before you deposit.
Responsible gambling in Louisiana
Keep Louisiana betting in proportion: it is entertainment in Louisiana, and your stake should be money you can afford to lose. Use the limit, time-out and self-exclusion controls every licensed Louisiana app provides, and set them up front rather than mid-streak. Help for Louisiana bettors is free and confidential 24/7 on 1-800-GAMBLER.
Louisiana sports betting FAQ
1. Is online sports betting legal in Louisiana?
Yes, in the 55 of 64 parishes that voted to allow it. Mobile betting launched in January 2022, regulated by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. You must be 21+ and physically in a participating parish.
2. Is online casino legal in Louisiana?
No. Real-money online casino games are not legal in Louisiana — only sports betting (in participating parishes), DFS and horse racing.
3. Why can’t I bet in some parts of Louisiana?
Because betting was approved parish-by-parish in 2020. Nine parishes voted no, so the apps won’t accept bets when geolocation places you inside one of them.
4. What is Louisiana’s sports betting tax rate?
21.5% on online revenue, raised from 15% on 1 August 2025, with a share directed to college athletics. That puts Louisiana among the higher-taxed states.
5. Which sportsbook is best in Louisiana?
Of our partners, FanDuel, bet365 and BetRivers operate in Louisiana, alongside DraftKings, BetMGM and Caesars. Compare lines and promos across Louisiana for the sports you bet most.
6. Are prediction markets like Kalshi legal in Louisiana?
Yes — Kalshi-style platforms operate in Louisiana under federal CFTC oversight, not Louisiana gambling law, which is how they sidestep state licensing. Because their sports markets resemble wagering, Louisiana’s status for them is unsettled, with 2026 court rulings favoring Kalshi even as the appeals grind on. In Louisiana, treat them as adjacent to a licensed sportsbook, not a swap for one.
7. Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, sweepstakes (“social”) casinos such as Chumba and Stake.us run on dual-currency mechanics that keep them outside Louisiana gambling rules. The trade-off for Louisiana players is fewer protections than a licensed sportsbook offers, and a status several states are now challenging, so approach them warily in Louisiana.
8. Is daily fantasy sports (DFS) legal in Louisiana?
Yes — daily fantasy sports operate in Louisiana as a contest-based activity separate from Louisiana sportsbook wagering. DraftKings and FanDuel lead the Louisiana field, joined by pick’em apps PrizePicks, Underdog and Sleeper.
9. Can I bet on horse racing online in Louisiana?
Yes — Louisiana bettors can wager on horse racing via regulated ADW platforms like TVG (FanDuel Racing), TwinSpires and AmWager, a separate product from Louisiana sports betting.
10. Where can I get help for a gambling problem in Louisiana?
Help in Louisiana is free, confidential and available 24/7 — call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or use the deposit limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion tools in every licensed Louisiana app. Nobody in Louisiana has to be in crisis to reach out.
21+. Must be physically located in Louisiana. Gambling problem in Louisiana? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.