A Louisiana bill that would further regulate sports betting in the state has been passed to the Louisiana Senate after minor amendments from the state House.
Senate Bill 247, if signed into law, will require facilities to hold gaming licenses in order to offer sports wagering, regulate gaming license recipients and authorize wagering limitations.
According to the bill, 20 licenses will be issued to operate a sportsbook in the state. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board will first consider applications from the one land-based casino, 15 riverboats and the four racetracks operating in the state.
The Board will also be given powers to regulate sports wagering.
The amendments from the House included allowing licensees to accept cash wagers in their sportsbooks, the defining of a gaming device to include sports wagering mechanisms, and the adoption of all necessary rules to regulate sports wagering in the state.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Patrick Cortez, Sen. Ronnie Johns, Sen. Rick Ward and Rep. John Stefanski.
It was first introduced to the Senate on May 13 2021 as a substitute for Senate Bill 202. After amendments were considered, the bill was reengrossed and sent to the House for consideration.
Yesterday, June 3, the bill was read in the House for a third time and was subsequently passed 78-15.
In May, a Louisiana bill that would authorize tax, licensing and sports wagering requirements in the state was passed by the Senate.
Sports wagering was first introduced in the state in November 2020, after citizens voted in its favor.