BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — People in Louisiana would be able to bet on athletic competitions at sports book locations and through mobile applications, under a bill that started advancing Tuesday in the Senate to set the regulations for sports wagering in the parishes where it’s legal.
Voters in 55 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes agreed to allow sports betting on live-action games, but lawmakers have to set the rules and the tax rates before the gambling can begin. Republican legislative leaders are pushing the measures required for the wagering to start, giving them a strong chance of reaching the governor’s desk.
The regulatory measure backed without objection by a Senate judiciary committee is sponsored by Senate President Page Cortez, a Lafayette Republican. It would create 20 licenses for sports book operators, with Louisiana’s casinos and racetracks given first chance to get those licenses.
ADVERTISEMENTIf those casinos and racetracks don’t seek all 20 licenses by Jan. 1, fantasy sports betting operators and video poker establishments in the 55 parishes where sports wagering is legal would be able to apply for any available licenses.
Any operator that gets a license to conduct sports betting onsite also could do the wagering through a website or mobile app.
To place bets, a player would have to be 21 or older, set up an account with a sports betting operator in the state and be physically located in a parish that voted to legalize the wagers.
“If you live in one of the parishes that did not vote for this, you’ll have to drive into one of the parishes that did,” said Sen. Rick Ward, a Port Allen Republican.
Athletes, coaches and referees couldn’t bet on a sports event in which they are involved.
The bill heads next to the full Senate for debate, but could be diverted to the Senate budget committee for a second review.
On Monday, the House voted 78-24 for a bill by Republican Rep. John Stefanski, of Crowley, that would set the tax rates for sports betting. That separate measure awaits debate in the Senate.
___
The bills are filed as Senate Bill 202 and House Bill 697.
___
Follow Melinda Deslatte on Twitter at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte.