Signed by Governor John Bel Edwards

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes regulations for the sports betting industry.

Highlights:

• Defines "sports wagering" as the acceptance of wagers on sports events, portions of a sports event, or the individual performance or statistics of athletes or participants in a sports event or a combination of sports events by any system or method of wagering (Sec. §602-10).

• Specifies if the casino gaming operator is issued a license to operate a sportsbook by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, sports wagers at the official gaming establishment may also be made in cash or through a patron's verified sports wagering account (Sec. §239.1.B).

• Requires the board to issue a sports wagering platform provider permit to a suitable person who desires to contract with a licensee to manage or operate all or a portion of a licensee's sportsbook line-of-business. A person shall not manage or operate all or a portion of a licensee's sportsbook unless it possesses a valid permit (Sec. §604.A-1).

• Requires an operator to adopt comprehensive rules, which will be approved by the board, governing sports wagering transactions with its patrons. The rules will specify the amount to be paid on winning wagers and the effect of schedule changes. The rules, together with any other information the board deems appropriate, will be conspicuously displayed in the establishment, posted electronically on any sports wagering mechanism, website, or mobile application, and included in the terms and conditions of the sports wagering account system (Sec. §607.C).

• Requires a player to meet all of the following criteria to place a sports wager with an operator (Sec. §608.A-1):

• Be 21 years of age or older;

• Be physically located in a parish that has approved a proposition authorizing sports wagering;

• Have a wagering account established with the operator, if the player is attempting to place the sports wager through a website or mobile application; and

• Not be prohibited from wagering with the operator by law, rule, policy of the operator, or self-exclusion.

• Prohibits sports wagers from being accepted or paid by any operator on any of the following (Sec. §608.C):

• On any sport or athletic event not authorized by law or the board;

• On any sport or athletic event which the operator knows or reasonably should know are being placed by or on behalf of an athlete, coach, referee or other officials, or staff of a participant or team that is participating in that event;

• On the occurrence of injuries or penalties, or the outcome of an athlete's disciplinary rulings, or replay reviews; and

• On other types, forms, or categories of wagering prohibited by the board by rule.

• Authorizes a sports governing body to submit to the board in writing a request to restrict, limit, or exclude a certain type, form, or category of sports wagering concerning sporting events of its body if the sports governing body believes that such type, form, or category of sports wagering for sporting events of its body may undermine the integrity or perceived integrity of the body or sporting event of the body (Sec. §608.F).

Full Bill Text