Two years ago, voters in Louisiana decided that they wanted daily fantasy sports (DFS) legalized in the state. It could be stated that support was overwhelmingly strong, with 47 of 64 parishes saying yes. With that in mind, there’s a good chance the state will see even more sports-related options come soon, with Louisiana voters set to vote on the creation of a regulated sports gambling market next month. The initiative couldn’t come at a better time, either. 

Louisiana, like most states, saw its piggy bank start to become much lighter because of COVID-19 and the halt of most commercial activity. One of the biggest supporters of the state’s economy, the casino industry was suddenly plunged into darkness, and the chance of a swift recovery seemed virtually impossible. Louisiana has since had to deal with one hurricane after another, which resulted in additional casino closures and even greater revenue losses. Launching sports gambling in the state could help offset those losses. 

Louisiana lawmakers paved the way for a vote on sports gambling earlier this year, and it’s now up to the state’s residents to decide what happens next. By November 3, giving a little extra time for absentee ballots and other votes to be counted, the state should know what the general public thinks of the idea. If approved, Louisiana would be able to put more residents to work and start to capture greater amounts of revenue that currently go to Mississippi and that state’s regulated sports gambling market. 

The sponsor of the legislation, Senator Cameron Henry, is hopeful that the bill will find the public support it needs. He asserts, “This is a revenue-generator. Everybody is struggling with the sales tax. This would obviously be an addition to anything they would normally receive.” Louisiana needs new revenue sources, especially if it is to avoid additional sales taxes that would impact everyone.