Louisiana House Approves Sports Betting Bill for Wagering at Bars and Restaurants

The Louisiana House has passed legislation that puts in place the fee and tax structure for sports betting, which has been approved in 55 of the state’s 64 parishes. Crowley Representative John Stefanski’s bill also allows the Louisiana Lottery to oversee sports betting at bars and restaurants, where alcohol is served.

“So a place that you can consume alcohol on-site,” said Stefanski. “That’s the only place you’ll be able to have one of these mobile wagering devices that I’ve been referring to as a kiosk.”

The legislation calls for a ten-percent tax on the net proceeds of an operator for on-premise sports wagering and an 18-percent tax on net proceeds from mobile betting. Stefanski says most of the tax money from bets placed at kiosks run by the Louisiana Lottery will go towards education and services to assist citizens with developmental disabilities.

Stefanski says there’s a Senate bill that allows for sports betting to also take place at the state’s riverboat casinos, Harrah’s in New Orleans, and the five-horse racing tracks. That bill also allows for full mobile sports betting on your phone.

He says his legislation sets up the kiosks at bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.