Louisiana sports betting is legal and state-licensed in most parishes: retail sportsbooks opened in October 2021 and mobile apps followed on January 28, 2022, all for bettors 21 and over. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board licenses the operators, online sportsbooks pay a 21.5% state tax, and offshore books remain outside the law.
Sports betting is legal in most Louisiana parishes; retail launched in October 2021 and mobile on January 28, 2022.
You must be 21, and only Louisiana Gaming Control Board licensees are legal.
Online sportsbooks pay a 21.5% state tax from August 1, 2025, under Act 298 of 2025.
Big wins at 300x your stake and $2,000 or more trigger a W-2G; 24% withholding can apply above $5,000.
Our partner casinos don't take sports bets; they are offshore casinos not licensed by any US state.
Sports betting
Legal in most parishes
Launch
Retail October 2021; mobile January 28, 2022
Regulator
Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB)
Minimum age
21
Online sports betting tax
21.5% from August 1, 2025 (Act 298)
Daily fantasy
Legal since July 15, 2021; 21+
Is sports betting legal in Louisiana?
Yes. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board's 30th annual report (opens in a new tab) records sports wagering as legal in most parishes, with retail betting launching in October 2021 and mobile betting on January 28, 2022. The minimum age is 21.
The parish detail matters. Because the board records betting as legal in most parishes rather than all of them, what counts is where you are when you bet, not just where you live. Whether you're in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport or a rural parish, confirm your location is one where wagering is permitted.
How Louisiana legalized sports betting: a short timeline
For decades a federal law, PASPA, stopped most states from authorizing sports betting. On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court struck it down in Murphy v. NCAA, ruling 6–3 in an opinion by Justice Alito that PASPA's ban on states authorizing sports gambling broke the Constitution's anticommandeering rule. That left each state free to decide. Our PASPA and Murphy v NCAA page explains the case.
Louisiana sports betting and fantasy timeline
Date
Milestone
Source type
May 14, 2018
Supreme Court decides Murphy v. NCAA, ending PASPA
Court opinion (via third-party mirror)
January 20, 2021
First Circuit holds the Wire Act covers only sports-related bets
Court opinion
July 15, 2021
Daily fantasy sports goes live in Louisiana (21+)
LGCB report
October 2021
Retail sportsbooks open
LGCB report
January 28, 2022
Mobile sports betting launches
LGCB report
August 1, 2025
Online sports betting tax set at 21.5% (Act 298 of 2025)
LGCB report
Legal Louisiana sports betting apps: how to tell them from offshore books
The only legal betting apps in Louisiana are those licensed by the LGCB. The sources this page draws on don't list the current operators by name, and the roster changes, so check the Louisiana Gaming Control Board's website (opens in a new tab) before you download anything.
A licensed Louisiana app gives you things an offshore book can't: a state regulator to complain to, state oversight of the operator, and verified age and identity checks. Here's how to sort one from the other:
Licensing: a legal app names its Louisiana license; an offshore book cites Curaçao, Costa Rica, Anjouan or nothing.
Age: legal apps require you to be 21; offshore sites may set their own lower age, such as 18+.
Payments: legal apps take ordinary bank methods; offshore books often push crypto because US card issuers decline them.
Location: legal betting is limited to the parishes where it's permitted.
Offshore sportsbooks still market to Louisiana, but the state has pushed back. The LGCB announced decisive enforcement against illegal offshore wagering on June 17, 2025, and its annual report counts more than 40 cease-and-desist letters to offshore and unauthorized sweepstakes operators in fiscal year 2024–2025.
Some offshore brands keep out on their own. Bovada's help page lists Louisiana among its restricted states, and SBC Americas reported a 2024 LGCB cease-and-desist to the brand; see our Bovada review. At the federal level, the Wire Act (opens in a new tab) makes it a crime for a person in the business of betting to use wire communications for interstate sports bets, and the First Circuit's 2021 ruling confirmed it reaches sports wagering. It's written to target operators, not individual bettors.
We don't say offshore betting is legal for Louisiana residents, and we don't predict prosecution. With legal apps available in most parishes, an offshore book adds risk without adding any protection.
Daily fantasy sports in Louisiana
Daily fantasy sports went live in Louisiana on July 15, 2021, according to the LGCB. Players must be 21, and operators pay an 8% tax on net revenue. Like sports betting, fantasy contests are regulated by the LGCB. Our daily fantasy sports laws page compares Louisiana with other states.
Louisiana sports betting taxes: the state levy and your winnings
Two separate taxes get mixed up. The 21.5% rate recorded by the LGCB, effective August 1, 2025 under Act 298 of 2025, is the state's tax on online sports betting, charged to the sportsbook business. Your winnings are a separate matter: they're taxable federal income, and the IRS instructions for Form W-2G (opens in a new tab) set the reporting rules.
Federal reporting on sports betting wins (payments in 2026)
Rule
Threshold
What happens
W-2G reporting
Winnings of $2,000 or more and at least 300x the wager
The sportsbook files a W-2G
Regular withholding
Winnings minus wager over $5,000, at 300x or more
24% federal withholding
Backup withholding
No correct taxpayer ID given
24% withholding
Loss deduction (from 2026)
Reportedly 90% of losses, up to winnings
Check IRS guidance
A worked example: a $20 parlay that pays $6,500 meets both W-2G tests, since $6,500 is over $2,000 and over 300 × $20 = $6,000. Winnings minus the wager come to $6,480, which is above $5,000, so 24% withholding would take $1,555.20. A $100 bet winning $2,500 is only 25x the stake, so it gets no W-2G, but it's still taxable income. Louisiana state income tax treatment isn't covered here; check with the Louisiana Department of Revenue or a tax professional. Our W-2G form and gambling loss deduction pages go deeper.
How to bet on sports legally in Louisiana
Confirm you're 21 or older.
Check that the parish you'll be in when betting is one where sports wagering is legal.
Pick an app or retail sportsbook licensed by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, and confirm it on the board's website.
Register with your real details and complete identity checks.
Set deposit and time limits in the app before your first bet.
Keep records of bets, wins and losses for tax time.
Prediction markets and federal sports betting bills
Sports event contracts on federally regulated exchanges have drawn attention in Congress. A Congressional Research Service report dated August 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) lists bills such as the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act (S. 4160 / H.R. 9856), which would bar sports and casino-style contracts on CFTC exchanges and preserve state law, and the SAFE Bet Act of 2025 (S. 1033 / H.R. 2087), which would set federal standards for state-regulated sports betting.
According to that report, most of these bills hadn't moved beyond introduction or committee, and none of the prediction-market bills had been enacted. See our prediction markets page for what they are and how states treat them.
Louisiana sports betting vs online casinos: what's legal online
Online gambling in Louisiana by type
Type
Status
Age
Regulator
Mobile sports betting
Legal in most parishes
21
LGCB
Daily fantasy sports
Legal
21
LGCB
Online casino games
Not licensed; offshore wagering called illegal by the LGCB
N/A
None
Sweepstakes casinos
Banned from August 1, 2026 (Act 182)
N/A
None
In-person casinos
Legal at riverboats, racinos, Caesars New Orleans, tribal casinos
21
LGCB / tribal compacts
If you're weighing a casino app because a sportsbook already sits on your phone, read our Louisiana mobile casinos page first: there's no licensed casino equivalent. The Louisiana real money casinos page explains what offshore play involves.
Responsible sports betting and help in Louisiana
Live betting and same-game parlays move quickly, and losses can pile up between plays. Treat betting as paid entertainment, set a weekly budget, and never chase a loss with a bigger bet. Use any deposit or time limits your app offers, and our page on state self-exclusion lists explains how exclusion programs work.
Online casinos with offers via our links for Louisiana players
None of our seven partners runs a sportsbook, so no partner fits this page's topic; the two below are online casinos only, shown because they're the assigned offers for this page. For sports betting, use an LGCB-licensed app. Both casinos are offshore and not licensed by Louisiana or any US state, so there's no state regulator to hear complaints and no state protection of balances, and the LGCB describes offshore wagering as illegal. Check Louisiana law before you play. We earn a commission on these links, and the order is commercial.
Slot Madness Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its own site couldn't be read, so terms come from third-party reviews that disagree: LCB lists a 275% match up to $2,750 with code MAD275, a $30 minimum deposit, 30x deposit plus bonus on slots and no max cashout, while Casino Guru describes an unlimited 275% bonus with 50 extra spins. Reviewers report a $2,500 weekly and $5,000 monthly withdrawal cap, conflicting operator names, and that it refuses Ohio players. The Michigan Gaming Control Board named Slot Madness in an August 14, 2025 cease-and-desist release. See our Slot Madness Casino review.
SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its own site advertises a different package, $7,777 plus 300 spins over five deposits, with a $20 minimum per bonus, 25x deposit plus bonus wagering, no max cashout and a $10 maximum bet; only slots, keno and scratch cards count. Its published withdrawal limit is $5,000 a week. The Michigan Gaming Control Board named SlotoCash in an October 8, 2026 cease-and-desist release. Read our SlotoCash Casino review.
Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure
These are offshore online casinos, not sportsbooks, and they are not licensed by Louisiana or any US state. 21+, terms apply.
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 275% match up to $2,750 with code MAD275; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and keno (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Anjouan, Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, August 14, 2025.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: None (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
SlotoCash Casino#1 on our listBiggest bonus on our list
Published terms (casino terms): SlotoCash advertises up to $7,777 + 300 spins over five deposits on its own site. Eligible games: Slots, keno and scratch cards (progressive jackpots excluded).
Who runs it: License not shown on its site; reported as a Deckmedia N.V. brand (Curaçao). Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, October 8, 2026.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $20 per bonus. Wagering 25x deposit + bonus. Max cashout: None stated. Withdrawal cap $5,000 / week. Terms source: casino terms. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews; the terms shown at sign-up apply.
21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).
Frequently asked questions
Is online sports betting legal in Louisiana?
Yes, in most parishes. Mobile sports betting launched on January 28, 2022, after retail sportsbooks opened in October 2021, and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board licenses the operators. Because it's legal in most parishes rather than all, legality depends on where you are when you place the bet. You must be 21. Our sports betting laws page compares Louisiana with other states.
What is the legal betting age in Louisiana?
The minimum age for sports betting in Louisiana is 21, according to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, and the same age applies to daily fantasy sports and casinos. Offshore sites with a lower age rule aren't licensed in Louisiana and don't change the legal age. Licensed apps check age and identity at sign-up. Our gambling age by state table compares Louisiana with the rest of the country.
Which sports betting apps are legal in Louisiana?
Only apps licensed by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board are legal. The operator list changes, and the sources this page relies on don't name the current licensees, so check the LGCB website before downloading. A legal app names its Louisiana license and requires you to be 21. Apps citing Curaçao or Costa Rica are offshore. Our state regulators page explains how to check a license.
How much is the sports betting tax in Louisiana?
Online sportsbooks pay a 21.5% state tax from August 1, 2025, under Act 298 of 2025, according to the LGCB's annual report. That tax falls on the sportsbook business, not directly on your winnings. Your winnings are federal taxable income, with a W-2G for wins of $2,000 or more at 300x your stake. Our W-2G form page explains the reporting rules.
When did Louisiana launch mobile sports betting?
Mobile sports betting launched on January 28, 2022, a few months after retail sportsbooks opened in October 2021, according to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Daily fantasy sports had gone live earlier, on July 15, 2021. All of it followed the Supreme Court's May 2018 decision in Murphy v. NCAA. Our PASPA and Murphy v NCAA page covers that case.
Is it illegal to use offshore sportsbooks in Louisiana?
Louisiana licenses only LGCB-approved sportsbooks, and the board announced enforcement against illegal offshore wagering in June 2025, sending 40+ cease-and-desist letters that fiscal year. The federal Wire Act targets businesses that take interstate sports bets, not individual bettors. We don't predict prosecution, but with legal apps in most parishes an offshore book adds risk without protection. See offshore casinos legality.
Is daily fantasy legal in Louisiana?
Yes. Daily fantasy sports went live in Louisiana on July 15, 2021, for players 21 and over, and operators pay an 8% tax on net revenue, according to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Fantasy contests are separate from sports betting but regulated by the same board. Our daily fantasy guide explains how contests work and what they cost.
Do Louisiana sportsbooks withhold tax on big wins?
Sometimes. Under the IRS W-2G rules, 24% federal withholding applies when a sports win is at least 300 times the stake and the winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000; backup withholding of 24% applies without a correct taxpayer ID. Smaller wins are still taxable income. From 2026 the loss deduction is reportedly capped at 90% of losses. See our gambling loss deduction page.
Can I bet on sports in every Louisiana parish?
No. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board records sports wagering as legal in most parishes, not all, because parishes decided the question individually. Where you are when you place a bet is what counts, so a trip from a parish that allows betting into one that doesn't changes what you can do on a mobile app. If you're unsure about a parish, check before betting. Our quick answer on whether sports betting is legal in your state covers the national picture.
Is Bovada legal in Louisiana?
No, Bovada isn't licensed by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, and its own help page lists Louisiana among its restricted states. SBC Americas also reported a 2024 LGCB cease-and-desist sent to the brand. That puts it among the offshore operators the board is acting against; the LGCB sent more than 40 cease-and-desist letters to offshore and sweepstakes operators in fiscal year 2024–2025. Use an LGCB-licensed app instead. Our Bovada review covers its state list and history.
Are prediction markets legal in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board's records cited here cover sportsbooks and fantasy contests, not sports event contracts, so we can't state a Louisiana position on them. At the federal level, a Congressional Research Service report dated August 17, 2026 lists several bills, including the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act, which would bar sports contracts on CFTC exchanges and preserve state law; none of the prediction-market bills had been enacted. Our prediction markets page explains what they are.
Does the Wire Act affect sports bettors in Louisiana?
It's aimed at the businesses, not at you. The Wire Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1084, makes it a crime for a person in the business of betting to use wire communications for interstate sports bets, and the First Circuit ruled on January 20, 2021 that it covers only sports-related wagering. Louisiana's licensed books operate under LGCB licenses and state law, while offshore books taking bets from Louisiana fall on the other side of that line. Our Wire Act explainer covers the case history.
Do I report Louisiana sports betting winnings without a W-2G?
Yes. A W-2G only goes out when a win is at least $2,000 and at least 300 times your stake, but every winning bet is taxable federal income, form or no form. A $50 bet that returns $1,000 gets no W-2G, yet the $950 profit is still reportable. Keep a log of stakes, results and app statements so you can also claim losses, which from 2026 are reportedly deductible only up to 90%. Our guide to keeping gambling records shows what to save.
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