Louisiana Sports Betting: Best LA Online Sportsbook Sites

LA sports betting key developments and updates

Aug. 11, 2023: WynnBET announces they are shutting down operations in Louisiana, plus five other states.

March, 2023: With the NFL entering its off-season, Louisiana sportsbooks see their handle drop 30%.

February, 2023: Louisiana brings in $282.2 million in sports betting wagers in January.

September 2022: PointsBet officially launches in Louisiana, becoming the state's eighth legal online sportsbook.

February 2022: Bettors wager $89.8 million on sports over the first four days of legal online sports wagering in Louisiana.

January 2022: Louisiana launches legal online sports betting in 55 parishes, and six operators go live. 

October 2021: Legal Louisiana sports betting goes live, and the first retail sportsbook — Betfred — opens at Paragon Casino Resort.

June 2021: Gov. John Bel Edwards signs two bills — SB 142 and SB 247 — into law, meaning that legal Louisiana sports betting is imminent.

Louisiana sports betting quick facts

Sports gambling in Louisiana generated only $67.1 million worth of bets in the final three months of 2021 when only retail sports betting was legal. That number climbed considerably when online sports betting launched in January 2022. Here are some more quick facts about sports betting in Louisiana.

Louisiana betting promos and bonuses

Seven great LA online sports betting operators are available to sports bettors in Louisiana. Six have enticing welcome offers encouraging you to try their online sportsbooks and mobile apps. We’ve compiled a list of all the top Louisana sportsbook promos they provide today, and make sure to check out the rest of the best sportsbook promos.

Top Louisiana betting sites

All Louisiana betting sites covered on this page are legal, regulated, and trustworthy options for bettors across the state. These sportsbooks in Louisiana all have perks and welcome bonuses that make them worth considering if you plan to do some sports gambling in LA. And best of all, there is no limit to the number of Louisiana sportsbooks you can sign up for. Below is a list of features for which each of these LA online sports betting sites is best known.

Why Caesars is the best sportsbook in Louisiana

Caesars Entertainment was founded in 1996 and is one of the country’s most recognizable hotel and casino brands. Caesars operates popular hotel casinos in Las Vegas, including Caesars Palace, Paris, and Planet Hollywood, and also has a strong retail presence across Louisiana with Harrah’s New Orleans and Horseshoe Bossier City. The company acquired sports betting company William Hill in 2021 to further bolster its reputation as one of the top online sportsbooks in Louisiana and the whole country.

New players have access to one of the most generous first bet insurance welcome offers available in Louisiana, with its $1,000 first bet on Caesars promo. You can also earn credits by betting at the Caesars Sportsbook LA and using them for hotel stays, dining, entertainment, and more comps.

When it comes to LA sports betting, it doesn’t get much cleaner and easier to use than Caesars’ attractive web design and one of the best mobile sports betting apps and live betting sites. Caesars Sportsbook offers quick and easy banking methods, a great user experience, and around-the-clock customer service. This sportsbook is one in Louisiana that all sports bettors in LA should have in their arsenal. Check out our Caesars review for more info.

Other Louisiana online sportsbooks and sports betting apps

Though Caesars Sportsbook earned the top spot among our best-rated LA online sports betting operators, a handful of other great online sportsbooks in Louisiana could also make their case as the best sportsbook available. These four Louisiana sportsbooks also cracked our top five list for the great features and bonuses they offer.

FanDuel Louisiana

FanDuel had already established itself as a household name across the United States as a daily fantasy sports provider before it entered the sports betting industry in 2018. Backed by sports betting powerhouse Flutter Entertainment, FanDuel is one of the best Louisiana sports betting apps and websites available today. You will never have trouble finding great promotions and various events to bet on at FanDuel Sportsbook LA.

• App Store ratings: 4.8 (iOS), 4.7 (Android)
• Sign up bonus: Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets
• Payout speed: 1-7 business days

Where to bet on sports in Louisiana: FanDuel review

DraftKings Louisiana

Like FanDuel, DraftKings was originally a daily fantasy sports provider nationwide before successfully transitioning into online sports betting. DraftKings does everything right, from industry-leading welcome bonuses to many games to bet on, including live betting and odds boosts. This operator is another LA online sports betting option that Louisiana residents won’t want to miss out on using.

• App Store ratings: 4.8 (iOS), 4.6 (Android)
• Sign up bonus: Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets
• Payout speed: 1-3 business days

Where to bet on sports in Louisiana: DraftKings review

BetMGM Louisiana

The MGM brand is best known for its famous Las Vegas hotel-casinos, including the Bellagio, Aria, and MGM Grand. But in more recent years, BetMGM has also established itself as a significant player in the sports betting market around the United States. The BetMGM sportsbook in Louisiana has a clean interface on its website and mobile app and plenty of other great features that will keep LA residents returning for more.

• App Store ratings: 4.8 (iOS), 4.3 (Android)
• Sign up bonus: Up to $1,500 back in bonus bets using SBRBONUS promo code
• Payout speed: 2-7 business days

Where to bet on sports in Louisiana: BetMGM review

PointsBet Louisiana

PointsBet is unique from the other LA online sportsbooks on this list due to its PointsBetting system, which allows players to bet on games with payouts that are affected by the margin of victory or defeat. This twist on sports betting ensures that you’ll be rooting your bet to the final whistle, as every score in the game counts. PointsBet also offers standard fixed-odds betting and everything else you need for sports gambling in Louisiana.

• App Store ratings: 4.6 (iOS), 4.6 (Android)
• Sign up bonus: No welcome bonus
• Payout speed: 1-5 business days

Where to bet on sports in Louisiana: PointsBet review

Louisiana sportsbooks honorable mentions

There are so many great options for sports betting in Louisiana that these three high-quality books didn’t make the top five. They are still well worth considering, especially with the current welcome offers. Click on any link below to learn more about these Louisiana sportsbooks.

• Barstool Sportsbook review
• BetRivers review

How we rate and review Louisiana sportsbooks

The sports betting professionals here at SBR carefully critique and independently review all of Louisiana’s legal online sportsbooks. Choosing the best operator for sports betting in Louisiana can be overwhelming for new players; thus, our team of experts considers each of the following factors before sharing our findings with you in our SBR expert reviews.

Welcome bonuses and promotions

Louisiana sports bettors have plenty of solid sportsbooks to choose from, and all of them should get the job done when it comes to placing bets on your favorite teams and sports. However, one critical factor separating these LA sports betting providers is their bonuses and promotions. Whether you are a new customer looking for a great welcome bonus or a regular looking for daily and weekly promotions, this category will be necessary.

User experience

Some bettors place most of their bets at home from their desktop, while others prefer the convenience of using their favorite sports betting app on the go. No matter how you visit your top Louisiana sportsbooks, you will want a positive user experience from start to finish that includes a smooth interface that allows you to place bets easily, check your bet slip, visit the cashier, and whatever else need. Our sportsbook experts at SBR test each format of every LA online sportsbook to rate the quality of the experience.

Sports bet variety

Sports fans who primarily stick to the most popular sports like football, basketball, and baseball and don’t bet on much besides spreads, moneylines, and totals won’t have any issues finding what they need from any of the LA online sports betting sites featured on this page. But bettors looking for more variety in their betting options, including niche sports, prop bets, and live betting, may find some lines available at one sportsbook that isn’t available at another. This is what makes sports bet variety a pivotal factor to consider.

Banking options

Since sports betting has been legalized in Louisiana, making deposits and withdrawals at your preferred online sportsbook is quick and easy. All Louisiana sportsbooks usually accept standard deposit options like PayPal and credit cards. Still, there are differences from book to book as you go down the deposit and payment options list. Check to see if your preferred banking method is available before signing up for an account.

Payout speed

As mentioned above, the deposit and withdrawal process is fast and easy at all Louisiana legal sports gambling sites. Most payment options process within 24-72 hours, but payment speeds vary depending on your banking method and the individual sportsbooks’ processing speeds. We know bettors want access to their winnings as soon as possible, so we monitor each LA sportsbook’s payout speeds for our reviews.

Security and customer support

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board officially licenses all seven legal online sportsbooks offering sports betting in Louisiana. Each has security measures to ensure the safety of your personal information and the funds in your account.

How to bet on sports in Louisiana

Sports fans in Louisiana signing up for their first online sportsbook may need help figuring out where to start. Fortunately, signing up for an LA online sports betting account is relatively straightforward with the proper guidance. We’ve covered all the steps you’ll need to take covered in-depth below.

Select a sportsbook licensed in Louisiana

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has awarded licenses to seven legal online sportsbooks in Louisiana. Read through the information provided on this page and the thorough sportsbook reviews here on SBR until you decide on an LA sports betting provider that you are interested in trying. Picking one with a generous welcome bonus and your preferred banking options can be an excellent place to start.

Each of the seven regulated online sportsbooks available in Louisiana allows you to access their sportsbook through their website or by downloading their mobile app. Access the sportsbook in whichever format you are most comfortable with on the sportsbook you have chosen to start the process.

Register online

To sign up for a new online account at the Louisiana sportsbook of your choice, follow the sign-up process provided by the sportsbook after you click or tap “Sign Up.” You must fill out a form with personal information such as your name, date of birth, address, contact information, and social security number. This information will all be secure if you have chosen one of the legal and regulated online sportsbooks listed on this page.

After entering your information, you will be prompted to choose a username and password. Make sure to select a password that is secure but still one that you will be able to remember.

Deposit and claim a bonus

Once you have entered all the necessary information and signed up for an account, you can access sports betting in Louisiana through the app or website you chose and click around to see betting odds, promotions, and more. When you are ready to make your first bet with the sportsbook, you will need to tap or click “Deposit” in the cashier section to fund your account.

Select the banking option you want to use and provide the necessary information. Your first deposit will also be where you opt-in for any sign-up bonus the sportsbook offers. Be sure to understand this process and type in your bonus code if necessary before finalizing your deposit. Don’t hesitate to contact customer service if you have questions about your deposit or welcome promotion.

Select and finalize your bet

Now that you are all signed up for an account and have added money to it using your preferred banking method, you are officially ready to begin sports gambling in Louisiana. Check out the website or sportsbook mobile app to get comfortable with the interface. Sports fans new to sports betting should research how to read odds and different bet types before making wagers to confirm that they are betting on the right things.

Keep your welcome bonus in mind when making your first bet. Many welcome bonuses apply to your first bet with the sportsbook, so make sure you make the most of it. When you are ready, select the bet you want to make, and it will pop up on a separate bet slip. Please go over the wager before hitting submit to make it official.

Win and withdraw your payout

Your first withdrawal may come after you grind out a small profit through many bets, or you might hit a big parlay or future bet that delivers a massive payout. When you are ready to celebrate your victory with a withdrawal, return to the cashier section, where you made your first deposit.

Select the “Withdrawal” button, and you can pick the amount you want to take out of your LA online sports betting account and the payment method you would like to use. After you have made your choices, you will receive your first payout via most digital withdrawal options between 24-48 hours.

Louisiana sports betting handle

The sports betting handle is the industry term for the total money bet on sports over a certain period. LA sports betting generated a $2.3 billion handle in 2022 across both online sports betting and retail sports betting. The state of Louisiana profited over $33.8 million in tax revenue off of that handle last year.

2023 LA handle

Louisiana sports leagues and teams to bet on

Many sports bettors lean heavily on their favorite teams when they are first getting started. It’s worth noting, though, that most successful sports bettors are the ones who look for value up and down the betting board, not just on their favorite teams. There’s nothing wrong with betting on the home team while you root them on, but it’s a good idea to do your due diligence before placing any bet, including those on your local favorites. Louisiana bettors can bet on all teams from the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA plus PGA events, UFC, and European soccer.

While the Saints and Pelicans have passionate fan bases, Louisiana sports fans also have a lot of passion for college football and the LSU Tigers. Other Division I college teams in the state include the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns, Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, and Tulane Green Wave.

Sports bettors can check out the top sportsbooks for specific sports, leagues, playoffs, and categories:

Legal sports betting and regulations in Louisiana

Sports betting in Louisiana launched online on January 28, 2022. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board allowed land-based retail sportsbooks to start allowing sports betting on October 6, 2021, just a few months before the beginning of sports gambling in Louisiana online.

There are currently seven active online sportsbooks in Louisiana. Each of those online sportsbooks partners with a retail location in the state that provides in-person sports betting at state-licensed casinos in Louisiana.

Louisiana’s online and mobile sportsbooks

Land-based Louisiana sportsbooks

Who can bet on sports in Louisiana?

Players must be 21 years or older to make a bet on sports in Louisiana at both retail and online sportsbooks under all circumstances. Here are some more details in regard to the legality of sports betting in Louisiana:

Legal age

Louisiana does not allow anyone under the age of 21 to partake in sports betting or any other casino gaming, and it is even one of the few states in the USA that requires you to be at least 21 years old to play the state lottery. Horse racing and bingo are the exceptions in LA that allow players 18 or older to participate.

Mobile betting

Mobile sports gambling in Louisiana is legal using a computer or mobile device. Each of the seven online sportsbooks operating legally in Louisiana offers mobile betting online through their websites and sports betting apps.

Remote registration

Sports fans interested in LA sports betting can sign up for an account, bet on sports, and make deposits and withdrawals remotely. You do not need to visit an in-person retail location to participate in LA sports betting online.

Within state borders

You must be physically located within the state’s borders to use any of Louisiana’s seven online sportsbooks to bet on sports online. All Louisana sportsbooks use geolocating technology to verify that you are physically in LA before you can access your account through the website or betting app.

You do not have to be a resident of Louisiana to place online bets in the state. Louisiana residents visiting another state cannot access their LA online sports betting accounts. Residents of other states visiting LA can use an online sportsbook in Louisiana to place a bet since they are within state borders.

Retail sportsbooks

Louisiana has a handful of retail locations with casino gaming, including riverboat casinos, tribal, land-based, and racinos (race tracks with casinos). Currently, 12 retail gambling locations also have legal sportsbooks in LA.

Taxable winnings

Winnings on sports betting in Louisiana are taxed as income, with winning players required to pay 25% of their winnings to the IRS and an additional 5% in state tax.

What you can't bet on in Louisiana

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board was pretty strict in regards to its rules on non-sports related gambling. Each state has the right to make its own laws in regards to what it allows to be legal for wagering, and the LGCB made the following decisions for its retail locations and LA online sports betting operators:

Politics

Like in many states, Louisiana residents are not allowed to bet on political outcomes. As the 2024 United States Presidential Election keeps getting closer, bettors in LA cannot wager on their hunches.

Entertainment award ceremonies

Betting on entertainment awards such as the Acadamy Awards and Grammy Awards are some of the most popular entertainment props in states where they are allowed. Unfortunately for film and music fans in Louisiana, betting on entertainment award ceremonies is not permitted in LA.

eSports

eSports are another controversial sports betting topic nationwide as some states allow betting on popular video games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and DOTA 2, while others do not. Louisiana opted not to allow LA sports betting providers to allow esports betting.

What about Louisiana college sports?

With fan interest in LSU almost certainly leading the way on this decision, Louisiana did legalize gambling on collegiate teams, including in-state ones like the Louisana State Tigers. There are some limitations, though, as player prop bets on college players are not currently available.

Responsible sports betting in Louisiana

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board provides resources to help individuals who struggle with problem gambling get the help they need. The official LGCB website has information on contacting the Office of Behavioral Health and a toll-free Louisiana Problem Gamblers Help Line available 24/7 at 1-877-770-7867.

Bettors who struggle with a gambling addiction that need to take things further can also apply for self-exclusion. This voluntary program allows LA residents to add themselves to a list preventing them from entering retail gambling locations and accessing their online sports betting accounts.

National U.S. gambling helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER

Sportsbooks to avoid in Louisiana

Before sports betting was legalized in Louisiana, sports fans that wanted to partake in sports gambling in Louisiana online could only use illegal sportsbooks that were operating internationally in countries that do allow online sports betting. Even though legal options like those mentioned on this page now exist, those offshore-based books are still out there.

Using one of these unregulated sportsbooks isn’t worth the risk. The seven legal and regulated Louisiana sportsbooks that offer online betting have all of the same features and betting odds as those illegal sportsbooks. And you can bet with confidence knowing that your financial transactions are safe, secure, and regulated. Avoid offshore books and stick to those regulated by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

Sports betting across the U.S.

Are you looking for information on sports betting across the U.S.? Check out our comprehensive guide to legal sports betting in the United States.

Sports betting in legal U.S. states

Sports betting in potential legal U.S. states

U.S. sports betting apps

Sports betting in other regions

Stay updated on the status of Canadian sports betting in provinces where it is legalized:

International News

For sports betting in U.K., visit our U.K sports betting pages.