Louisiana Prohibits 42 Sports Wagering, Sweepstakes, and iGaming Websites
Title: Louisiana Initiates Crackdown on Unregulated Online Gambling: A Look at Recent Legislative Moves
By: Grant Mitchell06/19/2025 08:50 IndustryPhoto by Flickr, CC by-NC 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/)
Key Takeaways
- The governor's veto on a social casino ban doesn't derail the tightening of the state's online gambling landscape
- Notable platforms like Bovada, BetUS, and Fliff are in the crossfire
- The changes Louisiana has made to its gaming sector recently are significant and far-reaching
Grant, a former athlete and avid sports fan, offers insights into the ever-evolving sports betting industry. With a reputation made in 2021 working with esteemed entities such as Forbes and VSiN, he strives to deliver timely and detailed coverage of industry news. When he's not engrossed in work, you'll find him engaged in physical activities, city exploration, or catching the day's big game [Source].
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Louisiana is pursuing a tougher stance on unregulated online gambling following a series of legislative moves targeting social casino sweepstakes games and online sports betting regulations.
The Legislature put forth Senate Bill 181 (SB 181), which aimed to prohibit unregulated online sweepstakes casinos (gambling platforms that simulate casino-style gaming, lottery, or sports betting online). The bill received strong bipartisan support and passed both the Senate and the House, but Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry vetoed the legislation on June 12, 2025 [Sources: 1, 2, 5].
This veto halted the immediate implementation of the ban on online sweepstakes games. However, the penalties for involvement in these activities remain severe, with fines reaching $100,000 and potential prison sentences of up to five years [Sources: 3, 5]. The bill defines online casinos broadly, similar to Montana’s recent legislation, encompassing any platform that permits consumers to wager and collect payouts in any currency form [Sources: 1, 2].
Concurrently, Louisiana's House approved raising the state's sports betting tax rate from 15% to 21.5%, initially proposed at 32%. This adjustment aims to increase state revenue from legalized sports betting activities [Source: 2]. Lawmakers prioritize safeguarding licensed gaming operators and shifting gaming activity from unregulated online platforms to brick-and-mortar establishments that significantly contribute to the economy through job creation and taxes [Source: 5].
In a broader context, these regulatory shifts reflect a national trend against unregulated online gambling operations disguised as sweepstakes, concentrating on consumer protection and the state's fiscal interests [Sources: 1, 2, 4, 5]. The ongoing developments underline a strategy to establish a stricter regulatory environment around online gambling in Louisiana while bolstering its legalized gaming framework through taxation and protection of licensed entities.
Vegas enthusiasts might want to reconsider playing blackjack or trying their luck at sports betting on sites like Bovada, BetUS, and Fliff, as Louisiana tightens its grip on unregulated online gambling. In a bid to boost state revenue and safeguard licensed gaming operators, the state has increased the sports betting tax rate from 15% to 21.5%, and plans to implement stricter regulations against unregulated platforms that simulate casino-style gaming, lottery, or sports betting online.
