When it comes to betting and gambling in general it’s the state of Nevada that first comes to mind for most people. After all, it’s the home of the unofficial world capital of gambling, Las Vegas, famous for its huge casino resorts like the Bellagio and Caesars Palace.
But, in terms of gaming, Las Vegas was a relative latecomer to the scene, first emerging in the 1930s, its growth and popularity largely driven by workers building the nearby Hoover Dam who were looking for a place of entertainment.
In fact, gambling in Louisiana was already well-established by then having first been popularized in the early 18th century. We’ll get into the history shortly, but its popularity was underlined by the fact that as early as 1806 gambling had been banned everywhere except in New Orleans.
Of course, it’s a very different picture today, especially since November 2021 when sports gambling was legalized for casinos in the state, with online sportsbooks getting the go ahead three months later in February 2022.
This has quickly seen the number of operators spring up creating a healthy and competitive market offering plenty of choice for sports fans.
It also means that Louisiana bettors are used to competitive promos as the sportsbooks in question vie to get their custom. These generally take the form of free stake money as an introductory offer, sometimes even amounting up to four figure sums.
Where the State’s gambling habit first began
To understand the roots of gambling in Louisiana we have to go back to the late 17th century Europe and, most specifically, France. This was a time when clubs in the country were gradually becoming casinos. Games like roulette and craps were rapidly gaining in popularity, as well as old forms of poker and blackjack.
When the first French settlers started to arrive in Louisiana they brought these games with them. Carrying an aura of European sophistication with them, they soon became popular and prestigious pastimes.
As already mentioned, their popularity quickly escalated to the point where the state government decided to step in to regulate the activity in 1806.
This, in turn, led to many casino operators looking to exploit a loophole in the law and taking their activities afloat – hence the birth of the now famous riverboats on the Mississippi.
In 1866 Louisiana made another important breakthrough by introducing its state lottery. This became so successful that within eleven years it was selling ticket across almost all of the country. However, in 1890 a scandal overcame the company when it was unable to pay winners.
Despite the setbacks and legal difficulties that all these events suffered, the gambling habit had already firmly established itself in Louisianan culture.
The modern era
Let’s fast-forward to the modern day and, more specifically, to the arrival of sports betting to the state. This followed on from the US Supreme Court’s historic decision in 2018 to strike down the laws prohibiting the activity. Some states were quick to change their laws with New Jersey leading the way. Louisiana was a little slower off the mark, taking over three years so get the legislation through.
While the decision was far from unanimous, most of the people in power could see the revenue-raising potential of a properly regulated sports betting market, especially given the Louisiana residents’ propensity for gambling in its many forms.
In the first year of legalisation the decision to legalize was vindicated, in financial terms at least. Official figures show that the activity has generated $26.5 million in taxes, and invaluable contribution to this always cash-strapped state.
It’s reported by the by the state regulator, The Louisiana gaming Control Board, that around 270 million separate wagers are now being made a month both by Louisianans and others from neighbouring states like Texas where the activity is yet to become legalized. In future this figure is set to grow.
Looking to the future
In fact it would be fair to say that the prospects for sports betting in Louisiana, alongside other forms of wagering, look very good for the future. One area that may well soon be opened up thanks to the breakthrough is online casinos.
For a long time, Louisiana was one of only a very few states that specifically banned the activity. Most others didn’t acknowledge it as an activity at all.
Gradually more and more states are coming alive to the fact that it is all but impossible to prevent those who want to play in online casinos and Louisiana may well follow suit.
There may still be some opposition. But the fact that sports betting is now helping to fill the state coffers so effectively via taxation means there’s a compelling financial argument to put forward.
As to if and when this will happen, we’ll just have to wait and see.