According to State Sen. Kirk Talbot, Louisiana lawmakers have begun exploring the potential legalization of online casinos, though he doesn’t believe there’s much chance of seeing anything concrete happen this year. He says that if implemented correctly, iGaming could mirror the success of sports betting in the state while bringing significant tax revenue. The state’s legislative session will convene on April 14 and adjourn on June 12. However, Talbot doesn’t expect to see legislation advance immediately, as the proposal is still in the discussion phase.
Last year, Talbot introduced a resolution to establish a study committee to assess the potential impact of legalizing online casinos. The resolution passed in the Senate, leading to a formal review. As part of the study committee, the Senate Judiciary B and Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committees held hearings in December. In the meetings, they gathered input from stakeholders both for and against online casino legalization. Per the resolution, the committees were required to submit their findings to the Louisiana Senate by March 1. However, no publicly available information has surfaced regarding their conclusions.
Talbot says iGaming can replicate sports betting’s success in LA
Talbot recently spoke to Fox 8, a New Orleans news outlet, about the successful impact of sports betting in Louisiana. In February, the state saw more than $355 million in mobile sports bets, a 40% increase from the previous year. He highlighted that tax revenue from sports betting has surpassed expectations, particularly benefiting early childhood development programs.
The senator credits Louisiana’s careful planning for the successful sports betting rollout. He added that lawmakers studied other states’ rollouts and learned from their successes and opportunities. He emphasized that he and the study committee have taken a similar approach in evaluating the potential impact of online casinos in Louisiana. However, he acknowledged concerns:
Online gambling is a whole different animal. We obviously don’t want kids doing it. We don’t want addicts doing it, we don’t want to fuel addictive gambling with that. If done right, it can be successful, other states have proved that.
While Talbot doesn’t believe iGaming will pass in this year’s legislation, he acknowledged that everything in daily life is moving to mobile, and gaming is no exception.
Retail casino industry remains a key consideration
Despite the potential for increased tax revenue, Talbot emphasizes the importance of ensuring online casinos don’t cannibalize retail casinos:
We want to protect the jobs we have at Caesars, at the other land-based casinos. I have one in my district with Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner. So, we don’t want to do anything to hurt them.
Historically, the retail casino industry has been among the biggest opponents of iGaming legalization in many states. However, in Louisiana, some major operators support online casinos. Caesars Entertainment, which operates several online gaming platforms, including Caesars Palace Online Casino, and Boyd Gaming, which operates Stardust Online Casino, showed their backing. During the December Senate committee hearing, representatives from the two companies said they view online casinos as an additive to their properties.
Still, opposition remains. The Cordish Companies, which opened the $700 million Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana in February, argues that iGaming tax revenue would not make up for lost retail casino revenue. Additionally, it could contribute to increased gambling addiction. The Louisiana Video Gaming Association, representing the state’s video poker industry with over 1,400 locations, also strongly opposes iGaming. Other critics include the Louisiana Association of Charities, and the Louisiana Family Forum.
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