Sports betting is legal in Louisiana if you are at least 21 years old and physically located in one of the 55 parishes that approved it in a 2020 referendum. The Louisiana Sports Wagering Act, enacted as Act 440 in 2021, authorizes retail sportsbooks inside casinos, mobile apps, and self-service kiosks in qualifying bars and restaurants.1Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code 27-601 – Title and Citation; Privilege Nine parishes rejected the measure, and betting is blocked inside their borders.
Who Can Legally Place a Bet
Three things have to be true before a licensed operator will take your wager: you’re 21 or older, you’re standing inside a parish that approved sports betting, and you’re not on an exclusion list or otherwise barred by law.2Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code 27-608 – Limitations on Wagering Mobile apps confirm your age at registration and check your GPS location every time you try to place a bet. Fail either check and the bet won’t go through.
Some people are banned regardless of age or location. Operators cannot knowingly take a wager from an athlete, coach, referee, official, or team staff member connected to the event being bet on. The same rule covers jockeys and horsemen for horse races. Sportsbook operators, their directors, officers, owners, employees, and anyone sharing a household with those people also can’t bet with that operator. And anyone enrolled in Louisiana’s voluntary self-exclusion program is barred from all regulated sports betting.2Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code 27-608 – Limitations on Wagering
Where in Louisiana You Can Bet
Louisiana handled legalization parish by parish. In November 2020, voters in each of the 64 parishes decided for themselves, and 55 said yes.3Ballotpedia. Louisiana Sports Betting Parish Measures (2020) Sports wagering remains illegal in nine parishes, all in the northern and central part of the state:
- Caldwell
- Catahoula
- Franklin
- Jackson
- LaSalle
- Sabine
- Union
- West Carroll
- Winn
Mobile apps enforce these lines with geofencing accurate to within a few meters. Try to place a bet from inside an opt-out parish and the app blocks it instantly. Cross back into approved territory and the app unlocks. Betting near a parish border can be finicky for exactly this reason.
You also can’t use your Louisiana account from another state. The federal Wire Act prohibits transmitting sports wagers across state lines, so even if the state you’re visiting has its own legal sports betting, your Louisiana app won’t work there.4Congress.gov. Justice Department Reverses Stand on Gambling Statute
How to Place a Legal Bet
Louisiana offers three ways to wager, each tied to a licensed physical facility.
Mobile apps and websites. The most popular option. You can bet from anywhere inside an approved parish using a licensed sportsbook app on your phone or computer.
Retail sportsbooks. Physical betting counters and lounges inside licensed casinos, where you place wagers in person at a window or self-service terminal.
Betting kiosks. Self-service machines in qualifying bars and restaurants that hold valid liquor licenses. These handle smaller, simpler bets and are common in areas without a nearby casino.
What You Can and Can’t Bet On
The statute’s definition of a legal wager is broad. Single-game bets, parlays, teasers, over/unders, moneylines, in-game wagers, proposition bets, and straight bets all fall inside the framework as long as the Gaming Control Board has authorized the event.5Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code 27-602 – Definitions
The restrictions are where bettors get tripped up. Operators cannot take wagers on any of the following:6Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Sports Wagering Catalog
- College player props. You can bet the outcome of a college game, but any proposition tied to an individual college athlete’s performance or statistics is prohibited.
- Injuries, penalties, and disciplinary outcomes. No bets on whether a player gets hurt, whether a flag gets thrown, or how a replay review or disciplinary ruling comes out.
- Events the Gaming Control Board hasn’t approved.
- Insider bets placed by or on behalf of anyone connected to the event.
The board can prohibit additional bet types by rule at any time, so the restricted list can grow without new legislation.
Taxes on Your Winnings
Every dollar you win is taxable at both the federal and state level. The IRS treats gambling winnings as ordinary income regardless of the amount. When your net winnings from a single wager exceed $5,000, the sportsbook withholds 24% for federal taxes before paying you out. For smaller wins, the sportsbook may issue a W-2G and won’t automatically withhold, but you still owe the tax when you file.
Louisiana also taxes gambling winnings at the state level. As of 2025, the state uses a flat 3% individual income tax rate, and that rate applies to gambling winnings through withholding when state tax is required. Expect state and federal tax documentation from the sportsbook for any reportable win.
You can deduct gambling losses against your winnings on your federal return, but only if you itemize and only up to the amount you won. Keep detailed records of wins and losses throughout the year. The IRS has proposed new regulations on wagering loss deductions, so the rules here may change.
Setting Limits or Stepping Away
Every licensed Louisiana sportsbook has to offer responsible gaming tools inside the app or account: deposit limits, loss limits, and session time limits at a minimum. These are regulatory requirements, not courtesies.
If you need a firmer barrier, Louisiana runs a voluntary self-exclusion program. Enrolling requires appearing in person at a Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division office and completing paperwork in front of an agent.7Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Voluntary Exclusions Once enrolled, you are legally barred from placing any wager at a regulated establishment, operators must refuse your bets, and any winnings you do collect can be confiscated.
If gambling is becoming a problem, the national helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER operates around the clock and connects callers with local treatment resources.
Penalties for Betting Outside the Rules
Placing bets through unlicensed offshore sites or inside an opt-out parish is still illegal, and the penalties are real. Louisiana lawmakers have moved to classify certain illegal gambling operations as racketeering offenses, which carry potential fines up to $1 million and lengthy prison sentences. Individual unauthorized online wagers can be treated as separate violations with penalties of up to $40,000 and five years in prison per wager. Sticking to licensed operators inside an approved parish is the only way to bet without legal exposure.