Louisiana sports betting will undergo another round of delays as a result of Hurricane Ida. State Gaming officials recently announced that they would be unable to stick to the planned October 1st launch date.
Repairs Bring Delays
The Gaming Control Board’s Chairman said that the licensing team lost almost two weeks’ worth of access to the offices and materials needed to process applications.
“When Hurricane Ida hit our state, all of the troopers assigned to the Gaming Division were deployed to hurricane recovery efforts. We lost approximately 10-14 days of licensing work during that period. The State Police Gaming Division is now back at full capacity and is continuing the licensing process for the applicants.” -Chairman Ronnie Johns
The state predicts that licenses will be distributed by mid-October. However, officials have yet to announce a specific start date as this will be the second time legal sports betting has been pushed back.
Devastation from Hurricane Ida is only one of several complications Louisiana has incurred in this sports betting endeavor. To catch up to nearby states, gaming officials authorized a set of temporary rules for licensing and initiating LA sportsbooks.
Moving Too Fast?
However, this hasty approach seems unwise in hindsight. Instead of bringing in huge revenues from a successful launch, the state is deterring domestic bettors with its inability to deliver on its promises.
Because Louisiana sports bettors know that they don’t have to bet with state-licensed books, the rushed decisions at the top just look unappealing. Without a display of patience, the state is already losing points in reputability and security.
With NFL betting already a month into its season, there is no doubt that seasoned sports bettors in LA have already found a trusted offshore sportsbook to place their wagers with.
State-licensed sportsbooks in Louisiana will have to offer some sort of incentive with their launch to get prospective bettors to try their services.
This could be best executed at in-person betting locations but several casinos have closed due to damages from Hurricane Ida without a set date to reopen.
What LA Bettors Need To Know
Louisiana sports betting will be available in 55 out of its 64 parishes. Sportsbooks services will be made available to all bettors 21+.
Retail sportsbooks will be the first to hit the market, as a handful of racetracks and casinos have already passed the background checks required for licensing. Online and mobile betting options will be available at a later date.
Additionally, LA sports bettors should keep their eyes peeled for rule changes in early 2022. Because the rules adopted for 2021 sports betting were passed as a temporary mandate, gaming officials will revise and release new rules in about 6 months.
Source: WLOX
