Sports Betting Tax Hike Among Gaming BIlls Sent to Louisiana Governor

The Louisiana legislative session is set to end today, June 12, with a bill to increase the online sports betting tax awaiting Gov. Jeff Landry’s consideration.

The sports betting tax bill is one of several measures related to gaming and sports apparently still alive during the closing hours at the Capitol in Baton Rouge.

According to the Louisiana State Legislature website, a governor has 10 days to sign or veto a bill if the Legislature is in session or 20 days if lawmakers have adjourned.

Gaming, Sports-Related Bills

Below are measures that lawmakers or the governor had under consideration as the Legislature entered its final hours on Thursday:

• House Bill 639: This bill by Rep. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, increases the tax on online sports betting from 15% to 21.5%. After winning approval in the House and Senate, it was sent June 10 to the governor for his consideration. Other states also are eyeing, or have approved, an increase in the sports betting tax. For instance, as CBS Sports noted, Illinois recently implemented a sports betting tax structure charging sportsbooks from 25 to 50 cents per wager. This prompted  FanDuel to add "a 50-cent transaction fee on all sports bets taken in Illinois," beginning in September. 
• House Bill 547: This bill, by Rep. Chad Boyer, R-Breaux Bridge, would authorize fixed-odds wagering on horse racing. It has been approved in the House and Senate and was sent to the governor on June 10 for his consideration.
• Senate Bill 181: This bill by Sen. Adam Bass, R-Bossier City, bans online sweepstakes casinos. It has been been approved in the Senate and House and was sent June 8 to the governor for his consideration.
• SB90: This bill by Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, prohibits betting or wagering on elections. It was approved in the Senate and House and sent to the governor on June 4 for his consideration.
•  SB 195: This bill by Sen. Jimmy Harris, D-New Orleans, regarding the French Quarter Management District, was amended in the final hours to protect the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, naming it a Louisiana Historic Site, "whereupon no demolition, structural alteration, sale or cessation of racing operations, nor any impediments be placed on the property to interfere with racing and training operations, shall occur without express legislative approval." On June 12, the Senate and House adopted the Conference Committee report on the amended bill.
• HCR 13: This measure by Rep. John Illg Jr., R-Harahan, requests that the Southeastern Conference schedule LSU football games after 6 p.m. in September “for health and safety reasons related to the heat during day games.” It has been approved in the House and Senate and sent to the secretary of state in accordance with House rules.
• HR 30: This resolution by Rep. Rhonda Butler, R-Ville Platte, designates Opelousas as the horse capital of Louisiana. It was adopted by the House on June 11.

Get information on Best Louisiana Sportsbooks from Gambling.com.