Share 
Forget Snickers bars and other Halloween treats: sports fans in Louisiana just got a ghoulish gift in time for NFL Sunday. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) has issued the first sports betting licenses to four casinos in the state after the Louisiana State Police’s Gaming Division completed their investigations of the applications.
The four to receive sports betting licenses that will take effect at 12:01 AM on Sunday, October 31 are Boomtown Casino in Harvey; Harrah’s in New Orleans; Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City; and L’Auberge Baton Rouge.
It’s unclear whether any of the four casinos will be taking sports bets on-site as early as Sunday. As of 4 PM EST on Friday, none of the four casinos approved to accept bets on sports this Sunday have said whether they will have a retail sportsbook operational on October 31.
Per the LGCB, there are also nine other retail sports betting applicants awaiting licensure from the state.
According to prior reporting here at Gaming Today by Rebecca Hanchett, Louisiana sportsbooks will initially technically be certified (not licensed) to operate inside temporary sports betting areas or at permanent locations like the four casinos. Official licenses will be issued in early 2022, according to state gaming regulator Ronnie S. Johns.
When Will Bettors Be Able To Place Mobile Wagers on Sports in Louisiana?
Earlier in 2021, sports betting was passed into law in 55 parishes in Louisiana following a successful referendum vote in 2020.
Online and mobile sports betting is expected to launch by early in 2022, possibly in time for the Super Bowl in February. Louisiana can issue up to 41 mobile sportsbooks, including one lottery-run sportsbook regulated by the Louisiana Lottery Corporation and 40 mobile sportsbooks.
