Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has rejected Senate Bill 181, which aimed to ban sweepstakes casinos in the state.With proposed harsh penalties, fines up to $100,000, and...
Louisiana sports betting tax bill moves to Senate
Louisiana’s House of Representatives passed an updated version of House Bill 639, which aims to increase the sports betting tax rate to 21.5%.
Initially, the bill proposed a taxation rate increase to 51%. However, strong opposition from the betting industry pushed lawmakers to revise it to 21.5%. Betting operators warned that a big change in taxation would drive players to illegal, unregulated markets, hurting both the industry and state revenue. Many view the new rate as a compromise that maintains state income without negatively impacting the legal market.
The bill is about more than just taxes. HB 639 also outlines how that extra money will be used. A new SPORT Fund (Supporting Programmes, Opportunities, Resources, and Teams) would receive 25% of the online betting revenue to support college athletes and sports programs. Another 3% would go toward the Postsecondary Inclusive Education Fund, and the rest would help fill the state’s general revenue pot.
Before becoming law, the bill still needs Senate approval and the governor’s signature.
Tax increase: an actual topic in the U.S. sports betting market
Nowadays, more and more states are taking the sports betting market as a funding platform to support social programs without directly raising taxes on residents. Recently, Maryland announced its plan to raise the mobile betting tax to 20% starting in 2026.
The Louisiana Senate approved House Bill 639, raising the tax rate on online sports betting from 15% to 21.5%. The legislation now moves to Governor Jeff Landry for final...
