The state of Louisiana is looking to legalize sports betting in November, but the ultimate decision will be left to the voters. Lawmakers in the state favor legalizing sports betting, but they are unable to pass any laws without approval from the citizens.
Louisiana was pushing hard for sports betting earlier in 2020, but that has died down during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a group of sports betting supporters have launched a campaign targeting voters to get the referendum passed in November.
The name of the campaign is “Louisiana Wins,” and this group is using a unique strategy to try to appeal to voters this fall. The Louisiana Wins campaign is highlighting the amount of money that will be paid directly to schools if sports betting is legalized in November.
Along with highlighting the amount of money that would be used for education in Louisiana, the campaign project is also discussing the amount of new revenue that could improve infrastructure in the state. Other states throughout the US have used similar tactics to get residents on board and supporting legalizing sports betting.
The Louisiana Wins campaign is backed and supported by local government leaders, as each town and community could benefit from the legalization of sports betting. The campaign has launched a website, and there is plenty of information available to residents throughout the state.
Another topic covered by this recently launched campaign is the amount of money currently leaving the state as residents look elsewhere to do their sports betting. The state does have a legitimate gambling industry, and adding sports betting would not change things a ton.
The sports betting industry in the United States continues to grow, and the Louisiana Wins campaign hopes that their state is the next to legalize the industry.
Each Parish Will Decide
The state of Louisiana is taking a unique approach when it comes to legalizing sports betting as they are letting each parish decide on if they wish to legalize the industry or not. Parishes in Louisiana are very similar to counties in other states, and there are over 60 of them.
Louisiana also used the same strategy just a few years ago when the topic of legalizing daily fantasy sports came into question. A majority of the parishes voted in favor of legalizing the DFS industry, but it wasn’t a unanimous decision across the state.
Unfortunately, the DFS industry is still not regulated by the state because the lawmakers were unable to create new laws that would have allowed operators to legally offer DFS opportunities throughout the state. If some parishes vote in favor of sports betting, lawmakers will create new rules and regulations this time around.
There are a number of parishes that are expected to pass sports betting easily in November, while some other parishes will likely vote no. Fortunately, most parishes that currently offer gambling are likely to approve sports betting legislation this fall.