Best Louisiana Sports Betting Sites: Legal Louisiana Sportsbooks December 2023

Common Louisiana Sportsbook Promotions & Offers

Competition among the sportsbooks offering sports betting in Louisiana is intense. Among the most potent weapons they have at their disposal in the battle to attract and retain customers’ loyalty are promotions and offers. There is value to be had from these bonuses, which come in a variety of forms.

• Risk-Free Bets Many online sports betting brands offer a risk-free or no-sweat first bet as a way of getting your time as a customer off to an enjoyable start. More than one online sportsbook offers Louisiana bettors a $1,000 bet/bet credit as a welcome bonus. This means you can place your first wager up to that amount secure in the knowledge that if it loses, you will get your stake back in the form of site credit or free bets.
• Deposit Match Another popular method of tempting Louisiana residents to open an online sports betting account is the deposit match. This is an ideal welcome bonus if you are a regular bettor who wants extra sports wagering power at your disposal from the start. However much you deposit – and the upper limit could be as much as $1,000 – the sportsbook will match, ensuring that when you place your first bet you have twice as much money in your account as you put in.
• Referral Bonuses Attracting new customers is one of the most arduous tasks any Louisiana online sports betting operation has. So it is not surprising that, if you do their job for them, they reward you for your help. If you refer a friend who then registers for an account, you should both be in line for a bonus. These are usually in the form of free bets, and tend to be $50 for each of you. But, as with all offers, check the terms and conditions carefully.
• Odds Boosts If your new sportsbook has a dedicated section labeled Boosts, it means you can expect a little extra value on certain bets on a regular basis. Sportsbooks sometimes bump the odds on a particular outcome in an upcoming game, which means you get a higher payout than you might have expected. Ideally, Louisiana sportsbooks should show you the original odds so that you can work out just how much extra you stand to win.
• Parlay Insurance Parlays are a hugely popular way of sports betting. The chance to generate a large payout in return for a small stake is eternally tempting. The only problem is that it only takes one of your picks to let you down to leave you with nothing. With parlay insurance, however, you can pick up a consolation prize. If your parlay contains more than a certain number of legs, and just one of them flops, you get your original stake back as a free bet.

• TNT Thursdays No-Sweat Same-Game Parlay At FanDuel Louisiana Sportsbook, Place a single-game parlay of $1 or more with odds of at least +400 and, if it loses, you get a bonus in free bets.
• Bet For a Boost Stake at least $10 on an NFL same-game parlay at Caesars Sportsbook Louisiana and you get a 100% profit boost token to use on another single-event parlay.
• Live NBA Same-Game Parlays PointsBet Louisiana is the only place where you can place a single-game parlay on the top hoops action after the game has started. Always check out the Promos tab of your favorite online sportsbook to see what the latest bonuses are. There might be one that suits you perfectly.

Why Sign Up For At Least 3 Louisiana Sportsbooks?

Nowhere in the state’s sports betting laws is it stipulated that you can open an account with only one Louisiana sportsbook. Indeed, there are many advantages to registering as a customer with several operators.

Get The Best Line

This is perhaps the best reason to open more than one sportsbook. By being able to view several sets of prices, you can find the odds that will give you a bigger payout.

Let’s say you want to wager on the New Orleans Saints to win their next NFL game. The moneyline price is -150 at most sportsbooks, but the Caesars LA Sportsbook has the Saints at -135. You can put your bet on there buoyed by the knowledge that you are getting the best price available.

Get Many Welcome Bonuses

The point of welcome bonuses is to encourage you to sign up as a customer and continue doing all your sports betting in the same place. But if you open several accounts, you can sample various sportsbooks by using all their sign-up offers to fund your initial wagering.

Again, there is nothing to prevent you enjoying a deposit match in one place and a no-sweat first bet in another. The extra funds and free bets you generate might help you decide where you want to become a regular customer.

Have More Bet Offerings

Many bettors settle on a style of wager that suits them and are happy to play in the same way whenever they stake money on their favorite sports. However, you may want to try out different methods of placing bets.

If you enjoy FanDuel Louisiana Sportsbook, for instance, you may place most of your wagers there. But you might be tempted to try Points Betting at the PointsBet New Orleans as an occasional alternative.

So You Can Test Them Out

Ultimately, like any consumer decision, the choice of your favorite sportsbook will be an entirely personal one. And the reason behind your final pick may be less obvious than you expect.

You may like the design of a site, or the fun way a sportsbook presents its offers. Only by trying out several brands and, like a new hat, seeing which fits you best can you be completely sure that you are in exactly the right place for you.

Get The Best Sportsbook Rules

It’s always advisable to check out a sportsbook’s rules, because there can be small but significant variations between operators.

For instance, the minimum number of legs in a parlay to qualify for insurance may be three or four. The minimum odds at which you place a no-sweat first bet may be -200 – or there may be no lower limit at all.

Do some research so that you can be sure which set of rules you want to follow.  

How To Pick Your Louisiana Sportsbooks

The high-quality access to online sports betting in Louisiana is so common that it is difficult to choose which one – or ones – to use. There are several ways to help you decide where to bet on the Saints, Pelicans or Tigers.

Read Reviews

All of the companies now offering Louisiana online sports betting are active in several other states. Some, such as FanDuel and DraftKings, are trading legally in virtually every state that has made online sports betting legal. These sports betting sites have been extensively reviewed by experts and sports bettors. As a result, there are plenty of reviews you can research to find out more details about the sportsbooks in question – which could help you to make your decision.

Find Out What Bets Are Allowed

People like wagering on sports in different ways. Some prefer the moneyline, others enjoy the challenge of a point spread. You may like investing in prop bets or over/unders. Whatever your favorite form of sports bet is, at leading online sportsbooks you should find that option available. There are also some operators – such as PointsBet, which offers its own style of betting, Points Betting – that offer variations on the theme of sports wagering that may suit you down to the ground.

Check Prices On Betting Lines/Odds

As you become more adept in placing sports bets, you will be increasingly aware of the importance of odds as part of that experience. Regular bettors are always seeking an extra sliver of value that comes from wagering on a team at +150 rather than +140. By comparing different Louisiana sportsbooks, and the odds they carry on certain sports and lines, you will find out if particular operators offer better prices on different events at different times – and benefit accordingly.  

Look For Frequency Of Sports Betting Promos

Once you have taken advantage of a welcome offer, such as a $1,000 risk-free bet, it may become important to you that there is plenty more where that came from. Ongoing promos, such as odds boosts, parlay insurance and offers around major sporting events, can give you a real lift as you place bets on your favorite sports. If you are a regular bettor, you also may appreciate the rewards available from a good loyalty program.  

Test Out User Interface

This is an incredibly important consideration. Advances in digital technology have led to giant strides in the quality of online sports betting – and particularly mobile sports betting. But finding an exceptionally good user interface can add extra enjoyment to your experience, just as struggling with a glitchy screen can seriously detract from it. Leading operators such as the FanDuel Louisiana sportsbook and Caesars NOLA score highly with their customers in part because of their excellent user interfaces.

Verify Easy Deposits/Withdrawals

Another factor that might not grab headlines, but that could make a real difference to the quality of your experience, is the ease with which you can deposit money into your account – and withdraw it later. It’s always worth checking the list of banking methods available at any sportsbook. Make sure that you can use your preferred method of moving money to deposit funds, and that you will be able to take cash out after a good win.

Check For Many Customer Support Options

Ideally, you never want to have to contact your sportsbook when betting on sports in Louisiana. However, if you encounter a problem, or need a question answered, you want your mind put to rest as quickly and efficiently as possible. Leading Louisiana sportsbooks should offer a range of ways to get in touch. These might include a toll-free telephone number, a 24/7 live chat function, an email address, or a detailed set of Louisiana sports betting FAQs.

Louisiana Sports To Bet On

Louisiana is a hotbed of great sporting action, and there is always plenty to look forward to for sports bettors in the state who want to wager on major sports leagues and college action.

NFL Betting In Louisiana

Football is the biggest sport in the nation, both in terms of the numbers of fans who follow it and the amount of betting interest it attracts.

Sadly, the New Orleans Saints fell short of the playoffs this season, but their legions of fans will undoubtedly still have a keen eye on the road to the Super Bowl.

Fans will begin looking forward to the NFL schedule release in May when they know Saints opponents and days they can begin betting on the NFL.

NBA Betting In Louisiana

Basketball is another sport with a massive following across the United States – and Louisiana hoops fans have an outstanding team to root for in the New Orleans Pelicans.  

It'll be until the fall of 2023 until Louisiana sports bettors can bet on the Pelicans again. However, with Willie Green at the helm and the talented Zion Williamson on the court, fans are surely itching to start betting on their in-state team again.

College Sports Betting In Louisiana Is Legal

Some may wonder if betting on college sports is legal in Louisiana and we're here to tell you yes, it is legal. The fact that the licenses issued by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board impose no restrictions on betting on college football and basketball is, therefore, a major plus for Louisiana bettors.

Some of the Louisiana sports teams with the most passionate followings represent colleges in the state. The bowl season, at the start of 2023, brought more glory for some famous Louisiana college football teams. The LSU Tigers took the Citrus Bowl with a 63-7 victory over Purdue, and on the same day the Tulane Green Wave defeated USC 46-45 to win the Cotton Bowl.

On the basketball side of things, nobody made more noise in Louisiana than the LSU Tigers' women's basketball team, who defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes for the National Championship in April. With Louisville transfer Hailey Van Lith transferring to LSU's basketball team, fans will surely be treated to another run for a second-consecutive College Basketball National Championship.

Available Sports Wagers At Legal Louisiana Sportsbooks

While there may be subtle variations between online betting sites, there are certain types of bets that should always be available.

• Moneyline This is the most straightforward of all sports bets – which team will be the outright winner of a game? All you have to do is pick one side and wager on it. The moneyline gives its name to the type of odds favored by US sports betting websites and bettors. The favorite’s price comes with a minus sign and the number is what you have to bet to win $100. The underdog’s odds carry a plus, and show what you will win if you bet $100. You do not need to bet $100. You can bet $10 and get 1/10th of the payout as well.
• Over/Under (Totals) Forget who is going to win or lose – how many points, goals or runs will there be in the game? This is the most popular type of O/U bet, though anything in an event that can be measured in simple numbers might be the subject of a market. Your sportsbook will offer a number and you decide whether there will be more or fewer than that, and wager over or under accordingly.
• Point Spreads This is a hugely popular type of bet, particularly on football and basketball. A point spread is a handicap, in which the sportsbook gives the underdog a start that levels up the odds on both sides. So if the LSU Tigers are -6.5 on the spread, you have to decide if they will win by seven points or more. If they do, they have covered the spread and you have won your bet.
• Futures The overwhelming majority of markets and odds you find when sports betting online relate to games that are about to take place – or that are under way already. However, you can look much further ahead with a futures bet. Let’s say you believe the New Orleans Saints will win the NFC South next season. You will be able to place a bet on that outcome before the first match kicks off.
• Prop Bets Within any game there are a huge number of outcomes you can bet on that have nothing to do with the actual result. Wagers on such outcomes are called propositions, or prop bets. They can be on individual player performances, such as points scored, but they can relate to teams’ progress, too. You can bet on the halftime score, on the first to reach a certain number of points, and much more. On the biggest sports events, the number of prop bets runs into the hundreds. The Super Bowl is famous for prop bets, including how long the National Anthem will be, as well as which team will win the coin toss.
• Live Bets Once digital technology advanced to a point where odds could be updated instantly, the way to live betting was clear. No longer did sports wagering have to stop when the action started. Now a large proportion of sports betting online is done on live betting markets. As the action on the pitch ebbs and flows, the odds will change – and if you have an opinion on how the rest of the game will go, you can quickly back that hunch with real money.
• Parlays The idea of a parlay is simple. For a single stake, you can wager on a number of different outcomes. As each of your picks turns out to be correct, your winnings roll over on to the next. If all your selections are right, you could be looking at a substantial payout in return for a small stake. That’s what makes parlays such fun. However, the fact that all your picks have to be on the mark is what makes them so hard to land.

Other Louisiana Betting Options

As well as the opportunity to enjoy mainstream sports betting in Louisiana, there are other ways to gamble on sports and related activities in the Bayou State.

• Daily Fantasy Sports In most states, Daily Fantasy Sports is all people had to play before legal online sports betting came along. However, DFS remains popular and leading operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings continue to offer games. Like sports betting, DFS is legal in Louisiana – but not everywhere. In a 2018 vote, the residents of 47 out of the state’s 64 parishes voted in favor of legalization, so check that you are in one of those parishes before you start to pick your fantasy team.
• Horse Racing Louisiana is a state that loves its horse racing, and the people of the Bayou State enjoy betting on it too. There are four horse racing tracks across the state where you can place wagers at sports betting kiosks, and you can also invest on races that are taking place elsewhere. Online horse race betting is also available through sites such as TVG, while other operators, including the FanDuel Louisiana, also offer racebooks.
• Elections In the countdown to elections, you may find certain sportsbooks offering odds on which candidate or party is going to win. However, these odds are purely conversational and are designed to show which way the vote looks like going. Taking bets on any form of political event, including elections, is strictly forbidden under federal law. That means you cannot place a wager with a legal sportsbook on any local, national or international election.
• Pop Culture Ceremonies There are certain non-sporting events that lend themselves to betting. One example is the Academy Awards. Louisiana became only the fourth state to allow wagering on the Oscars, a step it took in 2022. Not all states allow such wagering on pop culture events such as TV reality shows and awards ceremonies. But if you believe you know who is going to win Best Picture or Best Director, you will be able to back your fancy in Louisiana.
• E-sports E-sports has long been a controversial topic in the world of sports betting, not least because of the relative youth of the competitors and many of the vast online audiences and followings they command. Under Louisiana’s sports betting legislation, wagering on e-sports is legal, but with restrictions. Sportsbooks need to ask the regulators for permission to take bets on particular events, and each such request is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

How Do I Sign Up For An Online Sportsbook In Louisiana?

If you are interested gambling at legal Louisiana sites, follow these simple steps to register for an account:

1. Use the links on our pages to go to the LA sportsbooks you want to try.
2. If you don't get to the registration page, click "Join" or equivalent (usually top right).
3. Complete registration; personal details verify age and identity.
4. Choose screen name, password and security questions.
5. Read (and check box) indicating that you have read the terms & conditions.
6. If we list promo codes for your sportsbooks, enter in the space provided.
7. Read the responsible gaming section; consider setting limits for deposits/betting.
8. Make a deposit at the cashier and place your first sports bets.

However, please be aware that different operators may operate different processes. For more information, see our collection of reviews of our top sports betting sportsbooks in Louisiana.

Louisiana Sports Betting Revenue

Under regulations drawn up by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, online sports betting operators must hand over 15 percent of their profits in taxes. For retail sportsbooks, the rate is 10 percent.

Louisiana has embraced legal betting to a greater extent than expected. Initial projections foresaw an annual tax benefit to the state of $30 million; but by the end of November 2022, sportsbooks already had handed over more than $36 million.

Do I Pay Tax On My Winnings In Louisiana?

The IRS has long held the view that all forms of gambling represent taxable income. You should keep a close record of all your wins and losses – as should the sportsbooks you use – so you can make an accurate return and pay the right amount of state and federal taxes.

Payment Options At Louisiana Online Betting Sites

There are various banking methods that sportsbooks may allow you to use to fund your account – and to withdraw funds when you want to. They include the following:

💰  Debit & Credit Cards
💰  Bank Transfers
💰  Cash at a Partner Casino
💰  E-Wallets
💰  Pre-Paid Cards

It is always a good idea to check the banking methods available at your chosen sportsbook – as well as how long deposits and withdrawals take. There can be considerable variation between operators in terms of the range available.

All licensed and reputable online betting operators should have state-of-the-art security systems in place to protect your financial transactions.

Retail Sports Betting vs Mobile Sports Betting

Many people enjoy the thrill of traveling to an establishment such as the Golden Nugget Lake Charles, or the Coushatta Casino Resort, to place wagers on their favorite sports in a place where they are surrounded by other bettors.

There are 19 such locations across Louisiana where you can take part in retail sports betting. For residents of the nine parishes where online sports betting is not permitted, this is the only way to gamble on sports.

However, vast numbers of Louisianans appreciate the ease and convenience of mobile betting. The ability to place a wager wherever you are, and the quality of the best Louisiana sportsbook mobile offerings, make this a compelling choice for large numbers of bettors.

LouisianaBets.com is an independent sports betting comparison website with affiliate links. What that means is if you click on one of our links that directs to an operator and you make a deposit, we’ll receive commission payment at no extra cost to you. Our operator reviews and recommendations for Louisiana sports betting apps and more are impartial as our editorial standards are commercially independent and follow a professional methodology.