Your intro to the world of betting sites in Louisiana
Let's keep things basic to start with before we get ahead of ourselves. The first stop is to look at the legality of betting in the Creole State, plus a general snippet of how these sites work. After that, I'll share with you how I pick the top sites, and finish with my recommendations. Sound good? Then let's begin!
Legality of Louisiana sportsbooks
We have to keep things legal here, and in the Pelican state online sports betting has indeed been legal in 55 of the 64 Parishes since January 2022. Acts 440 and 443 were passed in the senate which allowed a range of online sportsbooks to apply for licenses with the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. You have to be over 21 to register at any of the licensed online sportsbooks and a resident of one of the 55 parishes.
How betting sites in the Pelican State work
Louisiana sportsbooks work in exactly the same way as any other online betting site. You register an account, deposit some USD into your account, and then start placing real money wagers on whatever sporting event you want - easy! From my experience, I've found that LA sportsbooks have excellent support for the Pelicans and Saints, but there's plenty of markets for all the major US pro leagues including the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS, and WNBA.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
Up to $250 Bonus Bet
Pros and cons of sportsbooks in Louisiana
I wish these sites were perfect, but I can't pretend that they are, and I want you to go into this with an open mind, which is why I've summarized the main pros and cons of these operators below:
- Great support for LA teams
- Wide betting selection
- Excellent value welcome bonuses
- High-quality mobile apps
- The desktop sites can feel cluttered
- No support for the MLR or NAHL
How to pick the best Louisiana sportsbooks
I get how daunting it can be looking through all the different betting sites and trying to figure out which one is actually worth your time and money. To help with your decision-making process and to ease you into online betting, I've listed below six features I look for when picking top LA sportsbooks:
🔒 Licensing
Only ever go with a licensed online sportsbook! I will only ever recommend licensed operators, but it's wise to do your due diligence and check the licensing info anyway which is usually found in the website footer.
📱 Usability
Sportsbooks can be confusing enough for new bettors, so it's in your best interest to look at the desktop and mobile usability of a site before signing up. Make sure you understand how it works and that you find it easy to use.
🏀 Sports Coverage
I'm an NBA fan, so I look for Louisiana sportsbooks with great NBA coverage first! Likewise, think about which sports you intend to bet on, and then check out the relevant section and betting options at the sportsbook you have considered.
🎲 Bet Variety
This depends on what you want from your betting experience, but I personally like to make team or player props so I look to see what support the sportsbook has for these types of bets first.
🔐 Security
HTTPS connectivity, SSL encryption and two-factor authentication for your account login - don't settle for any security less than this.
💬 Support
I'm confident that the sites I recommend later are all high-quality, but you still might encounter some issues or get stuck, which is why you should look at the available customer support methods. Ideally they offer something like a live chat with quick reply times.
Five epic Louisiana sportsbooks you can try today
That's the info and research done with - let's finish by giving you a headstart and something a little more tangible you can use. Below, I've used my years of testing and experience to recommend five Louisiana sportsbooks you can try today. These are all licensed and regulated sites that have a fantastic brand reputation. I've given their welcome bonuses in the below table and then given a short intro to each site.
| Louisiana Sportsbook | Welcome Bonus |
| BetMGM | Risk-free first bet of up to $1,500 |
| Caesars | Bet $1, get 20x 100% profit boosts |
| DraftKings | Bet $, get $200 in bonus bets if your first bet wins |
| FanDuel | Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins |
| bet365 | Bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets, win or lose |
BetMGM - great for NBA action
- Coverage for more than 25 sports
- Features a parlay builder and cashout
- Multiple payment methods
- Mobile applications for Android and iOS
- Delayed responses via email
- Review of withdrawal requests can take up to 5 days
I'm an NBA fan, so BetMGM is my first pick. I think this site has the most versatility for NBA betting - it features all the Pels games and you can make futures pre-match and in-play picks with ease. It's not just built for NBA fans though - you've got loads of other sports and leagues to bet on including the NFL, MLB, European soccer, ATP and WTA tennis, and MMA. As a new customer, you can get one of the better Louisiana sportsbook promos available too by signing up. You'll essentially be given a risk-free first bet of up to $1,500, which means that if your first bet loses, you'll get 100% of your stake back as bonus bets to try again.
Caesars - official NFL partner
- Generous welcome offers
- Wide range of markets
- Live chat support
- No esports available
I'm confident that all you Saints fans will love Caesars as it's actually an official NFL partner and it has some of the best betting options for the league that I've seen in the Creole State. I'm always particularly impressed by the parlays, same game parlays, and special bets that the Caesars staff come up with. You should be able to find a range of promo features too, like competitions and bet boosts. When signing up here using our links, and after making a $1 bet, you'll actually get 20x 10)% profit boost tokens of up to $25 each which I think is one of the more unique new customer offers you can find. There is also the iconic Caesars Rewards program which can get you discounts on their resorts and casinos.
DraftKings - college football and basketball
- Great mobile apps
- Supports live streaming
- Withdrawal takes 1 to 3 days
- Subpar customer service
I think that college football and basketball fans will have a great time with DraftKings. It's got some of the best support for college wagers and you should be able to find markets for hometown teams like LSU, the Bulldogs, the University of Louisiana, and the LSU Tigers. Don't worry - college sports betting is legal in the Pelican State. DraftKings LA also has a massive sports collection featuring everything from baseball and boxing to soccer, handball, and golf. When it comes to welcome bonuses, I think this site has one of the more interesting offers that actually requires some strategy. This is because you can get a massive $200 in bonus bets, but only if your first $5 bet wins!
FanDuel - awesome same game parlay options
- Best in class usability
- Available in 25+ states
- Competitive odds and coverage
- Top tier brand rep
- No sportsbook VIP program
Once you've got used to the standard betting options like the moneyline, spread, and parlay bets, I really think FanDuel knocks it out of the park when it comes to Same Game Parlay bets. These are where you make multiple picks on individual options for a single game. For instance, you might pick the Pelicans to win, Derik Queen to score 20+ points, and Jeremiah Fears to score 15+ points. You can make up your own SGP bets here, but FanDuel also regularly has special bets that the staff create. This LA sportsbook also features a similar welcome bonus to DraftKings, but you can get $150 in bonus bets instead of $200 if your first $5 bet wins.
bet365 - top-tier mobile betting
- Fast, reliable mobile app performance
- Quick deposits and fast withdrawals
- 24/7 live chat customer support
- Unavailable in some US states
- Phone support hours not 24/7
Compared to the other Louisiana sportsbooks, I think bet365 actually has the slight edge for its welcome bonus. This is because if you sign up using our links and then make a $5 initial bet, you get $150 in bonus bets regardless of if your first bet wins OR loses! There is sometimes an alternative welcome bonus too where you can get up to a $1,000 first bet safety net. This is my top pick when it comes to mobile gaming and I've always been majorly impressed by the bet365 Android and iOS apps. They work smoothly and I think they are a great option for beginners who are just getting into the world of LA online sportsbooks.
Get in in the action at a top Pelican State sportsbook now
I hope your brain is now filled with useful info about Louisiana sportsbooks and you know how you can get started. Let's have a recap to finish. Firstly, sports betting is legal in 55 of the 64 Parishes in Louisiana, and you need to be over 21. If you tick these boxes - great, you can get stuck in. Remember to think about what you want from your betting experience, and check things like supported sports, promos, and usability before going with a site.
Lastly, to save your valuable time, you can skip the research phase entirely and check out the five recommended sites I've listed. I'm confident that out of BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, bet365, and FanDuel, you'll be able to find something to your liking, and all you need to do to start the sign up process is click the links or banners we've got here - enjoy!
Don't miss out on these top betting bonuses
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Up to $250 Bonus Bet
Bet $5 Get $100 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!
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Louisiana sportsbook FAQs
Are sportsbooks legal in Louisiana?
Yes. Online sports betting is legal in 55 of the 64 Louisiana Parishes as of 2022. The legal online sportsbooks must have a gambling license from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and comply with state regulations.
What betting sites are legal in Louisiana?
At the time of writing this guide, my five recommended legal Louisiana sportsbooks include BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and bet365.
Which is the best sportsbook in Louisiana?
This depends on what you want to bet on! My personal favorite is BetMGM and I've been a customer here for years, but this is because I am an NBA fan and I've always found a great range of NBA bets. You might prefer other top options like Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, or bet365.