Published on: May 26, 2026, at 09:08 AM.
Updated on: May 26, 2026, at 09:08 AM.
- Louisiana Sports Bettors Who Intimidate Players to Face Bans
- Governor Landry is anticipated to sign a bill creating an exclusion list for sports bettors who threaten players
- The new regulation will also extend to coaches, referees, and others engaged in the game
New regulations for sports betting in Louisiana are on the horizon, thanks to state legislators in Baton Rouge passing a significant amendment.
Last week, Senate Bill 325 passed unanimously through the Louisiana House of Representatives. Introduced by State Senator Mike Reese (R-Beauregard), the bill also garnered unanimous support in the Senate back in March.
SB325 modifies the Louisiana Gaming Control Board’s regulations regarding the exclusion of specific individuals from betting activities. The proposal aims to prohibit anyone from engaging in sports betting if they threaten violence or harm to any participant in a sporting event.
“The board shall establish rules to create a list of individuals to be banned from participating in retail sportsbooks and engaging in mobile betting,” SB325 states.
The legislation specifies that any individual who makes threats against players, coaches, referees, or other participants involved in a game “before, during, or after” an event related to betting will have their gaming privileges revoked.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (R) is expected to endorse Reese’s reform bill concerning sports betting.
McNeese University President
The NCAA has reported a disturbing rise in harassment directed towards student-athletes, both online and offline, since the mainstream adoption of sports betting. NCAA President Charlie Baker has urged state legislatures and regulatory bodies to prohibit player props, which focus on individual athletes’ performances.
While Louisiana chose not to advance legislation this year to ban player props in professional sports (with college player props already illegal), the state did move forward with Reese’s harassment regulation. This law will apply across all types of betting, not limited to props.
WNBA star Angel Reese revealed that she received death threats and online harassment after clinching the 2023 National Championship with LSU. Her situation prompted the NCAA to advocate for stronger state-level regulations aimed at safeguarding student-athletes against similar mistreatment.Reese indicated that a significant portion of the backlash originated from fans of her competitor, Caitlin Clark, though the NCAA could not confirm those claims.
Support for SB325 coincides with Reese’s recent appointment as the ninth president of McNeese State University. His ongoing public service since 2020 is complemented by his role as managing partner and CEO of Reese Companies, which has diverse investments in transportation, logistics, aviation, and commercial real estate.
McNeese State is based in Lake Charles, a region with prominent establishments like Golden Nugget, L’Auberge, and Horseshoe.
In the 2025 fiscal year ending June 2025, sports bettors in Louisiana placed over $3 billion in online wagers. The online sportsbooks retained $363.8 million of the total, benefiting from a 12% win rate. Additionally, oddsmakers generated a revenue of $29.8 million from in-person betting.
Removal Petition Process
If Governor Landry signs SB325 into law, sports bettors facing bans from both retail and online sportsbooks will have options for regaining their betting rights. Similar to casino players who can petition the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to be removed from an exclusion list, this legislation establishes a means for redemption.
The statute stipulates that anyone placed on the exclusion list is entitled to a review hearing within 30 days of their placement.