Published on: April 2, 2026, 05:53h.
Updated on: April 2, 2026, 05:53h.
- Louisiana Keeps Prop Bets from Pro Sports
- Legislators Recognize Significant Tax Revenue from Prop Betting
- Retail and Online Sports Betting Flourishes in Louisiana
Louisiana lawmakers have decided against moving forward with legislation aimed at banning prop bets, known as proposition bets, related to professional sports.
The proposed Senate Bill 354, introduced by state Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews (D-Monroe) in February, aimed to eliminate prop bets from the category of accepted wagers in Louisiana’s sports betting landscape. Bets involving college athletes remain off-limits.
Defined in SB354, prop bets are described as “side wagers on a portion of a sport or athletic event that do not pertain to its final outcome.” The bill also sought to exclude “sports micro-bets,” which involve live prop wagers.
This week, Jackson-Andrews withdrew SB354 following its review by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The decision was made after the Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) warned that removing prop bets from the state’s betting framework would lead to significant revenue losses.
Prop Bets Generate Substantial Revenue
Although prop bets are generally smaller in value, they collectively represent a significant portion of revenue for sportsbooks. Their profitability is attributed to the extensive range of in-game and player-specific wagers that can be offered for each match.
The LGCB highlighted that removing pro prop bets could result in an annual reduction of approximately $37.8 million in tax revenue for the state. The General Fund would face the most substantial decline, estimated at around $20.6 million each year.
Revenue from sports betting in Louisiana also supports the SPORT Fund, which benefits college athletics. The proposed changes could lead to a yearly reduction of about $9.5 million for this fund. Losses would extend to local municipalities, potentially experiencing a drop of around $3.8 million, and the state’s Compulsive & Problem Gambling Fund could face a shortfall of more than $1 million.
Jackson-Andrews acknowledged that she underestimated the tax revenue impacts associated with her proposed bill.
The NCAA has actively sought to persuade state legislators and gaming regulators nationwide to prohibit college sports prop bets. In August 2024, the LGCB complied with their request, banning prop bets related to college athletes.
NCAA President Charlie Baker has been vocal about the dangers of player-specific wagers, arguing that such betting has led to increased harassment of young athletes by dissatisfied gamblers, both online and offline.
“Most of the aggressive harassment targeted at players can be traced back to these bets. Moreover, the pressure from underperforming prop bets places undue stress on young athletes, which I believe is not entirely recognized,” Baker remarked in a December interview with Yahoo! Sports.
New Sweepstake Legislation
In another legislative development in Louisiana, House Bill 53, which aims to categorize operating an online sweepstakes casino as a racketeering felony, has passed the House and is currently under review by the Senate Judiciary Committee. In June 2025, Governor Jeff Landry (R) vetoed a bill intended to outlaw sweepstakes gaming, citing existing state laws already address their operations.