The Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) has cleared two more casinos for retail betting, bringing the total number of facilities approved to launch sportsbooks in the state to eight.
The latest casinos to receive a nod from the state regulator are Margaritaville Casino Resort and Boomtown, both located in Bossier City. The two facilities are operated by Penn National Gaming.
Announcing the licenses, LGCB Chair said that both licenses are effective Friday, November 12.
Margaritaville and Boomtown were among 13 Louisiana casinos and racetracks that applied for sports betting licenses earlier this year. Six venues, including Harrah’s New Orleans, Horseshoe Bossier City, L’Auberge Baton Rouge, Boomtown in Harvey, L’Auberge Lake Charles, and Golden Nugget Casino Lake Charles, have opened for business, while five are still waiting to be cleared by the Louisiana State Police and Gaming Control Board.
Margaritaville to start accepting bets on Friday
The Penn National-operated Margaritaville Casino Resort announced on Thursday that it would start accepting in-person bets on Friday. The venue will open at 2 pm in a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler.
Announcing the Friday opening, Margaritaville Vice President and General Manager, Barry Regula said: ‘’We are excited to welcome all sports fans. We will offer more ways to bet and more ways to win and we look forward to becoming a destination for fans of all sports.’’
The book, known as the Sportsbook at Margaritaville, features 5 ticket windows and 20 self-service betting kiosks, and is located near the main entrance of the casino. The sportsbook will provide players with thousands of betting opportunities across several sports including football, basketball, hockey, baseball, tennis, golf.
Patrons who want to place bets can visit the venue between 10 am and 10 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am to 11 pm on Fridays, and 8 am to 11 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Boomtown Bossier City has not announced when it will open its sportsbook.
Louisiana sports betting continues to see new entrants
Despite launching later than scheduled, Louisiana sports betting has got off to a good start with operators showing great enthusiasm in entering the market.
The state’s Gaming Control Board issued the first licenses on Oct. 29, allowing four casinos to roll out retail wagering on the last day of October. The Caesars-owned Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans was the first state-licensed venue to enter the market when it opened its on-site sportsbook on Oct. 31.
Since then, five more facilities have been cleared to start operating, and Margaritaville and Boomtown Bossier City are set to join the bandwagon soon. LGCB Chair has also revealed that more casinos will receive their licenses next week as the State Police is about to complete investigating the operators. The state’s gambling law requires the Gaming Enforcement Division, which is under the State Police, to probe licensees and determine their suitability to offer wagering services to Louisianians before they can launch.
In addition to retail sportsbooks, sports fans in the Bayou State can expect to have licensed mobile betting apps by January 1, 2022. However, the market will only be legal in the 55 parishes that voted to authorize it.
