Proponents of legalized sports betting in Louisiana received a boost Saturday night, as Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards won his re-election race.
Edwards has supported prior efforts to broaden gambling in the state and backed a sports betting bill that failed to make it out of the Louisiana legislature earlier this year.
Edwards’ opponent, Republican Eddie Rispone, expressed opposition to gambling legalization
while on the campaign trail.
Any efforts to legalize sports betting in Louisiana remain an uphill battle given the state’s
cultural conservatism.
Republicans hold a super-majority in the state Senate and are two seats short of a two-third majority in the House.
In the spring, Republican Sen. Danny Martiny brought forth a bill that would have allowed
sports betting at Louisiana’s 16 casinos and four racetracks.
Despite making it through the House criminal justice committee, the bill faltered when House Appropriation Committee members altered its language. The amendments included the introduction of video poker parlors and a requirement to use official league data.
Gov. Edwards, who cast support of the bill, has publicly backed sports betting legalization.
In January, Edwards told the Baton Rouge Press Club he wanted to gear gambling revenue
towards the state’s early childhood education program.
Edward also favored an effort to bring a riverboat casino to the Tangipahoa Parish last year.
