The first football season after the launch of online sports betting in Louisiana is driving plenty of traffic to bookmakers’ apps and websites.
Numbers discussed Thursday during a meeting of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board underscored that fact, as the state’s retail and online sportsbooks handled approximately $207.5 million in bets during September, an increase of about 61.8% over August’s action.
The majority of that wagering was done online in the Pelican State, as the state’s eight mobile sportsbooks accepted around $176 million in wagers last month, up from $112.1 million in August. Online sports betting only launched in 55 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes in January of this year.
Net proceeds earned by bookmakers last month totaled approximately $31.8 million, or a hold of around 15.3%. Net proceeds earned by operators in August added up to around $9.5 million, good for a win rate of 7.4%.
Tax paid to the state as a result of all that legal sports betting was about $3.8 million last month, topping the approximately $1.8 million take for August.
The power of the pigskin
“It's very apparent that football season is here,” said Ronnie Johns, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, during the regulator's meeting on Thursday.
Indeed, the revenue earned by mobile sportsbooks because of football shot up to $5.4 million in September from $2.8 million in August.
Johns said September’s numbers were “significant” for the state and noted that the Big Four professional sports leagues are all currently playing games, which could further stoke interest among bettors.
“As we move forward through football season, I think we're going to see some consistency,” Johns added.
