The Super Bowl has never been to a city more than New Orleans, hosting for the record-tying 11th time Sunday. However, it’s the first since the Big Easy legalized sports betting. Louisiana is only the third U.S. sports-betting-regulated state behind Arizona and Nevada to host a Super Bowl after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018.
There are plenty of ways bettors can get in on Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl odds this week. Here’s everything you need to know to place a wager in New Orleans.
What’s Louisiana’s sports betting history?
The Pelican State legalized online and retail sports betting in June 2021. The first in-person sportsbook opened that October with mobile sports betting launching in January 2022, nearly nine years after Super Bowl XLVII was in New Orleans.
Six online sportsbooks began operating. Caesars Sportsbook was the first to take a bet, an $80 wager on the Cincinnati Bengals moneyline at +285.
Which sportsbooks are available for mobile wagering?
Eight popular and familiar online sports betting operators have apps ready to download or use if you’ve previously signed up for an account in another legal jurisdiction.
FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, bet365, Caesars, BetRivers, ESPN BET, and Fanatics Sportsbook all operate in the Pelican State. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board doesn’t release individual monthly figures, but FanDuel and DraftKings tend to dominate most of their markets.
Caesars attached its name to the downtown New Orleans casino, formerly under the Harrah’s brand, last year. Caesars Entertainment has owned the gaming establishment since it opened in 1999. Caesars is also the brand name attached to the Superdome, home of the Saints and site of Super Bowl LIX.
Can I bet online anywhere in Louisiana?
No. With Louisiana sports betting, you must be physically located in one of the 55 parishes that legalized it. The good news is Orleans Parish (home of New Orleans) is one of them. Nine other parishes did not approve sports wagering.
Are sportsbooks offering any bonuses or specials?
There are plenty if you haven’t already signed up for an account at any of those eight sportsbooks. Covers has the information for Louisiana promotions, bonus bets, and no-sweat wagers. Sportsbooks may also offer existing customers specials and unique same-game parlays to get in on the action.
Can I place an in-person bet?
Yes. Around 7% of wagers customers placed in Dec. 2024 were at retail sportsbooks, but that number should rise in February.
There are 13 brick-and-mortar casinos with sportsbooks located throughout Louisiana. Three are in or near the city. Caesars New Orleans is the only retail book located downtown and the closest to the French Quarter, a popular tourist attraction, and the Superdome.
FanDuel operates an in-person sportsbook at the Treasure Chest Casino located beside the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, 15 miles west of the French Quarter. Boomtown Casino has a sportsbook PENN Entertainment operates about 13 miles south of downtown.
Is a lot of money bet on the Super Bowl?
The American Gaming Association recently projected bettors will legally wager $1.39 billion on the Big Game in 38 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Eiliers & Krejcik estimate a 20% year-over-year increase in Super Bowl betting while JMP Securities predicts a $1.75 billion handle for this week’s event.
Can I play legal online casino games in Louisiana?
No. The Pelican State is not one of the seven U.S. jurisdictions to legalize iGaming. However, lawmakers discussed adding online casinos to Louisiana's legal gaming options to thwart the rise of untaxed, unregulated sweepstakes operators. A study by the AGA projects users have wagered $4.6 billion through illegal online gaming sites.
You can find traditional table games and slots at the local land-based casinos.
Will I see any NFL players at the casino?
If you want to run into somebody playing in Sunday’s game, the NFL’s gambling policy strictly prohibits it. Players and personnel involved in the Super Bowl can't engage in any form of gambling, including casino games or sports betting of any kind, this week.
NFL players hanging around New Orleans who are not playing can’t wager on anything NFL-related and must avoid retail sportsbooks until after the game unless it impedes their path through a casino. Wagering on NFL games comes with a one-year suspension while betting on your team will have a player missing two years.
