Louisiana moves closer to legalised daily fantasy sports

Positive Senate vote follows House approval, but a referendum is going to be necessary in terms of the state constitution.

Members of the Louisiana Senate voted 21-15 this week to exempt fantasy sports from the definition of gambling, ratifying House Bill 484 which passed the House last month to some 67-23 vote.

The approved bill now goes to the governor for signature, even though the voters in each of the nation’s 64 parishes will have the final say regarding DFS activity within their parish in terms of the state constitution, which requires their approval by means of a referendum.

The Louisiana bill, titled Louisiana Fantasy Sports Contests Act, removes the state-level prohibition against DFS competitions and imposes supervision by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, which will have to draft regulations in case that parish votes are optimistic after this year (generally early November).

Other gambling bills are less successful in the state legislature; two sports betting statements and a suggestion to legalise online gambling have reportedly postponed and therefore are unlikely to progress in the present season.