The fate of daily fantasy sports (DFS) in Louisiana now lies in the hands of the state electorate.
The Times-Picayune reported that the Louisiana Senate approved House Bill 484 (HB 484) on Wednesday, which would allow voters to decide whether to allow fantasy sports games in their respective parishes or community.
In a 21-15 vote, the Senate approved the statewide vote scheduled for November 6 and returned the measure back to the House.
Although the state already allows fantasy games to be played among friends and peer groups, Louisiana has yet to decide to regulate professional DFS. HB 484, authored by Rep. Kirk Talbot, is aimed at regulating the games offered by the likes of DFS giants FanDuel and DraftKings.
Should voters say yes to HB 484, players may still have to wait another year or two before they can legally play the game in Louisiana. The reason behind this is that additional legislation will be needed in order to get the games going.
In his past interviews, Talbot emphasized the importance of DFS in shoring up state revenue and saving constituents from a greater tax burden. However, the lawmaker’s proposal didn’t touch on things like how much taxes the state would impose on DFS games or the fees that these operators would pay in order to operate in Louisiana.
The lawmakers also need to identify how the money that the state earns from DFS will be distributed. The Louisiana Gaming Control Board also has to draft rules for fantasy sports apps.
Louisiana lawmakers have been juggling different gambling related bills since March as they look for more revenue streams for the state. Aside from HB 484, bills seeking to legalize sports betting and online gambling have emerged at the Louisiana State Capitol.
