Two companies have applied to provide fantasy sports contests and will go live soon
F
anDuel confirmed it is on track to provide fantasy sports gambling in Louisiana by the beginning of this year’s football season.
The Governmental affairs director at FanDuel Stacie Stern said that FanDuel is working with Louisiana Gaming Board and the state police to launch its product, reports the KLFY.
According to Maj. Chuck McNeal of the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division, two companies have applied to provide fantasy sports contests. He said both entities will be operational soon.
“It will definitely happen before the fall,” said McNeal, “as long as my investigators are getting all the documentation and paperwork they need.”
Louisiana was one of the seven states that did not allow fantasy sports betting in 2020.
The people in 17 parishes did not vote in favor, while 55 of the parishes did. The people in the 17 parishes that did not vote in favor will not be able to compete within parish lines.
Stern said: “Getting the law changed was a really big step for us. It’s definitely a big sport-fan state, so we’re excited to launch our product.”
Part of the application process is demonstrating to the State Police that the 17 parishes that did not vote in favor of fantasy gambling cannot compete. The process will utilize geofencing around the parishes that voted against the proposal.
Legislators are currently debating nine different bills that will set the procedures for gambling on real sports games in Louisiana, which is predicted to start in 2022.
“We’re definitely keeping tabs on those and looking to help support those who are advocating sports betting in any way that we can. To be able to have legal, regulated sports betting in the Bayou State, I think will be really important for the people of Louisiana and for the state to generate a little bit of revenue”, Stern added
She also said that she is not concerned with how much revenue her company will draw in the first year of fantasy sports operating. “I don’t think it’s so much about generating revenue. I think it’s about allowing the people of Louisiana to enjoy these contests that 43 other states have been enjoying”.
FanDuel and DraftKings, which provide fantasy and sports betting, contributed $250,000 to the Louisiana Wins Campaign in 2020 and $500,000 to the Fairness for Fantasy Sports Louisiana PAC in 2018.
