Robert Linnehan | 59 minutes ago

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board approved an application for a daily fantasy sports license to FanDuel. FanDuel announced today that all fantasy sports services in the state are now up and running.

FanDuel now operates daily fantasy sports services in 47 states in the country. Louisiana fantasy sports aficionados now have a second option in the state, as the Louisiana Gaming Control Board approved a daily fantasy sports license to DraftKings in July.

Second Louisiana fantasy sports option available

BIG NEWS, LOUISIANA! 🎺🎷🎶

You can now play Daily Fantasy Sports on #FanDuel!

📲 https://t.co/vIp8kWH3bo pic.twitter.com/i3HaXhqmg4

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) October 22, 2021

While fantasy sports are live in the state, sports bettors are still anxiously awaiting the launch of in-person sports betting.

One casino in the state is currently offering in-person sports betting, as the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe-owned Paragon Casino Resort announced earlier this month it would begin taking bets on Oct. 6. The Paragon Casino Resort partnered with Betfred Sports to operate its sportsbook, though an online component has not been planned.

However, the casino is Native American tribe owned, and so it is not beholden to the federal requirements the state’s commercially owned casinos must pass before offering sports betting.

Louisiana’s commercial casinos, racinos and riverboats could potentially open the doors to their own sportsbooks soon. Sportsbook operators are jockeying for position in the state, with several market access agreements already announced.

Still no Louisiana online sports betting timeline

There is no current timeline for online sports betting. It will be the second phase of the sports betting launch in the state, Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns told Saturday Down South in a previous interview. The online vendors need to be licensed in Louisiana and go through background checks before any online betting or partnerships can be made.

Louisiana will allow 20 sports betting licenses, one each for the the state’s 15 riverboat casinos, four racinos (horse tracks) and one land-based casino. Each license will also include two mobile licenses, which could mean a potential of 41 “skins” for Louisiana online sports betting. The one additional skin would be allotted to the Louisiana Lottery Corporation.

Each facility awarded a sports betting license will be required to construct a retail sportsbook.

Facilities with Class-A onsite consumption liquor licenses can receive a mobile wagering device, called a kiosk, to allow patrons to participate in online sports betting while in their facility. This would be run under the purveyance of the Louisiana Lottery Corporation and revenue would be taxed at 10%.

A sports betting ban on in-state collegiate programs was not included in the bill.

Where is Louisiana sports betting legal?

Sports betting will be legal in 55 of 64 Louisiana parishes that approved the measure in the November 2020 general election. In-person and online sports betting will not be permitted for residents living in the following parishes:

• Caldwell
• Catahoula
• Franklin
• Jackson
• LaSalle
• Sabine
• Union
• West Carroll
• Winn