The Issue
With the election coming up, the discussion of what's on the
ballot for this year is a hot topic. This election, Louisiana is voting on whether
to legalize sports wagering, a type of gambling that allows people to place
bets on games and matches. Earlier this year, Senator Cameron Henry
(R-Metairie) authored Act 215, which authorized parishes to vote on whether
they would like to legalize sports wagering in that specific parish. Should the
amendment pass in each parish, according to a report prepared for the state
from Spectrum Gaming Group, it is projected that it could generate more jobs
and bring in between $237 million and $332 million in revenue from sports
betting across the state.
What Voting Yes on Legalize Sports Betting Would Mean
The revenue generated from the legalization of sports
betting could seriously benefit Louisiana's economy. It would allow for public
schools to receive more funding and roads to receive more attention than they
do now. With the importance of the Saints and LSU in Louisiana, sports betting
could potentially turn into a very lucrative practice for the state. This does
not come without regulations, of course, and would allow parishes to make their
own rules that coincide with the state rules for betting. Of course, many
parishes have dealt with this before, especially the Shreveport/Bossier Casino
circuit.
According to louisianawins.org, in 2018, the Supreme
Court struck down the Profession and Amateur Sports Protection Act. The act put
in effect a federal law that banned sports betting in most states, but the
decision to strike the act "enabled states to decide whether to legalize sports
betting." In 2018 as well, Louisiana voters authorized fantasy sports contests,
and earlier this year, the Louisiana Legislature passed the rules and taxes for
these fantasy sports.
Get Out and Vote!
The November 3 election will be
important for more reasons than just the possible legalization of sports
betting, so be sure to head to the polls or get your mail-in ballots in soon.
