Louisiana Bill Targeting Harassment of Athletes by Bettors Heads to Governor

(AsiaGameHub) –   SB 325 would enable Louisiana’s gambling regulator to bar offenders from the betting market, positioning the state as the fourth in the U.S. to have this authority.

U.S. – A bill designed to address harassment of athletes by sports bettors in Louisiana is heading to Governor Jeff Landry’s desk. SB 325, proposed by Sen. Mike Reese, was approved unanimously by both the state House and Senate, paving the way for Louisiana to become the fourth U.S. state to use bettor exclusion as a penalty for athlete harassment.

Set to take effect on August 1, the legislation targets sports bettors who harass athletes, coaches, referees, and other individuals involved in sporting events. Harassment here is defined as threats of “violence or harm” made before, during, or after a sporting event, where the threat is linked to sports betting.

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board would gain the authority to add offenders to its gambling exclusion list, prohibiting them from placing bets in the state.

Should Landry sign the bill, Louisiana will join Wyoming, Ohio, and West Virginia—the three states where gambling regulators already have the power to ban customers from betting for comparable behaviors. West Virginia’s measure took effect in June 2024, and Wyoming’s in December 2024.

Lawmakers in New York are exploring a similar initiative. AB 7903, which has moved past the committee phase to the Assembly floor, would broadly allow for the prohibition of bettors convicted of crimes where the victim is an athlete, coach, official, or other sports contest participant.

Regulated retail betting launched in Louisiana in October 2021, with mobile and online wagering following in January 2022. Last week, Landry signed HB 53, a law that expands Louisiana’s racketeering statute to cover public gambling, computer-assisted betting, cockfighting wagers, operating electronic sweepstakes devices, illegal betting by prohibited players, and bribery involving sports participants.