Louisiana lawmakers to review prop bet restrictions, sweepstakes ban and iLottery legislation
Louisiana lawmakers will review multiple gambling policy changes when the 2026 legislative session opens March 9 in Baton Rouge. Legislators are already pre-filing bills to discuss once the state Senate and House convene next week.
The proposals address sports betting markets, sweepstakes casinos, bettor conduct toward athletes, and online lottery sales. The legislative session will run from March 9 through June 1, with a chamber crossover deadline scheduled for May 29.
Lawmakers revisit sweepstakes casino legislation
Lawmakers are reviewing proposals targeting online sweepstakes casinos.
House Bill 883, introduced by Rep. Laurie Schlegel, would revise Louisiana’s definition of illegal online gambling to include online games that simulate gambling and use a “dual-currency system of payment” allowing players to exchange in-game currency for a chance to win prizes, cash, or cash equivalents.
The proposal applies to sweepstakes operators along with related entities, including platform providers and payment processors. It would allow the office of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill to issue cease-and-desist orders and seek temporary restraining orders or injunctions.
The legislation follows action last year involving a similar proposal. Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a State Capitol-approved bill banning online sweepstakes casinos after it passed both chambers, stating that state authorities already had the power to address illegal operators.
Soon after the veto, Murrill’s office issued a legal opinion stating that sweepstakes casinos were illegal. The attorney general’s office and the Louisiana Gaming Control Board later said they had sent more than 40 cease-and-desist letters to operators.
Another measure already filed for the session, House Bill 53, would classify operating an online sweepstakes casino as a racketeering offense under state law. The offense would carry potential penalties of between 5 and 50 years in prison and fines of up to $1M.
Proposal targets prop bets and micro-bets
Sports betting markets are also part of the legislative agenda. Senate Bill 354, pre-filed by Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews and provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary B, would revise Louisiana sports betting statutes by removing “proposition bets” from the list of authorized wagers. The legislation defines a prop bet as “a side wager” involving part of a sport or athletic event that does not concern the final outcome.
While authorized markets include “in-game wagering” and “in-play bets,” the bill would also introduce a definition for a “sports micro-bet.” The measure describes it as a prop bet placed while a sports event is in progress that concerns the outcome of a play or action during that event.
The proposal would prohibit licensed sportsbooks from accepting prop bets or micro-bets under those definitions. If approved by both chambers and signed into law, the measure would take effect on August 1, 2026.
Several states have examined limits on college prop wagers in recent years. Louisiana’s proposal would apply to all prop wagers, similar to a proposal introduced in Colorado.
iLottery legalization proposal
Two companion bills, House Bill 643 and Senate Bill 119, propose legalizing online lottery sales in Louisiana. The measures would exclude iLottery from the state’s definition of illegal gambling.
Regulators would need to ensure that age-verification and geolocation systems are in place.
The Louisiana Lottery Corporation reported that revenue reached a three-year low last year, with declines recorded in both 2024 and 2025. Louisiana Lottery President and Chief Executive Officer Rose Hudson said late last year that iLottery could be explored if a system can be implemented that does not threaten revenue for brick-and-mortar retailers.
Measures address sports betting conduct
Lawmakers will also review proposals related to conduct connected to sports betting. House Bill 53 would classify bribery of athletes and other sports participants as a racketeering offense.
Senate Bill 325, introduced by Sen. Mike Reese, would add individuals to the state’s list of excluded gamblers if they “before, during, or after a sporting event, threaten violence or harm against any person who is involved in the sporting event, where the threat is related to sports gaming.”
The bill would also prohibit individuals whose presence in a retail sportsbook or participation in mobile sports betting is considered a threat to the interests of the state or to the regulation of sports wagering.
Harassment of athletes connected to sports betting has drawn attention in several states, particularly in college sports. NCAA President Charlie Baker has cited protecting student-athletes from abuse when discussing limits on college player prop bets. Some professional athletes have also reported incidents involving bettors.
https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/03/04/117880-louisiana-lawmakers-to-review-prop-bet-restrictions-sweepstakes-ban-and-ilottery-legislation